Media + Film + Television
University of Greenwich
2021
University of Greenwich School of Design 11 Stockwell Street Greenwich London SE10 9BD Design_School@greenwich.ac.uk +44 (0)20 8331 9135 Copyright © University of Greenwich 2021 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher. We endeavour to ensure that all information is accurate at the time of publication. ISBN: 978-1-911695-00-4 Design: Claire Mason + Mike Aling Design assistant: Johanna Modin
Media + Film + Television
University of Greenwich
Contents
Introduction to School of Design 1 Professor Stephen Kennedy Introduction to Media 3 Critical and Creative Minds of Tomorrow Dr Jonathan Wroot + Dr Hannah Lammin Introduction to Film + TV 5 Lee-Jane Bennion-Nixon + Christopher Nunn BA (Hons) FILM + TELEVISION PRODUCTION 7 BA (Hons) FILM STUDIES 11 BA (Hons) MEDIA + COMMUNICATIONS 35 BA (Hons) DIGITAL ARTS 37 ADVANCED PROJECTS 39 BA (Hons) SOUND DESIGN 63 Dissertations 65 MA MEDIA AND CREATIVE CULTURES 68 MA DIGITAL ARTS 69 MSc FILM PRODUCTION 70 MA FILM PRODUCTION 71 Research and Enterprise 73 Dr Benz Kotzen
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Introduction Professor Stephen Kennedy
School of Design
Head of School
Dear Graduating Students, I look with great admiration at the work produced this year. Fearless experimentation abounds and the energy that emanates from these collective works is palpable. Incredible challenges have been surmounted with a degree of wit, ingenuity and imagination that has become the hallmark of Greenwich graduates. So, as you leave to take on new challenges, I want to thank you, not for your patience and fortitude, but for the joy and creativity that you have brought to the School and the University during your time with us. In a year when it might seem like crisis management has become the new normal, there would appear to be little obvious to celebrate. In many respects this is true, but from a different perspective it could be said that this has always been the case: chaos and uncertainty form the natural terrain of the creative individual - the space of possibility to which we are drawn. That said, it must be acknowledged that there is much you have missed out on. The opportunity to inhabit this creative space has been massively impacted. But somehow you have inhabited it, and in a way that has seen your talent and potential emerge undaunted. It would seem then that there is in fact a great deal to celebrate! Finally, I want to remind you that you are, and always will be, members of our community, and as such will always be able to draw on our support and comradeship. Whilst we wish you all the best for future endeavours, we also look forward to welcoming you back to share with us the exciting results of your success in having navigated these recent extraordinary circumstances.
Introduction to Media Dr Jonathan Wroot + Dr Hannah Lammin
Critical and Creative Minds of Tomorrow Programme Leader for Film Studies + Programme Leader for Media and Communications
Our Film Studies, Media and Communications, Digital Arts and Sound Design students have gained admiration and respect from their peers and tutors in their responses to this year’s challenges. Their learning may have been disrupted by COVID-19 restrictions, but they have still produced high quality work that demonstrates the development of their critical skills, research abilities, and their creative intentions. Films and media texts often respond to and reflect the world they are made in. The months in 2020-21 have been no exception, whether relating to the pandemic or other socio-cultural factors. Students have not only learnt how to research and critique such media, but have also applied their own investigative and knowledgegathering practices in order to construct nuanced arguments. These skills are going to stand them in good stead in the post-pandemic landscape, after they have taken a well-deserved summer break. In their final year of study, students in the media portfolio courses can elect either to undertake a dissertation on a research topic of their own choosing, or a research-led, practical ‘Advanced Project’, culminating in a final output suitable both for exhibition and online engagement. Dissertations this year have included detailed examinations of topics ranging from depictions of the Middle East in Hollywood; Disney’s adoption of Chinese culture into its blockbuster film production; Nigeria’s state-funded political radio broadcasts; long distance relationships during a pandemic; opportunities available for female professionals within the British and Romanian media industries; freelance TV workers impacted by COVID-19; and the rise of TikTok as a social media platform. Artificial Intelligence, Feminism, and the mediation of the past are among the topics covered in this year’s group of Advanced Project outcomes, with contributions that have investigated aspects of these general subject areas at depth. Examples include the representation of women working in the car detailing industry; nostalgia and home movies; and the application of EEG and machine learning technologies to map neural networks in sound. Immerse yourself in the abstracts for the projects and dissertations published in this catalogue, and also take note of any contact details as and when relevant – the critical and creative minds of tomorrow are contained within!
