Screen Studies: Undergraduate student profiles
Jirra Harvey
Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications)
Majors: Media and Communications and Cinema Studies
"In my course, I studied the influential nature of popular culture and the media's ability to create and reinstate ideologies of cultural prejudice. As an Aboriginal woman I am particularly interested in the intersection of race and gender in film, news media and popular music.
I believe that the power of the media can be harnessed to provide more positive outcomes for Aboriginal people. Increasing the number of Indigenous professionals working within the media industry is an integral step towards achieving this goal.
These beliefs were reaffirmed during my last year of study when I worked as the Victorian correspondent for The Koori Mail. From a grass roots level I saw the pride that positive imagery can bring.
I have many fond memories of my time spent at the University's Centre for Indigenous Education (CIE). The switch from secondary school to University can be daunting and the community environment provided much needed social and academic support."
Luke Natoli
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (Cinema Studies)
"I began my Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University in 2002 with the sole purpose of majoring in Cinema Studies. I have always been intensely passionate about film and Cinema Studies was indeed the perfect and most appropriate choice for my undergraduate study. Through this course I have been able to demonstrate my ultimate love of film by completing an Honours thesis on the work of director Quentin Tarantino and his use of genre in contemporary cinema.
At the end of last year I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to complete three weeks of intensive field work in the United States concentrating primarily on the study of America's entertainment precincts. It was such a privilege to visit and interact with locations I had only ever been able to read about or experience through academic literature. This overseas trip marked the completion of my Honours degree in Cinema Studies.
It has been incredibly rewarding to be surrounded by both experienced academics in the field of cinema as well as other devoted 'cinephiles' within the University environment."