Our sincerest congratulations to the Class of 2021 Bachelor of Media Studies graduates!
To celebrate our graduates, we’ve established this spotlight page where some of our graduates have shared what the importance of Media Studies is, what they will take from the program, how the program influenced them, and their most meaningful memory from their time in the BMS!
Kelia Chien
Kelia and her best friend Crystal who she met on their first day of classes in the program, on exchange in Barcelona!
Media Studies will continue to become integrated as necessary education in today’s society. It will be the driving force for the never-ending questions and endless confusion surrounding the new emerging tech or media (what is bitcoin? bit clout? Clubhouse what?) as we continue to head into the digital-centric age we live in today. The future of the world increasingly depends on media and having the ability to not only witness but undergo this historic moment holds an increasingly exciting and weird responsibility to continue to educate myself. It was intriguing and exciting to see professors and students alike be as passionate and as knowing about media today.
People really make or break one’s experience and I am beyond grateful to have a cohort that I was able to get to know fairly well. It’s not every university program where you get to experience the same professors or course timetable and complain about the struggles of coping with university whilst overly caffeinated and extremely deprived of sleep. It is tough to say a certain moment, but I think over the years as we all got to know each other better and develop inside jokes or help each other out we became closer.
In third-year, I was able to travel to Barcelona with my best friend Crystal who I met on one of the first days of classes. It was an immersive and exciting experience and we got to visit different countries and learn about the European culture and media. Truly cannot wait to see where everyone in the BMS cohort lands as I know there will be a lot of exciting opportunities and careers down their paths.
As an Asian Canadian pursuing media studies was a difficult negation from the typical traditional jobs (lawyers, doctor, etc.) but I am glad I did it. I think going into the job and career market nowadays, media is becoming so much more prevalent and important that these skills I learned in university and people I met are going to be so helpful. I am really passionate about making content and honing the art of storytelling and I hope to keep doing that through different mediums such as Youtube and eventually fingers crossed writing and producing a novel and film one day.
Natalie Fong
Natalie and her classmates during the filming of their final project for FIPR 133.
I believe the key takeaway from my time in the BMS program is that everything communicates something. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, there is a message that can be perceived by our senses. The lack of something is equally important as its presence. This understanding allows us to be more aware of not only what mediums are best at communicating what we wish to, but also think critically about the messages we are constantly receiving. Every job requires communication in one form or another – and each message is conveyed through a medium. By understanding such, we can find ways to more effectively communicate our intended meaning – no matter what we do.
My best memory from BMS is when we were filming our final project for FIPR 133. I got to work with my amazing friends and cast, write a script that I was passionate about, and see our efforts come to life. Although the entire process was stressful and strenuous, it was a lot of fun getting to insert and create inside jokes, make a fake Subtle Asian Dating page, film at a bubble tea cafe, all the while laughing and smiling with everyone involved. I not only met some incredible people, but I also got to further bond with my friends. Who knew the core of it all were pocky memes!
I also just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the professors and mentors who have helped guide us through the BMS program. We wouldn’t be here without you! And to my fellow classmates, thank you for making the last four years as amazing as it was, I can’t wait to see where you all go from here!
Tess Gellert
I think that media studies is really important because it allows us to better understand the world we live in and where things are headed as digital media becomes increasingly prevalent. I learned so much while in this program, and will absolutely bring a media studies point of view to my future studies and professional endeavors.
My best memories from the program have to do with creating bonds and friendships with other people in the program. I know these friendships will last a long time and I’m so grateful for the time I spent with everyone while in BMS!
Katie Hoang
With the world constantly changing, media is one of the constants throughout many debated topics, but also a presence we cannot live without. I think this program forced me to reflect on the world we live in: the good, the bad, the grey areas. The program not only provided me the opportunity to think critically, it also gave me practical skills to go into the real world. Graduating with a Media Studies degree gives me the confidence to survive in this ever-changing world.
This isn’t a specific memory, but more of what I love about this program. It was comforting to be able to see the same people class after class, year after year. Through different group projects, chats before classes, hangouts outside of class, the program gave me friendships that supported me throughout my university career. I am very grateful for this 🥰. The program also gave me the opportunity to try out different things and work on a variety of projects, forcing me to go out of my comfort zone and be inspired by my talented peers.
