Media

M ED IA

What are the processes that mediate our relationship with nature, culture and each other in 2022? In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic, facing devastating consequences of the events in Ukraine, as well as global climate crisis – and with eight years to go to reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, the media is turning towards the self, and the questions of identity, belonging as well as care are louder than ever.

Inspired by these processes, the students’ work from Media portfolio’s Dissertations and Advanced Projects reflect on these connections and disconnections, drawing trajectories of migrations and belongings of 2022.

Gurpreet Kaur’s "The impact of Indian farmers' protests on the farmers and their families" follows the on-going farmers' protests that have been occurring in India over the past few years, which began when the Indian government introduced new laws undermining the farmers' control over the selling price of their own crops. Through interviews with family members of farmers who have participated in the protest, the project aims to help understand both personal and public dimensions of the protest, raise awareness of the interconnections of land and selfhood.

Grace Ennis’ "Row of Corn" showcases a technique of cornrowing, that not only weaves together pieces of hair but thousands of years of history also. It has transitioned from its primal use as a symbol of wealth and status to a desperate measure in times of slavery. Is this history lost in the 20th century as it stands only as a means of adornment? Or does the history live on with the technique? The project explores those questions in order to find a new ways to transfer the skill of cornrowing.

Vesa Morina’s work on "Memories in Exile – Leaving Kosovo and Objects of Home" documents a personal journey of her family, who fled Kosovo in the 1990s. This research project presents one family’s background of immigration to the UK and their feelings and emotions as refugees, documenting the different objects that my family members have kept from their homeland and that remain meaningful to them. Isabel Amande looks at more contemporary migration crises, exploring the representations of Ukrainian and Syrian refugees in the national press in the UK.

A number of research projects present different dimensions of belonging exploring the notion of identity and diversity in self-representation through media and film, including representation of strippers by female filmmakers (Daisy Ellis), queer female gaze in film (Eve Flude), as well as the creating of gendered brands (Georgiana Cojocaru) and Instagram self-imagery (Summer Children-Smith and Sarah Tran).

The diversity of voices and the amount of care about the common future explored through these works is fascinating, and we hope you will enjoy exploring these exceptionally relevant works and will find certainly find some new voices that resonate with your own reflections.

Dr Maria Korolkova Academic Portfolio Lead Media