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Introduction Dr Lee-Jane Bennion-Nixon + Dr Christopher Nunn
Film + Television Welcome to
Film + TV Portfolio Lead + Lecturer in Early Career Film & Television Education
‘Change is the only constant in the Universe’ and whether these wise words were spoken by Buddha or Heraclitus they resonate deeply with the staff and students on Film and Television Production this year. There have been more twists and turns in our journeys this year than on any season of Lost (remember that show?) and our admiration goes out to all who’ve embarked with us on this adventure. For our graduating students this has been the ultimate production challenge and one that will undoubtedly serve them in future years as the completed films serve testament to their tenacity and adaptability. Speaking to many colleagues at other institutions whose productions were obviously impacted by COVID-19, they are all astounded that our students at Greenwich were able to get this many films completed. As staff we are extraordinarily proud of the achievements under such conditions and so too should all of you be. The film and television production landscape you are entering differs greatly from what it was even a year ago. But then again, new technologies and platforms always present challenges to traditional production methods and in that sense, a pandemic is just the latest in the shifting sands of film and television making. As if that weren’t enough however, the political landscapes and discourses around history, race, representation and who or what actually constitutes “key work” have all been thrown into the mix and life, presently, can feel a bit daunting. However, as you begin to plot your journeys on to bigger and better things it is important to remember the formative experiences forged in the fires here at Greenwich. You are more prepared than perhaps you think you are for creative industries that will need a new generation of clued up thinkers to help navigate these increasingly tumultuous times. Please remember that our offer of using our kit for future work stands – just get in touch with the programme team to discuss. We look forward to our celebratory screening of your work in July.
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BA (Hons) Film + Television Production OUR PRACTICAL FILM AND TELEVISION degrees encourage our students to be creatively adventurous, intellectually curious and ethically engaged. We ask that our students explore issues that matter to them, their peers or their families, through the medium of filmmaking. We believe that context is king and take our students on a journey that will have them explore and enrich their under-standings of contemporary international production practices. As part of understanding the evolving context of production, our modules explore the history and application of storytelling principles, narrative and concept development, fiction and documentary production, as well as understanding and use of creative filmmaking technologies. Students also get a sense of industry practices by following live client style briefs, including some from external charities, and others that focus their filmmaking towards a selection of film festivals or push them towards innovation. Popular career choices for our film and television graduates include studio and location crew roles, editing and post production, as well as television and commercial work.
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Destiny Awaits
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FILM + TV
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BA (Hons) Film Studies OUR DEGREE IN FILM STUDIES is designed to help students view films from a different perspective. In-depth examinations of film history, international industries and broader social and cultural contexts allow them to develop strong skills in critical analysis and research. This is aided by learning about camera techniques and editing processes first-hand, in order to obtain a detailed understanding of the medium of film. Our Greenwich Campus is a popular location for film crews and has featured in Hollywood blockbusters such as‘Thor: The Dark World’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: on Stranger Tides’. Career options for our graduates include working in distribution, exhibition and marketing within the film and TV industries, as well as advertising, curation, public service and teaching.
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PHANTOM Instagram: @phantom.film.uk
'Phantom' is an experimental psychological horror. During the life of our protagonist, The Man, he was obsessively in love with his girlfriend. However, this obsession led to her breaking off the relationship. The Man ends up in an accident due to the turmoil of the relationship ending, an accident that takes his life and that of his ex-girlfriend. Although this is not explicitly shown, the film takes place in Limbo and the realms of The Man’s subconscious. We see him struggle to come to terms with his obsessive nature whilst being haunted by the ghost of his ex; he is also caught in a battle with his shadow self who seems to have a vendetta of his own: take The Man’s identity and become a better version of him. The Shadow slowly takes on the same obsessiveness that The Man had during life. The same traits that stopped him accepting his shadow self.
