- Write a short bio to set the stage. Introduce yourself, your major, and art/design interests. This is who you are.
Sakura here! I was born in Malibu in 1998 and am very close to my family. I go to Parsons now and right now I am a strategic design and management major at the moment, though I am planning on switching to Integrated Design because I have realized that I enjoy my making classes more. Although I love to create things as for me it just feels good, I really love to make creative decisions. I am very happy to be a student here as I am always curious and I think that we can always always learn more. Though I do not know exactly what I want to be , fashion styling and curating art are what I plan on doing. But what is most important for me is to do things that just give me pleasure. To be happy. I believe fully in the concept of being able to do anything. Because I truly believe that I can do absolutely anything. Traveling has influenced me a lot and food and cultures are other aspects in which I find myself drawn to.
- Write a statement that describes the research project. This is a deep look at your work.
In this research project, I focused on media manipulation that is seen in America. I looked closely at the effects media has on youth and also how it affects consumerism in The United States. I feel that as a woman who is now at age were I can reflect on my childhood and I am able to understand how it has all affected me more than I ever been able to. It has put in societal ideals in my mind. And I think what I find so fascinating about this is how it affects my younger sister who is 14, she is in the age of where this is affecting her immensely, and I feel like she is unable to reflect and realize what is going on around her. Where I am at a place to be able to see these things. And I feel like many people overlook the effect that the media around us has on us.
Planning: Show your preparatory steps for the project. What initiated this project? How did previous assignments build into this? What specific research steps did you take? Was there a question you wanted to answer? How did these research findings play out in the project itself? At what point did you make certain connections between the research, writing, and making processes?
Went to the library and got a book on media, looked through different portals. For my final project for studio, I looked back at how I felt the media has influenced or affected me. I struggled with how to show this but I decided to do a simple representation of it with a collage. The connection I made was how media affects and manipulates our world and each of us in different ways. I guess the only question I have is how is media manipulation similar to propaganda and how it all affects people? I think once I started thinking about my concept for the collage and how media affects me, I was able to connect all of the pieces.
Outcome: Show what was explored/ researched/ made/ written in Studio and Seminar. Write a clear description of each item. Add media components (images, galleries, video, excerpts, etc.).
I made a back to back postcard type of collage, and research paper focusing on media manipulation in the Unites States and the effect that it has on the citizens. I took images of icons or symbols that seem to affect us a lot, as well as images from magazines that seemed impactful or common to what we see.
Thinking: Show your thought process. What does the project communicate? How did the research process affect your understanding and then your writing/making? What is most successful or interesting about this project?
I started with the broad topic of media manipulation. I then thought about how I connect with media and how it has affected me, and sort of thought more deeply into how it has affected all people around me. I then found research to back up the fact that we are being influenced and manipulated by media constantly. I wanted to show the mental effects it has on us all. I think what was most successful in my part because of the collage. I am not as proud of the research paper, but I am proud that I did it. I think what was successful was that I was able to connect both projects pretty well. I like that it focused with The Hunger Games, though it was nice to be able to connect it with the outer world.
- Write a conclusion that looks toward ongoing interests, questions, and research pursuits. This is where you’re heading.
I think that it is important for me to reflect on things that affect me even if it is subconsciously. I know that I have always been interested in media and how it affects young people in America. I think I am Although tough, I think writing a research paper is an important challenge for me. It also revealed that I actually am interested in media more than I thought, and find connections of manipulation in effects to how I am and how I question the world now. I think time management and speaking with a librarian in how to best find reliable sources is something that I have found to be most important. I found that researching has taken a long long time and I need to spend a lot of time on that. I want to find and explore new ideas and art forms and how I can combine all of the things I love. Such as fashion and media and art. I think that I find myself thinking a lot about how our media and new technologies really affect all of our lives, especially young people. I wonder how this connects to our mental health and how we function. Hopefully I can work with more forms of media, such as film or magazines to create more.
