Take time off life…Actually live! PROJECT UPDATE

As previously mentioned in post “How can we put life on hold in order to actually live it”, I am completing a research study on the concept of work/life balance.

Image: Giphy.com

Upon further investigation and critique, I have narrowed my question down to the following:

“What prevents people from taking time off life in order to live to the fullest?”

In editing my question, I have decided to focus more on the concept of taking time off in order to participate in activities that you cannot when at work, uni, school, etc.

Thus far in my research:

• I have created and released a survey through which has gained 70+ responses and am in the process of analysing. (You can complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KDX2L2D ) I used my Twitter account (@emma_pinfold) to distribute my survey. I found that more participants completed my survey when my Tweets were written in a casual, friendly manner.
  See snapshots below.
  
  
• Have begun approaching interview participants, which will be participating in an in-person interview in early May.
• Have read and analysed several articles that aid in my understanding on the topic of work/life balance and taking time off life

Looking forward: 

Within the following few weeks, I will be finalising analysis of my survey results and beginning the format of my report. I will also be comparing and collating the results of interviews conducted with research previously gathered, including survey results and published articles. Extensive research conducted will create fluency and ease when creating my report.

More updates to come shortly!

Until next time, that’s this week Pinned.
Emma.

How can we put life on hold in order to REALLY live?

Life of a uni student as expressed by graduates of the 80’s: “PARTY! PARTY!”
Life of a uni student as experienced (by me) in 2017: “How am I supposed to balance life? I’M STRESSED!”

I’ll be honest, I know this topic runs deep, however I’ve just worked a 35-hour week on top of Uni and as it has now reached Sunday night it’s safe to say I’m exhausted. Which again, leaves me thinking about how tempting it would be to take a year (six months even) (FINE I’d settle for three) off life to actually live it.

Source: Giphy.com

What brings me here?
I’m constantly reading up on volunteer abroad programs, but no matter how much research I do, I’m always met with the same result, that being “Emma, you can’t just take six months off life.” There’s always one reason or another why I can’t drop everything and live life for a while. Whether that reason be Uni, work, money or simply hesitance. So week after week, I tirelessly balance a part time job, university and life in general.

Source: melissaparisfitness.com

So to you I ask:
How to balance life, work and happiness. How can we put life on hold to actually live it?

Through my research project I will investigate how much work a student should take on, considering factors such as financial stability, mental and physical health and overall happiness. I intend to focus my research on two areas in conjunction with one another, those being workload of Uni students and reasons why we don’t put life on hold to actually live it. I intend to conduct my research by combining quantitative and qualitative methods, in order to gain the most in-depth results possible.

The approach and goal:
Although I’m aware of my own bias, I intend to approach this project with an open mind. I will investigate how much work students view as “too much” and why we tend to put off living life, for reasons other than “I just can’t right now”. Is there ever really a ‘good’ time to take time off life?

I am aware that not all students may have experienced the desire to take time off life, and the idea of ‘actually living life’ will be expressed differently by many, and that I am excited to uncover.

For further updates and to get involved with my research, follow me on Twitter @emma_pinfold

That’s this week, Pinned.
Emma.

Peace Journalism; phew.

Peace journalism is a fairly new-age concept. Defined by Lynch and McGoldrick (2005) peace journalism is “when editors and reporters make choices – of what to report, and how to report it – that create opportunities for society at large to consider and value non-violent responses to conflict”.

Peace journalism arose from the idea that media coverage of issues was bias towards violent responses to conflict. The concept of ‘Peace journalism’ was proposed by Johan Galtung and promotes the education of journalists and media networks in storytelling techniques that discourage violence. In an age where adolescents are more in-touch with media than every before, it is vital that the media encourages positive reinforcement and non-violent resolutions to conflict.

In order to successfully practice peace journalism, a piece must “show backgrounds and contexts of conflicts; hear from all sides; explore hidden agendas; highlight peace ideas and initiatives” (peacejournalism.org)

Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick use their extensive experience and knowledge not only to teach in Universities across Australia (such as University of Sydney) but also to run “professional training courses for editors and reporters in many countries. These countries include Australia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Nepal, Israel, Georgia and Armenia.” “From 2001 to 2005, Lynch and McGoldrick presented the ideas of peace journalism to professional journalists in British media, in the Reporting the World project, with large emphasis being put on coverage of the ‘war on terrorism’, Iraq and conflicts in South-East Europe, Africa, Indonesia and the Middle East.” (sydney.edu.au)

In a society where conflict is a story appearing every day in the media, Peace journalism is a vital element for encouraging peace in society.

For more information/references, see below:

• http://www.peacejournalism.org/Peace_Journalism/Welcome.html
• http://sydney.edu.au/arts/peace_conflict/research/peace_journalism.shtml
• https://www.transcend.org/tri/downloads/McGoldrick_Lynch_Peace-Journalism.pdf

Until next time, that’s this topic Pinned.
Emma.

Diasporic and Inter-cultural Cinema, the pro’s and the con’s.

Defining diaspora: “diaspora’ is derived from the Greek dia meaning ‘through’, and speirein meaning ‘to scatter’. It embodies the notion of a central home from which the dispersal occurs, and also invokes images of multiple journeys”, stated by Postcolonial theorist Avtar Brah (2003: 616).