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Hamidah Duffus BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Director & Writer Meryem Dabanli
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Producer
FILM + TV
Marija Stukova BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Production Designer Emmanuel Owusu
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Cinematographer
Saalman Bakht BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Sound Designer Peter Rose
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Editor
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Concept art
F4TH3R ismaelmunir@hotmail.com
‘F4TH3R’ tells the simple story of a boy reconnecting with his father after his parents’ divorce, utilising the child’s perspective to enhance the story and present the emotions of both characters in a visual medium. Showing the narrative from the perspective of a young child allows us to alter certain aspects of the real world to portray exaggerated aspects of daily life, environments and relationships - the primary use of this is to portray the father as a 1980’s-style practical robot with the added voice, movements and mannerisms of a machine from that era.
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Ryan Callaghan BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Director
FILM + TV
Ismael Munir
Joseph Nolan
Dylan Mackley
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Writer & Producer
Sound
Cinematographer
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Still from Musical
Mohammed Shah BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Writer & Director Laura Colodra Martin
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Producer
Georgiana Adina Penciu
Ellie Clifford
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Production Designer Mihaela Neagoe
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Cinematographer
Sound Designer Archie Saltmarsh
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Editor
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DESTINY AWAITS Instagram: @_destiny_awaits
'Destiny Awaits' is a RomCom musical about a lonely mechanic by the name of Michael. Michael has a passion for poetry and all things romantic. One fateful night as part of his routine writing poetry, he writes a poem that begins to foretell his “destiny”, when the poem guesses an important detail of his next breakdown call from a damsel in distress, Michael does his best to woo this woman as best he can. The short-film takes you through a night in Michael’s life as he traverses through his own undoings, and learns to overcome his failures again, and again. The film will have you rooting for Michael to overcome and hoping he fails at the same time.
FILM + TV
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Grace
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FILM + TV
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Richard Bentley BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Writer, Director, Co-Producer & Co-Edit Marcus T Ho BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Producer
Volkan Ozkan
Elyas Khorami
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Editor, Lighting, Assistant Sound Operator Louis A Rioux BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Cinematographer
Operator Arina Ostsepkova
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Production Designer
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What's It Going To Be Scene
SYN rb98@hotmail.co.uk
'Syn' is a science fiction cyberpunk drama that shows that shows the miscarriage of justice in the future, were humans have made machines called Synths who are treated unfairly. Detective Daniel tracks down a rogue Synth to a Church, where he is confronted with the injustice that plagues the criminal system. However, he must make a difficult choice that could change him forever.
FILM + TV
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Shots taken from our location recce on Fleet Street
Bukola Bakinson BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Director, Writer & Presenter
Claudia Botton BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Producer
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NO COMPRENDO Instagram: @nocomprendofilm
'No Comprendo', translating to "I don't understand", is an authored documentary regarding the experiences of individuals and their stories within the Justice System. We focus particularly on the language used in court and how the quality of communication has affected those convicted and their own understandings of their charges.
FILM + TV
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Ibrahim Taher BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Director & Writer
Phoebe Hall BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Producer
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Screenshot from film
CONCEDED phoebelouisehall@gmail.com ibbytaher33@gmail.com
'Conceded' is a dystopian thriller set in the near future which follows a big-time lawyer in the aftermath of winning a high-profile case. However, with an encounter from an unexpected visitor, his increasing paranoia leads him to confess the fabrication of evidence which leads to his hands being stained with figurative blood.
FILM + TV
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F4TH3R
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FILM + TV
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Image of the Priest in the church
Jodie Thom BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Director Ruby Hunt-Jones
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Producer Lauren Purdy
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Screenwriter & Script Supervisor
Elise Perry
Ronnie Humphreys
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Production Designer Ed Maudit
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Director of Photography Callum Wosley
Editor Vincent Taimiot
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Lighting Designer (non-student crew)
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Sound Designer
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GRACE rubyrmedia@gmail.com jodithom17@gmail.com elisefrancisperry@gmail.com callum.wosley@outlook.com em4477@gre.ac.uk laurenepurdy@gmail.com ronniehumphrey0417@gmail.com vincent.tamiot@gmail.com
'Grace' is a coming-of-age story, based around a young girl from a strict catholic family in 1960s England who, as she transitions from a girl to a woman, develops a strong sexual attraction to her new teacher — Mr Forbs. She battles with her ‘sinful’ fantasies and experiences shame and embarrassment around the bodily changes that we see her go through, both mentally and physically.