Tiffany Huang
Album cover for Bouquet of Light, one of Tiffany’s three classical piano compositions that were published in the inaugural issue of Beacon: Journal of Media Studies.
The Media Studies program has definitely made a lasting impact on my life. Ever since I was little, I wanted to tell stories through writing, film and other artistic media. In the BMS program, I was able to pursue my love of storytelling in a way that combined my creative interests with critical theory and exposure to new technologies. The multidisciplinary nature of the program is also what it makes so unique and valuable. On top of being able to draw connections between what I learned in different classes, I gained a newfound confidence in exploring the unfamiliar. Finally, Media Studies completely changed the way I thought about media. Namely, I went from thinking that a medium was merely a content-conveying tool to understanding its pervasive capacity to determine meaning-making itself. And in today’s image and information-saturated culture, it’s so important to observe how media is constantly changing and shaping every aspect of our lives.
The most meaningful highlights from my time in the BMS were all the occasions my classmates and I had to share our work in class! My cohort was made up of students who are so talented and skilled in diverse media forms, and who are all interested in thinking about media in different ways. From screening short films made in FIPR 133, to presenting final projects in visual art classes, to sharing information visualizations in INFO 419, it was always refreshing to come together and look at everyone’s creations. I am continuously impressed by my peers, and I am so grateful to have grown alongside them as creators in the past couple of years. Outside of classes, my favourite memory was being part of Beacon’s inaugural issue as an author of three piano compositions; I loved having that extracurricular opportunity for BMS students to showcase works that were more personal in nature.
Congratulations to all my fellow graduates! Even though we cannot get together in-person this year, I hope our paths will cross again in the future. Keep in touch and all the best on the next chapter in your lives!
Emma Kwok
The BMS program has helped me develop an awareness of the diverse types of frames which affect how peoples and communities engage with and perceive reality. It’s important to recognize how these frames can both focus our attention and obscure other information from it, because acknowledging this effect allows us to question both our perspectives and how they are shaped. From there, we can begin to deconstruct harmful frames and build a more understanding, compassionate society.
I’ll always have good memories of FIPR 133 in our second-year. There was one day when one of our classmates brought in a guitar, and our professor, Alejandro, borrowed it so he could play John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” for us. We started singing along, and it was so spontaneous and wholesome—truly a highlight.
Crystal Lee
I think that media is often seen as something negative that enforces toxic or corrupt behaviour. Personally, I don’t believe this to be the case. Media itself isn’t good or bad, it’s the way that it is used by people that makes it so. This was a big realization that I took away from one of my courses in this program, and I think it provides a sigh of relief, and a window of hope for our future. People are often scared of what they don’t know, so by understanding our own responsibility when it comes to media, and holding the people in charge of major media corporations accountable for their actions, we can drive the development of today’s media towards the right direction.
My best memories are spent well with the friends I’ve made in this program inside, outside and in between classes. We were the most chaotic group ever, but I really don’t know where I’d be without them.
Lin Lu
Lin on her passion project with Photo Vogue: “Passed by some wrecks with orange cuts, I immediately related the orange cuts as the representative color of the branches’ flesh. The highlight of the orange cross body bag states the connection between the artificial and natural flesh. This project was shot at Acadia beach (UBC’s campus is a natural photography studio)”. Here is a link to Lin’s project with Photo Vogue: shorturl.at/otGY4
Media Studies really took me to the other side of the entire social media world — from a consumer to a producer and even a scholar that can critically analyze the effects of it. I liked the various career paths that Media Studies provides. If you are someone who generally likes media, but not sure what aspect or field exactly, Media Studies is the program to explore all the options. I think the most important thing that I took from the program is to not simply follow a trend of a medium, but to utilize a medium that best expresses self.
Four years passed by so fast. I remembered that our cohort bonded so quickly and smoothly. My best memories were meeting up with my peers outside of Canada. Those times made me truly feel like a world citizen and that I can go to anywhere and there will probably be another peer.