Image via: http://www.tpfund.org/2013/05/the-changing-landscape-of-global-philanthropy-diasporas/

Diasporic and inter-cultural cinema is therefore, cinema that centres around one location but disperses internationally. Fan-bases of Diasporic media are therefore made-up largely of international migrants, as it is a connection to their homeland that is often readily accessible from their new home.

Production of Diasporic cinema is often difficult in considering ethics. Within cinema there is a fine line between representation of culture and mockery of that culture, and this is where problems arise. Although Diasporic media can help cultures understand the values and ethical standards of other cultures, it can also provide audiences with reasons to isolate migrants. For example, if a Bollywood television series aired in the US, social acceptance of Indian migrants among Americans may rise, however Americans may also become more educated about the differences between Western and Indian culture and create discriminative issues as a result. It is important for production of Diasporic media to be well planned and projected into society’s whereby the cinema will discourage cross-cultural discrimination. If consumed correctly, Diasporic media can be an invaluable asset to society worldwide in achieving peace.

Examples of Diasporic media include:

• Bend it like Beckham
• Slumdog millionaire
• Films by Fatih Akin
• The Saphires

For more information/references:

Diaspora:

• http://www.diasporaalliance.org/what-is-a-diaspora/

Diasporic media:

• http://www.ecmi.de/fileadmin/downloads/publications/JEMIE/2013/Georgiou.pdf
• http://www.ukessays.co.uk/essays/media/diasporic-media-play-in-migrant-communities.php

Bend it like Beckham trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwGeYMepvM

Slumdog millionaire trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwiU94p9XPA

The Saphires trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlkMgpYNDpU

Until next time, that’s this topic Pinned.

Emma.

Global Film: Nollywood and Korean Cinema

No, I haven’t made a typo, that is meant to spell “Nollywood”. Haven’t heard of the term before? I hadn’t either, but it turns out that the phrase refers to a genre of cinema you most definitely should be aware of.

Nollywood is simply, a genre of cinema produced in Nigeria. Nollywood is a concept that arose in the early 1990’s and is a more realistic and low-budget equivalent to Hollywood cinema. One major difference between Hollywood and Nollywood is that Nigerian films do not release in a movie theatre-environment, rather release directly as videos.

Much to my surprise, Nollywood is the world’s second largest film industry, producing approximately 2500 films per year, falling just short to the production rate of Bollywood and surpassing that produced by Hollywood.

Image via: http://www.nollywoodweek.com/whats-nollywood/

Nollywood contrasts Hollywood largely in the purpose of the films produced. Hollywood movies are most often made with the purpose of entertainment and monetary success, where as Nollywood films are most commonly made as a form of expression and ethical protest. Often reflecting current issues within the society producing the film, Nigerian cinema tells stories of current issues among African locals and the struggles of everyday life without glamorizing the scenario as Hollywood film often does.

Recently however, some Nollywood films are demonstrating Western influence, with themes portrayed in a more Hollywood style form of production (i.e. use of more high-tech cinematography and plotline’s swaying from Nigerian values). Western influence changing the film industry is also strongly demonstrated by Korean cinema, which often centres plotlines around themes such as love and social acceptance.

Nollywood produces thousands of films each year, as does Korean cinema. Hollywood making great use of money and technology creates a ‘giant’ appearance, resulting in higher producing however lower-publicized industries (such as Nollywood) being overlooked.

For more information on Nollywood, Korean cinema and a taste of these industries, browse the links below:

Links/ references:

• http://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2016-02-29/inside-nigerias-prolific-film-industry
•  Nollywood with western influence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlQFe67l2A4
•  Traditional Nollywood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syWnVBmaP3o
•  http://www.modernkoreancinema.com
•  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P-IU9YHDmE

Until next time, that’s this topic Pinned.
Emma.

My Digital Artefact

SO..

As previously mentioned in a post (Annotated bibliography), for one of my subjects this semester (BCM112- Convergent Media Practises), I am completing a digital artefact.

Our description for this assignment was basically:

1. Create something online..anything
2. Gain traction

After weeks of procrastination and pondering ideas, I decided I would review popular televisions shows (such as Game of Thrones and Orange is the New Black) based upon my first impressions of the show. I am carrying out this idea through a YouTube channel and am progressively posting more reviews.

So if you’re interested at all, go check out my YouTube channel!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvTm3RZ_-r22XJIArG7MbEg

Until next time, that’s this week Pinned.
Emma.

Everyone’s a journalist. Yes, that includes you!

In a world surrounded by Tweeters and poster’s, everyone’s a journalist. Yes, that includes you!

Think of a journalist…Now think of every time you have found out a news piece from somewhere other than a news platform. All of those times outside of news platforms are in fact citizen journalism.

Citizen journalism involves the concept that everyone is a journalist and that in today’s society, people anywhere can brake news any time.

See my YouTube video for more!

Some more information on citizen journalism can be found below:

• http://mashable.com/category/citizen-journalism/
• http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jun/11/rise-of-citizen-journalism
• https://www.reddit.com/r/citizenjournalism/

Until next time, that’s this week Pinned.
Emma.