FILM + TV
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Destiny Awaits (on set)
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FILM + TV
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Lily Hayter
Steph Woods
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Writer & Director Isaac Hutchings Writer Jean Ciunti
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Producer
Producer Elliot Fry
Cinematographer Matic Toman
Raminta Zizmantaite BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Production Designer Daxit Mahendra
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Production Designer
BA FILM AND TV PRODUCTION
Editor
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Screenshot from film
SWIMMING WITH SHARKS Instagram: @swimmingwithsharksfilm
'Swimming with Sharks' is a drama, inspired by real events, which follows the life of a young man Finn, suffering from gambling addiction. When his hobby of betting evolves into a dangerous obsession, the winning hand is knowing when to stop.
FILM + TV
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BA (Hons) Media + Communications OUR MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS degree provides an academic, creative and critical understanding of the media, for roles in a variety of creative industries. The Media and Communications programme enables students to develop an in-depth understanding of how media inform, persuade and make an impact, and to explore these issues through a combination of traditional scholarship and innovative media practice. By the end of this degree, our graduates know how to produce creative content across different kinds of media, including writing, camera use, sound recording and post-production/editing. We frequently invite guest lecturers, including professionals from media and creative organisations, to share their specialist knowledge, which allows students to keep abreast of the latest developments in their field. This employment-focused programme prepares students to be among the content creators and creative entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Popular career options for our Media and Communications graduates include roles with in-house communications teams, PR, marketing, content management and social media.
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BA (Hons) Digital Arts DIGITIAL ARTS students explore ideas and concepts through a diverse range of projects, combining artistic flair with emerging digital technologies. They develop skills in animation, graphics, music technology, and creative coding, going on to make expanded and immersive artworks through transmedia, installation, projection, interaction, and kinetics. Our graduates bring fresh, arts-led approaches to research and problem solving which are highly valued by progressive employers. They are ready for careers across a wide range of businesses and organisations that already work with leadingedge digital technologies, where innovative research and development are crucial to address the challenges facing the 21st century economy. They are also well-equipped to pursue self-employment as independent artists, or go on to postgraduate study in related subject areas.
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Advanced Projects ADVANCED PROJECTS mentors BA (Hons) Media and Communications, BA (Hons) Film Studies, BA (Hons) Sound Design and BA (Hons) Digital Arts students through a self-directed process of study, research and practice leading to the exhibition of a creative final output and production of a project report. During the first term the student submits a proposal for either a group or solo project. A significant feature of the course is that once the student’s proposed area of activity has been agreed, they are supervised in working towards their goal through regular focused tutorials with a staff member who has experience in that area.
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Ozgur Hassan TAKEOVER: Conversations with the Punk Archives
ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Ozgur Hassan TAKEOVER: Conversations with the Punk Archives BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
OzgurHssn@gmail.com
Exploring the archives, objects and the notion of subculture in an ever-growing capitalist society, the punk lookbook, zine and magazine "TAKEOVER" investigates the concept of punk familiarity through the archives and its relationship to high fashion today. The overall aim of this book is not only to highlight punk's past and history with its incredible creators — Vivienne Westwood, Malcolm McClaren, (etc.); but to show the modern day transformation of punk into a much "cleaner", "haute couture". The gradual transition of this book from Zine, to Magazine and finally to high fashion Lookbook, allows for the book to subtly highlight the continuous semiotic influences that have metamorphosed punk from youth culture, to fashion bureaucracy.
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ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Jenny Bremerich Generation Feminist BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
bremerich.j@web.de
ADVANCED PROJECTS
Do our shared beliefs unite us more, than our age gap separates us? The final outcome of the project process is this spoken word performance, demonstrated through a short film. The poem, "Generation Feminist" speaks about the differences experienced through growing up as a younger generation feminist. The protagonist experiences an everyday struggle of growing up a feminist within the 21st century with outdated values passed on to her by her own mother. The poem and the correlating visual images portray her conflict of pleasing and respecting the woman who raised her on one hand, but trying to be her own person while trying to educate the older generation feminists around her, on the other. The project aims to open a conversation between the different generations we can observe within the feminist movement. It aims to raise awareness of the challenges and issues each generation might face, that the others are unable to relate to, due to the generation gap.