My most meaningful highlight was to be able to work with amazing film production crews. Coming to Vancouver, I had the hope to experience what it is like to work at industrial productions, so when I really did, I felt that it was so worth it to travel for more than ten hours and study in Vancouver. Although this experience does not necessarily bring me a sustainable career, it was more than meaningful to learn more about myself, what I like, and most importantly what I do not like.
Sampriti Manna
Sampriti on her project: “This work I made for a VISA 4th-year class is very close to my heart, while I did not make it for a media studies course I used a lot of media theory in its creation. The work is about my first heartbreak and how I processed it!”
I loved how broad and vast Media Studies was. We learned about so many different things throughout history and the contemporary era. I think Media Studies is super special because it equips you to think more critically about any topic not just media-related ones. I have found myself wanting to dig deeper in my elective courses because of the media theory I learned. It was really fun being around like-minded people in the course as well. I always felt a sense of comfort knowing that each semester I would be able to take my courses with people I was inspired by! My favourite class was Ali’s VISA class. It opened up my artistic thinking in an unimaginable way and has continued to shape my art practice till this day! I am super proud of everyone for making it!!
Lisa Matsumoto
I think now more than ever, media is all around us. It’s important to understand not only the surface level messages these mediums are presenting to us but also the deeper meaning it brings with the chosen medium or in relation to other mediums. The program has taught me a variety of soft and hard skills that are transferrable across different life stages and the people have inspired me to keep learning and pursuing my interests!
My most meaningful highlight was seeing my cohort after a long vacation and chatting with them before our first class began! Being surrounded by familiar faces throughout my four years and relating to each other’s hardships via Messenger was reassuring. I also enjoyed all the various projects we had the chance to create over the years from websites to short films, and not only getting the experience to try something new but also witness the talents of my peers!
Lauren Park
One of my favorite parts of being in the Media Studies program was its interdisciplinary nature. I feel very lucky to have been able to take such a wide array of courses during my time at UBC, and for having the freedom to explore when choosing my electives. I already had a big interest in visual art and creative writing before joining this program, but over the past four years I’ve also developed a love for film and anthropology. My second favorite part of the program was being in a cohort and being able to see the same (usually) smiling faces almost every day! My classmates have kept me inspired and motivated the last four years and as much as I wish we could have finished our last year together in-person, I’m very proud of us all for making it here.
My best memory from BMS was working on our final film for our film production class second year. It was such a hands-on process and I learnt a lot about filmmaking. It was great bonding with my group members on set and I felt very proud watching everything come together. Watching the screening of our final film in the Frederic Wood Theatre was a great experience, seeing all our hard work manifest on screen. This project inspired me to get involved with other UBC student films, and it’s been highly rewarding.
Jaja Rattanajan
Media Studies has taught me to be critical about everything I’m consuming and encouraged me to reflect upon how my beliefs/values are subconsciously shaped by media institutions. Most importantly, this program has enabled me to recognize how biased each content can be (especially in journalism), and how blinded I have been to them.
The most memorable part of BMS was certainly the people in it – since we are a small cohort, we quickly became a close-knitted family. We’ve been there for each other since the very start of our university journey, and I cannot imagine what my university experience would have been like without my talented and inspiring classmates!
Maria Samper
Maria on her project ‘Scans’: “This is an image I used in a project called Scans from my Aunt Maria’s Photo Album, which I completed for the VISA 210 class I took in second year. For this project, I created a photo album for my aunt Maria, who was born a stillborn. I used public domain, archival images to create a chronology of her imagined life through falsified photo album scans.”
I think Media Studies is important because it teaches people new perspectives. It allows us to consider existing media and create original media that pushes against the norms we’ve accepted as standard our whole lives. I will take the theory, history, and creative drive I’ve learned and developed from this program with me. Thanks to this program, I feel like I have a clear idea of where I want to go next in my career and the goals I want to reach.
My best memories from my time in BMS are the moments in between classes that I spent with my friends. I’ve met the most wonderful people during my past four years at UBC, and I’m so grateful to have made these friendships and connections that I know will last!
