Dear Badger,
Maybe it’s because I am getting closer to finalizing my degree and I feel the need for personal reassurance and validation; maybe it’s because I am unamused with the frequently associated stigma; whatever the reason, I feel an itching desire to answer the question: what is Media Studies? We all know this scenario all too well: you’re at a buzzing social gathering amongst fellow university students and the first question (or third, depending on your mastered social skills) to break the ice is: “so, what do you study?”
It may sound like boastful lies, but if I am the person breaking the ice with such a question, I am always intrigued by their answer, no matter what their degree is. I don’t give preference to someone doing Maths over American Studies, or vice versa, Music over Medicine. Why would I?
The truth is, unless we study these degrees, nobody, myself included, has a clue about what these degrees actually entail. Thus, why would I make assumptions about that person or their academic subject when I am blissfully unaware? Besides, I hold a hippy dippy belief that in society no job is more important than the other. The street cleaner is as necessary as the teacher, the teacher is as necessary as the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister is as necessary as the dog walker.
Every individual has a role in society that suits them according to their interests and passion, and this belief makes each of these roles equally: relevant, fascinating and significant (I told you it was hippy dippy). It is for this reason that, secretly, my is ego severely damaged every time I am exposed to piercing content that devalues Media Studies as a credible degree.
When I tell people what I study, the response is always freakishly similar: Media? That sounds fun. Fun? Sure it’s fun, as fun as the biochemist finds their degree. Like any degree if you are passionate about, you will find vast parts of it enjoyable. But when people say fun, I know they are really insinuating that I sit on my ass making music videos and watching Harry Potter all term whilst in my free time I gallivant around campus picking my nose.
Sadly, this is not the reality. Believe it or not Media Studies is not so much related to films and television as it is to: society, race, history, politics and various other subjects that other ‘serious’ humanities degrees consider. However, I won’t let you take my word for it. In an article by James Curran, a senior lecturer in Media, History and Politics at the University of London, states that ‘the attack on media studies is founded on ignorant misrepresentation’ and that the subject is ‘enormously demanding’.
He observes that the insightful modules offered in UK Universities like ‘Media and Democracy’ and ‘Media, Publics and Protest’ study the media with means to interrogate the underpinnings of society. Now does that sound so moronic? Dear god I hope not.
Now just don’t get me started on defending my joining degree in Cultural Studies…
Jemada Cicley
Union obliterates the debate – unwritten requirement used to shut down free speech debate
Jordan Wright - April 27, 2018
‘I’m Sick of Singing About My Broken Heart’ – Tom Odell in Concert
Mollie Lindsay-Bush - November 16, 2018Latest Posts
Remakes and Reimaginings: Suspiria (2018)
Yazz James - November 13, 2018Suspiria is a surprising and radical reimagining of Dario Argento’s 1977 film. The story is centred around Susie Bannion (Jessica Harper/Dakota Johnson), a young American, who moves…
Full Discussion with Little Green Pig
Kate Dennett - November 12, 2018We got the chance to talk to Catherine from Brighton & Hove’s local organisation, Little Green Pig, who work with young people to unlock their imaginations and…
CINECITY Opening Night: The Favourite
Emma Nay - November 11, 2018I did not always believe in the magic of cinema. Sitting in one of a thousand identical cinemas, looking at the waves of unoccupied seats, can make…
New Poets Take to the Stage at Hi Zero
Roxana Xamán Mc Gregor - November 8, 2018On the 30 November it was the last Tuesday of the month, meaning, of course, I was at The Hope and Ruin ready for Hi Zero, as…
Poets and Musicians Against the Arms Trade Preview
Emma Nay - November 6, 2018On the 10th of November in Falmer Bar’s own Room 76 a series of musicians and poets are coming together to protest against the arms trade. The…
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning: 50th Anniversary
Hal Keelin - November 2, 2018As one of the best things to come out of the 20th Century nears its 50th anniversary, it is a chance to look back at Laurie Lee’s…
Self-Representation – Women of Colour in Publishing Event
Florence Dutton - October 29, 2018Over recent years, relentless injustice has caused a surge in female self-reclamation, especially across the media. More and more women from marginalised communities and backgrounds are coming…
Poets Wow Crowds at The Haunt
Alice Gledhill - October 25, 2018On Sunday evening, The Haunt welcomed a trio of poets from America and Canada as part of Neil Hilborn’s UK tour, treating guests to an uplifting night…
Brighton and Beyond
Rachael Naylor - October 24, 2018Finding your feet in a brand new city can be overwhelming and confusing at first, however Brighton offers a range of alternative travel options to satisfy all…
The best breakthroughs of 2018 thus far
Sabrina Edwards - October 22, 2018As we begin a new school year, this is a great time for Sabrina Edwards, the new Science editor, to reflect on the best scientific breakthroughs of…
De-Stressing with Rob Cowen’s Common Ground
Hal Keelin - October 18, 2018Upon my transfer to Sussex University, I found Robert Cowen’s Common Ground a particularly comforting read. After nearly a year out from academic study, I was finally…
Johnny English Fails to Strike Again
Alice Gledhill - October 18, 2018Striking up laughter in cinema screens once again, Rowan Atkinson may have given up playing lovable Mr. Bean, but he hasn’t retired as Johnny English just yet.…
Sexual assault in the US government
Tom Robinson - October 17, 2018“I believed he was going to rape me.” are the stand out words in Christine Ford’s final testimony at the confirmation hearing of Brett Kavanaugh as an…
What’s ACCA-ning?