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A couple reacting to a home movie from 1999 of their children
Neve Rogers Homecoming Age: The Nostalgic Qualities of Home Movies BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
neverogers99@gmail.com
Home movies capture pivotal moments of the past, particularly those filmed by families throughout the 1990s and 2000s. They preserve memories, while inadvertently contributing to history and creating material that now acts as a catalyst for nostalgia. Here I present a short documentary film that focuses on participant responses to their old home movies, as well as how nostalgia is expressed through memories of this time. This central concept is highlighted in the documentary's title, as ‘homecoming ache’ is translated from the Ancient Greek ‘nostos algos’, which is where the term ‘nostalgia’ originated. This piece was inspired by the idea of ‘history from below’, in which historical events are recounted from the perspective of common people, instead of leaders and the mass media. Therefore presenting a personal and unseen point of view of the past, much like the results of home movie footage.
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An example of an event captured as a home movie, of a joint birthday party from 2004
ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Senali Dias Karma from the Perspective of Popular Imagination BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
senalidias1999@gmail.com senalidias1999.wixsite.com/my-site
According to Sanskrit, which is an ancient classical language in India, karma means ‘action’, it can also be defined as a cycle of causes and effects. Lord Buddha taught that everything people do creates consequences, which is like the popular saying “what goes around, comes back around”, regardless of whether it is good or bad. Bad karma is “negative actions that harm another living being, and lead to negative consequences for the actor and good karma is positive actions that benefit others and lead to positive outcomes for the actor”. Therefore, there is both good and bad karma. The concept of karma may be believed or not, but may also be understood as sociological. Therefore, my project intends to discover how the concept of karma is expressed in the popular idiom by those who profess a belief in the concept. Participants of this project talk about karma in relation to scenarios that happened during their everyday life.
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Irina Chekhomova Imagination. Human vs. Computer BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
chekhomova.irina@gmail.com
This artwork erases limits around imagination and artificial intelligence. It brings the two together in a creative project. The subject area is the comparison of human imagination and artificial imagination. In particular, human faces that were created by an artist which, in this case, is me, and faces that were created by an online machine learning website thispersondoesnotexist. com. Machine learning was based on the theory of neuron interactions in the human brain. This project showcases portraits created by an artist with artificially created faces. They are arranged in a video. At first, we can only see an outline of the faces because all the portraits were heavily filtered to erase the differences and leave the outline of a human face. Then the originals are shown to exaggerate the contrast between the two sides. The aim of the project is to show how these two very different areas can collide when stripped to the basics. I hope with this project I can bring awareness about our own intelligence and inspire people to create something incredible based on their own brain activity.
ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Holly Seymour Don't Use Too Much of that Ceramic: A Study in Outdated Media Representation of Female Car Detailers
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Holly Seymour Don't Use Too Much of that Ceramic: A Study in Outdated Media Representation of Female Car Detailers BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
hollyseymour@hotmail.co.uk holly.lb.digital/
Male dominated industries are a thing of the past, or so we assume. In the case of vehicular industries, such as car detailing, the prevalence of female detailers is an uncommon and under-represented occurrence. Though they do exist, myself included, societal interpretations can fall into many outdated categories. This auto-ethnographic documentary film explores the sexualisation and misrepresentation faced by female detailers in 2021. Navigating a male dominated industry can be both empowering and challenging. However, the impact of these stereotypical assumptions often deter women from following their desired path. The term 'detailing' includes the correction and protection of a car's interior and exterior attributes. During this process, detailers use a number of tools, most importantly, a machine polisher. Made for the correction of scratches and swirl marks within the paintwork of a car, machine polishers resemble an angle grinder fit with a sponge pad rather than a blade, and therefore require strength and precision to use effectively. The nature of this machinery is often used in the perpetuation of assumptions that women aren't strong enough and therefore not fit for a labour-based job. Nonetheless, this documentary is here to show that, in fact, this is not the case.
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ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Cover page 54
Greta Kuliusaite and Laura Silalyte UNMUTE: The Magazine About Women Over 50 BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
kuliusaite@gmail.com laurakotryna1@gmail.com
UNMUTE magazine is created to give voice to unheard and muted older women in society. Thorough research has led us to an understanding of the social problem of "muting" older women through an obsession with images of the young and beautiful. Mass media, especially magazines, has been representing young women and creating the illusion that only they are worth the spotlight of a magazine cover. Thus, we have decided to dedicate the whole magazine to discuss the various different aspects of the lives of experienced, beautiful and intelligent older women, whose work and life achievements lack attention.
