Media Arts 1

This week’s workshop focussed on the development of ideas to create short films concurrent with the stimulus “Fly”. It was insightful and interesting to hear the class’s ideas and plans for their own films. For our own film we chose to tell a story of bullying and eventual acceptance through the use of a protagonist who was unique in their being not human but a cow.
I feel that creating a short film to depict themes of acceptance and unity provides an interesting and meaningful way of raising awareness of bullying issues, which translates across any context. In our story, the Cow protagonist is attending a university, but the issues she faces could easily be understood in a primary school setting.
By creating stories where there is a clear motivation to empathise with the protagonist such as in the short film, students may be able to take on board anti-bullying messages.
Stout (1999) discusses how engagement with the arts can prompt students to develop empathy and understanding through its manner of allowing self-expression and creativity. (Stout, 1999)

References

Change. (2014). Compassion and acceptance. [Image]. Retrieved from:
http://d22r54gnmuhwmk.cloudfront.net/photos/8/wn/hx/SKwNHXhBAwYSecV-556×313-noPad.jpg
Degree Directory. (2011). Unified hands. [Image]. Retrieved 16 March 2014 from: http://degreedirectory.org/cimages/multimages/2/children_hands.jpg

Stout, C.J. (2007). The art of empathy: Teaching students to care. Art Education. 52(2), 225-228.

Times Higher Education. (2013). Unity through diversity. [Image].
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/Pictures/web/p/t/r/from_where_i_sit_illustration_03101_450.jpg

 

Reflection 1: Introductory Lecture and thoughts on Tropfest, benefits of Media Arts for young people

Having an understanding of the plethora of concepts that encompass the strand of Media Arts can prove to equip students with some very important skills that can be carried out through other areas of study as well as in their personal lives.
Guerro (2009) found that students who are enabled to engage with and produce their own media artworks were enabled to see anyone can have a voice; the creation of a film or photograph that holds a personal story to the creator allows students to develop an understanding of subjectivity. (Guerro, 2009)
Film festivals like the Tropfest Jr. are empowering young people to gain a sense of awareness of the media, and an understanding of its capabilities as an artform. Through this festival and those like young people can engage and empathise with subject matter presented through the Media Arts, as well as prove to be a medium through which they can express themselves effectively and engage with the works of others subjectively.

References

Guerro, P. (2009). Media Arts and Elementary Age Children: Creative Active Producers from Passive Consumers. Afterimage. P. 49.
Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.library.usyd.edu.au/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/212097599?accountid=14757
Images:

Daily Telegraph. (2013). Milperra Teenager to enter Trop Jr. film competition. Retrieved 9 March 2014 from: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/south-west/milperra-teenager-lily-andrew-to-enter-trop-jr-film-competition/story-fngr8hxh-1226725368744

LACMA. (2011). Art and film education initiative. Retrieved 9 March 2014 from: http://www.lacma.org/sites/default/files/image/329edit2.jpg

Tropfest. (2014). Trop Jr. Retrieved 9 March 2014 from: http://tropfest.com/au/files/2011/10/TropJr1.jpg