Emma Nay - October 16, 2018All you need to know about autumn at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts If you have not seen the ACCA’s new autumn programme, you…
Review: Journeying with Grace Nichols
Kate Dennett - October 12, 2018In celebration of Black History Month, Sussex Student Union organised a number of interesting talks and events across October. One of these exciting opportunities was a chance…
Review: Suzanne Ciani & Martin Messier at the ACCA
Anonymous - October 10, 2018At the outset, Mr Messier’s FIELD at once invoked The Matrix and Daedalus’ Boiler Room set. The basic concept of this mixed media performance relies on transducer…
Shelf Help: The Organisation Encouraging Self-Development
Kate Dennett - October 10, 2018To commemorate to this year’s Mental Health Awareness Day, I found it increasingly difficult to draw attention to just one book of relevance in recognition of this…
Freshers’ Week from a second year perspective
Chris Ahjem - October 9, 2018Annually, the University of Sussex welcomes thousands of new students to our Falmer campus and every year the Student’s Union and Brighton based clubs and businesses increase…
National Badger Day: 10 fun facts you might not have known
Chris Ahjem - October 6, 2018To celebrate National Badger Day here are 10 fun facts about our animal kingdom namesake Badgers can run up to 16-19 miles per hour which is the…
University of Sussex Joins Libraries Week
Kate Dennett - October 6, 2018This coming week marks the celebration of Libraries Week, an event solely dedicated to praising the work of libraries across the UK. This annual event is taking…
Oscar Jerome at The Hope and Ruin
Alex Leissle - October 4, 2018The young star is often a tricky title to navigate. There are the big names, who explode into the world with noise, bright light, a big record…
How Fenty Beauty changed the face of the makeup industry
Rachel Badham - October 3, 2018Fenty Beauty, launched in September last year, is a makeup line created by global superstar Robyn Rihanna Fenty, better known as Rihanna. It’s not uncommon for celebrity…
Why we should all embrace drag
Chris Ahjem - October 3, 2018Once an art form disregarded by many, 2018 bears witness to the continuous rise of drag as a legitimate, celebrated art. Spearheaded by RuPaul’s Drag Race, drag…
In Conversation with Alannah Myles
Anastasia Konstantinidou - October 3, 2018This week we had the pleasure of interviewing Alannah Myles, the 1991 Grammy winner for best female rock vocal performance for her outstanding vocal abilities for the…
Brighton Needs You!
Anonymous - September 28, 2018Brighton is a vibrant and thriving city that many students at Sussex are lucky enough to call home. But there are many in the area in need…
Books Every Fresher Should Read
Anonymous - September 19, 2018Starting university comes with both exciting but potentially daunting changes, with both moving away from home and studying at degree level posing to be two new challenges.…
INCREDIBLES 2: The Sequel with a Feminist Twist
Olek Młyński - September 18, 2018One key film in the development of anyone who grew up in the early 2000s was The Incredibles (2004). It’s comedy, vibrancy, and general sense of fun…
France in Fine Fettle
Anonymous - September 17, 2018Prior to the start of the quadrennial tournament this summer, football fans across the world grew sceptical over Russia’s credentials and ability to host the most prestigious…
Dive into Brightonian Culture
Sorrel Linsley - September 17, 2018Boredom is impossible when you throw yourself into everything this weird and wonderful city has to offer. The specific and unique cultural wonders of Brighton are indeed…
Oh, baby, baby, did you see Britney at Pride?