One of the six anonymous 'letters to myself'. These stories of women are like peculiar confessions full of surprises, hard decisions happiness and sorrow.
ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Jodie Clarke Exposition and Recapitulation BA SOUND DESIGN
jodiec92@hotmail.co.uk
‘Exposition and Recapitulation' is a fifteen minute piece based on the research project that explores ‘The Sound of Fear: The Evolution of Horror Soundtracks’. Horror soundtracks and the avant-garde techniques used to induce fear, have had a great affect on audiences and reflect how far the genre has progressed. The aim with this soundtrack is to reflect the different phases in a horror exploration, using a variety of foley sounds, effects, and orchestral instruments. The phases follow elements of the Sonata form, a classic three part structure in music composition that features an exposition, development and recapitulation act. Parallel to this, the soundtrack features other classic elements featured in horror throughout the ages. With these techniques combined, this post-horror inspired soundtrack features a journey where one can imagine and experience primal fears through sound.
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ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Ride, Lana Del Rey "Played at My Best Friend's Funeral"
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Tyler McIntosh Neural Scores BA SOUND DESIGN
tyler.mc@neuralscores.com
Music holds a great deal of power over the emotions of its listener. Yet, when music is represented in audio visualisers and scores, the emotions experienced by the listener are typically neglected. This leaves a gap in the way we understand and appreciate the subjective experience of music perception. Using EEG and machine learning technologies, the project presented here explores the relationship between music and emotions. The products of this research are images that visually represent the emotional journey that music can cause in its listener. Each image contains a circular graph which illustrates the total emotional experience a song caused, using colour. The lines on this graph display the neural activity of the participant as they were being recorded; when the lines are denser, there is higher activity. Additionally, for each image, there is also a video counterpart that displays the graph being created over the duration of the song. These videos are available on the project website (NeuralScores. com) and through the associated QR codes.
On Melancholy Hill, Gorillaz "My Favourite Song"
ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Tyler McIntosh Neural Scores
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BA (Hons) Sound Design SOUND DESIGN develops creativity, through exploring the ideas, techniques and skills needed for work in contemporary post-production sound and the wider creative industries. Through creative practice and critical thinking, students discover how to record, edit, critique, generate and compose sound. Moving fluidly between the worlds of music and sound, they develop a broad understanding of the role of sound in a diversity of creative practice and contemporary life. By working with fellow students from across our creative portfolio, Sound Design students apply individual knowledge and share ideas in a supportive environment. In this way, students build experience in the collaborative and teamworking skills that underpin the creative industries. Popular career trajectories for Sound Design graduates include working with sound through film, television, computer games, music production, radio advertising, theatre, virtual reality and composition.
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Dissertations WRITING A DISSERTATION in the final year of their studies provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and understanding acquired during the taught courses to investigate a specific topic related to their field of study. The dissertation is also a chance to demonstrate research and analytical skills in the form of a substantial written project, which can support future studies and/or professional preparation. The course is shared between BA (Hons) Media and Communications, BA (Hons) Films Studies and BA (Hons) Film and Television Production students.
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Daniela Iandolo How the two Mulan Films (1998 and 2020), released by Disney, demonstrate changes in gender role and cultural representation
Shayma Al-Qahtani The Post-Oriental and Politically Inspired Stereotypes of Arab Women in Contemporary Hollywood Films
BA FILM STUDIES
shaymaqah@outlook.com
BA H FILM STUDIES
dani_iandolox@hotmail.com
This research takes the two Disney releases of Mulan, first created in 1998 and again in 2020, and analyses their depictions of cultural representation and gender roles before comparing them to each other. The work is split into two chapters, 1998 and 2020, in which there are two subheadings, representation of culture and gender roles. By means of a reception study, scenes are examined as well as other ancillary texts (interviews, news articles, DVD extras, and reviews) which help to explain how the films were received by audiences, Western and Chinese. Disney’s history of appropriating cultures for Western audiences is brought to light, in addition to the stereotypical gender roles evident in their princess films and how the conglomerate is now working towards producing more progressive princesses that exude feminist ideals. The final section of the research is the results and discussion, where the evidence found from each chapter is compared to understand how the two-decade gap between the releases affected the depictions of cultural representation and gender roles.