Eric Thompson
I really liked the broad-brush approach to the program. We got to learn about lots of different facets of media, both practical and theoretical, and I think that’s really helped me when working at smaller companies where resources are limited. It’s also inspired me to pursue many different creative avenues. Throughout my degree, I got to experience so many amazing opportunities that I wouldn’t have gotten if not for the foundation of the BMS provided. I was able to have a radio show at CiTR, cover a Canucks game for NHL.com, and shoot photo and video at the 2020 HSBC Canada Sevens – not only are those great work opportunities I’ve had, but they were also just really cool, and the experience I gained in the BMS was a major factor in getting to be a part of them.
The Media Studies program also taught me that creating media is not just about creating content, but about examining the purpose and the implication of what you write, shoot, compose, or tweet. It’s helped me both as a creator of media and as a consumer of media – thinking critically about trashy true-crime documentaries or sports broadcast graphics packages was never something I would have imagined I’d do, but these past three years have completely changed my perspective on how the world communicates.
I also just had a lot of fun and met some really amazing people during my time in the program. I like to think that while we all went a little nuts towards the end there, we were going nuts together. I’ll remember you all in therapy.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget the FIPR film festival. Getting to see what everyone else had been working on for months and seeing the finished product of our own chaotic film shoot up on the big screen was amazing, and I’m so glad I got to give my thinks (and apologies) to the actors in person after basically shoving them out the door so we could leave our set on time.
Emily Van Ryn
Emily on her project ‘The Tower’: “Inspired by the tarot card of the same name, The Tower depicts an elephant and a donkey falling from a crumbling tower with the word “democracy” stamped haphazardly at the bottom. Speaking to the bipartisan failure of American democracy, The Tower uses the symbolism of tarot to encourage us to view this failure as an opportunity to build a better system from the rubble. This work was created for the BMS Core+ Course VISA 250: Printmaking with Dan Starling and was shown in the 2019 Visual Art Undergraduate Graduate Exhibition at the Audain Art Centre.”
I think media and visual theory should be required material for all students- it applies to everything! Media Studies introduced me to new ways of knowing that most students likely don’t receive until grad school. The teachings of this program inform my entire world view… a gift and a curse. I’ll never consume any media in peace again! But I think I’m better for it.
Yuri (Elizabeth) Wang
Elizabeth on her project ‘Freeride’: “This photo is taken during the time we were producing our short film ‘Freeride’ made in the BMS FIPR 133 class. I and Lua were at the Jugo Juice place near my apartment and we were both exhausted but happy for it to be done!”
I think the importance of media studies is that it offers an interdisciplinary stream for us to explore different aspects of media which helps us form a better understanding of the current world and the society. I’m also very grateful to study alongside my peer cohorts who are a group of talented, enthusiastic and wonderful people. I learned so much from them and these friends and memories will be my lifelong treasures. From media studies, I learned that media can impact an individual as much as it impacts the whole society, and above all, I think that media studies can help us to navigate our lives and future careers in this digital world.
The best memory from my time in the BMS is when I had to sit on the back of a trunk to film our project for FIPR 133. This memory made me realize how I’m not capable of pursuing a film production degree or master (Just kidding). At the end of the day, when I finally got to watch the whole finished project edited by our director Ryan and editor Oliver at the public screening, it made me feel like it was all worth it.
Emily Wang
Above is a project Emily enjoyed working on. It is an infographic for INFO 419.
The Media Studies program gave me so much, both in theory and practice, academically and beyond. It taught me to be a critical consumer of all that is around us, but also that we do not just sit back to analyze what has been produced- we play a valuable role in creating what surrounds us. The program also provided me with a wonderful cohort who made honing teamwork and communications skills all the more enjoyable and fun. Everyone comes from diverse backgrounds with unique goals, missions and dreams; the class presentations and projects that exhibited the potpourri of our interests and knowledge influence and inspire me to open myself and heart to more.
Highlights are: crying over our Python code in the Orchard study lounge, going around Gastown for our short film project, team Zucchini, dogs in class, cookies in class, cakes in class…
Thanks to all the instructors and professors and program managers/assistants for your hard work in creating and upkeeping the BMS program!