This dissertation dissects Hollywood’s stereotypes of Arab women, particularly in Sex and The City 2 (2010) and A Hologram for The King (2016), to demonstrate the nationalist portrayal of Arab women that sustains the United Sates as a superior nation in the media and towards a mainstream audience. The process of reception studies provides evidence on how the intended audience of both films perceived these stereotypes, to conclude whether it is established Hollywood studios or mainstream audiences that maintain the negative stereotyping of Arab women. The gathered research from audience reviews, film critics and media scholars is utilised to explore the various ways in which audiences and media producers have influence in negative portrayals of Arab women, followed by a discussion and conclusion which finalises that Hollywood's influences overpowers their audience, as Hollywood’s capitalist authority gives them the power and control to maintain Western superiority and ideologies.
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Iuliana Emma Cristina Ion Gendered Media Opportunities: Young Female Professionals in British and Romanian Media Industries
Courtney Marshall Redefining long-distance relationships in the age of COVID-19: Intimacy, technology, and stigma
BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
BA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
emmaion13@yahoo.com
courtneymarshall_@outlook.com
In an ideal society, the gender of a young woman should be irrelevant, in terms of the opportunities in the media industry. Unfortunately, this is not the case. This study seeks to investigate to what extent is gender an impediment regarding the choice of a young female professional to pursue a media career in Romania and the United Kingdom. None of the existing career guides creates a coherent narrative from the moment of doing media studies to reaching a managerial position. It compares the Romanian and the British situations through a mixed-methods research: content analysis and interviews. The three key themes examined are how women are being represented in media outlets, why they are portrayed in those specific ways, and what they achieved. The findings show a misrepresentation in both countries, with an emphasis on sexualising women. They are frequently stereotyped and discriminated against, and these issues are also affecting them economically. Even when women’s achievements are impressive, men are still dominant in the leading positions. The study concludes that gender is still an impediment regarding the media opportunities in both Romania and the United Kingdom for a young female professional.
Romantic relationships are a normal part of life. This study pays particular attention to LDRs, known as long-distance relationships. Today, this type of relationship is very common due to people working remotely, students studying in other countries, and people forming connections online rather than in person. During this global pandemic, long-distance relationships have been seriously impacted, along with everyone experiencing some form of a long-distance relationship. As such, this dissertation topic is very relevant and seeks to analyse the contents of a long-distance relationship before and during the pandemic, to redefine these relationships academically. To achieve this, I offer an insightful first-hand experience of being in a long-distance relationship with interviews from other long-distance couples. In addition to a wide selection of existing literature and media-related material. Throughout the study and to conclude, I interrogate redefining long-distance relationships through the three categories of intimacy, technology, and stigma, in order for long-distance relationships today to be understood in a new way.
DISSERTATIONS
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MA Media and Creative Cultures AN INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERNATIONAL DEGREE that encourages interrogations of contemporary media and cultural theories, arts, technologies and politics in an expanded field. Students specialise in research methods for creative disciplines, aesthetic economy, subcultures, digital activism, race, gender, and class through exploring themes of identity, power, aesthetics and creation of meaning in contemporary media cultures. The programme produces graduates with informed approaches to communications and media to enter international creative industries, including but not limited to museums and festivals sector, journalism and cultural charities, creative writing and curation, research analytics and marketing, fashion and arts, as well as provides clear pathway to further research degrees. “I encourage all to see this programme as a creative intellectual lab with an absolute perfect match between theoretical and practical skills, that reflects the demands of the new generation and advances the ways of creative mentorship and supervision within higher education in the UK and beyond ” Dr Vlad Strukov, Associate Professor in Media, University of Leeds, Curator of Research at Garage Museum of Contemporary Art
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MA Digital Arts MA DIGITAL ARTS builds upon the foundations Digital Art, Fine Art, Sound Design, Film, Television, VFX, Graphic Design, Animation and Media Studies. At the core of the programme is an interdisciplinary approach which utilises the School of Design’s facilities and staff from across a variety of contemporary creative fields. Each student is encouraged to examine and explore their individual practice from diverse viewpoints which is challenged through studio based practice, visiting artist lectures and group critique. We provide graduates with skills that are highly valued in a global economy where boundaries between creativity and technology are increasingly fluid. Modules are designed to encourage the development of personal specialisms through a diverse range of art practices. Graduates will be ready to enter a wide range of artistic fields and international organisations, while making a contribution to the production of new aesthetics and future uses of creative technologies.
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MSc Film Production OUR FILM PRODUCTION MSC helps you to develop a critical and practical approach to production workflows, digital film technology, and the creative practices involved in film production. This degree allows you to grow your creative abilities to a high professional standard. The MSc route focusses on the creative use of filmmaking technology, exploring techniques aiding storytelling and emotional engagement. This includes cinematography and editing, while also incorporating sections on production practice and film research. Optional courses are directing, screen writing and sound design. Skills learnt on these courses are then deployed in a final project. Film production is an increasingly dynamic sector and both programmes highlight the importance of practicebased research and film projects. They also touch on new technologies and how these are impacting professional practice. The University has well-resourced studios and students have access to high-end, industry standard digital camera equipment including: Canon, Sony, RED, and Arri Alexa systems. They also benefit from a full personal Adobe Creative Cloud subscription and will have access to edit and animation suites running Avid Media Composer, Black Magic Design Da Vinci Resolve and Nuke. These programmes also offer Arri Accredited Training.
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MA Film Production OUR FILM PRODUCTION MA helps students develop a practical and critical approach to the creative practices of film development and production, and their relationship refine a critical approach to creativity in areas such as writing, directing, and producing. There are a range of courses including Cinematography, Production Practice, the Film Research Workshop, Film Screenwriting and Directing Screen Performance, and students select from the following options: Emerging Cinematography Practices, Sound Design and Editing. Skills learnt on these courses are then deployed in a final project.
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School of Design Dr Benz Kotzen
Research + Enterprise
Research and Enterprise Lead
The Research Excellence Framework submission (REF 2021) was the major research event over the past year. Whilst the submission required significant efforts from individuals within the School to meet the March 2021 deadline, it has enabled the School to better calibrate and celebrate the range and quality of research being undertaken. This exercise has shown that the increase in research and allied enterprise activities across the various disciplines is remarkable and stands as testament to an environment which encourages and lauds research and enterprise. The number of staff submitting to the REF doubled over 6 years, enabling us to submit over 70 journal articles, books, book chapters, edited books and Multi Component Outputs (MCOs). The MCOs were a special feature of the submission, allowing practice based research to be highlighted and disseminated in the best possible way www.gre.ac.uk/las/ research/dare.w Growth in research is evident in the numbers with 109 journal articles, 11 monographs, 15 edited books, 38 book chapters, 40 conference papers and proceedings and 40+ shows/exhibitions. This increase is partly the result of a staff recruitment strategy to employ internationally excellent research active staff who have PhDs and, where they do not have PhDs, to encourage them to undertake PhD studies. There are currently 27 staff who have PhDs in the School with 7 working towards a PhD. The School was also awarded 10 Vice Chancellor Scholarships, with 16 PhD completions during this period. Over the past year, he School has increased the number and diversity of Research Groups, aiming in the future to number around 10. At present these include: - Advanced Urban Research Group provides a focus for interdisciplinary urban research that intersects, new materiality, media and space. - CAPTIVATE Spatial Modelling Research Group uses remote sensing technologies to build high fidelity digital models of cultural heritage for conservation, museological and pedagogical purposes. - DARE (Digital Arts Research and Enterprise Research Group) which brings together theorists and practitioners to conduct research that re-thinks the possibilities for creative practice in the digital age. - INTENT (Integrated Nature and Technology Research Group) brings together the work, experience, knowledge and interests of the landscape and built environment groups around the theme of combining nature-based solutions with existing and new technologies in order to provide practical solutions to socio-environmental problems within the greater framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. - Sound/Image Research Group uses practice as a tool of critical enquiry to investigate the possibilities available to create new aesthetic experiences through a range of audio-visual media technologies, exploring both the relationships between sound and the moving image, and the images which sound construct on their own. New Research Groups that are emerging are the Diversity and Inclusivity by Design RG and the Critical Theory RG. REF2021 obliged us to have an in depth look at ourselves and our environment from a research and enterprise perspective, enabling us to celebrate our research and researchers and going forward to motivate us to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to undertake research that is meaningful to themselves but that also has greater impact beyond academia. 73
2021
UNIVERSITY OF
GREENWICH