Anastasia Konstantinidou - September 15, 2018During this year’s Pride Festival, Brighton had the honour of welcoming international pop star and voice of the early 2000s, Britney Spears, to the main stage. Undoubtedly,…
Union obliterates the debate – unwritten requirement used to shut down free speech debate
Jordan Wright - April 27, 2018Student society Liberate the Debate’s most recent event was cancelled over a lack of compliance with the Students' Union's (USSU) requirement for a neutral chair - a…
The Slacker Podcast w/ You Me At Six
Lara Antoine - November 17, 2018Among the warm lights, plants and sofas that looked like they were from the set of Friends, BBC Radio 1 Presenter Phil Taggart conducted a one-off live…
Brighton and Hove Employment
kenyon55 - November 17, 2018Approximately 800 of 4,520 currently unemployed in Brighton and Hove are aged 18-24, according to The Argus. To address unemployment, especially amongst Brighton’s youth, the city’s Jobcentre…
BBC Introducing Live| Sustainability and Music
Lara Antoine - November 16, 2018If you were to link sustainability with something it's unlikely to be music. The panelists aimed to prove that wrong, focusing on plastic waste and emissions in…
‘I’m Sick of Singing About My Broken Heart’ – Tom Odell in Concert
Mollie Lindsay-Bush - November 16, 2018[caption id="attachment_37093" align="alignnone" width="3024"] Photo by Mollie Lindsay-Bush[/caption] ‘I’m Sick of Singing About My Broken Heart’ – But, oh boy Tom, we are not. When I…
Thrilling Feminist Dystopias
Anonymous - November 16, 2018The production of dystopian fiction has rapidly expanded over the past twenty years, with young adult dystopian trilogies, such as The Hunger Games, gaining popularity amongst teenagers.…
It’s Time To Talk About Biphobia
Rachel Badham - November 16, 2018Biphobia is the prejudice against bisexual and pansexual individuals, and whilst this may exist amongst the heterosexuals it’s also very common within the LGBTQ+ community itself. Bisexuality,…
Acting Political: Celebrity Involvement In The Political Landscape
Rachel Badham - November 16, 2018Amid the build up to the US mid-term elections, global megastar Taylor Swift released a political statement via Instagram to her 112 million followers. Swift has previously…
Period Poverty: The Untold Story Behind The Tax On Women’s Bodies
Rachel Badham - November 16, 2018Jaffa cakes and edible cake decorations are just some of the products that are VAT free in Britain, and yet tampons and sanitary towels are still subject…
Should We Say No To Gendered Marketing?
Rachel Badham - November 16, 2018From the moment we become aware of the concept of gender as children we automatically become conscious of the unwritten rules that dictate what constitutes gender. From…
Playing with fire…but who gets burned?
melissageere - November 16, 2018While up to 30,000 people attended and enjoyed Lewes Bonfire celebrations on the 5th of November, there was a marked lack of public criticism of the deeply…
Homelessness in Brighton: An Olympic Disaster
tallulahfirefly - November 16, 2018In a 2011 article the BBC reported that homelessness had nearly doubled in the last year. But what sparked this dramatic increase in figures? It has long…
BAME Representation: Darren Chetty and Lacking Representation in Literature
Mollie Lindsay-Bush - November 16, 2018I came across Darren Chetty, a teacher and author based in London, when reading the 2016 Readers Choice Award winner The Good Immigrant. Compiled of a…
The Limitations of a Liberal Victory – The American Midterms
Tom Robinson - November 16, 2018On Wednesday, the results of the US midterms were released which could have a monumental impact upon Trump’s presidency. In casting their opinion on Trump so far,…
Blood and Cups: Breaking the Period Taboo
Billie-Jean Johnson - November 15, 2018In Bolivia it has been believed that disposing of menstrual pads with other rubbish could lead to sickness or even cancer, according to UNICEF. Ancient Roman, Pliny…
Brighton Cinecity: South East Stories Review
Harry Salisbury - November 14, 2018The early 19th Century Holy Trinity Church - since 1996 the home of one of Brighton’s leading contemporary arts organisations Fabrica – served as a stunning host…
Sussex Uni Achieves Fair trade Status
kenyon55 - November 14, 2018Sussex has achieved Fairtrade status, committing the institution to decent working conditions and the maintenance and support of sustainable local production. “The University and Student's Union have…
Future of Pharmacy Degree Uncertain
Matthew Nicholls - November 14, 2018The month-long Pharmacy MPharm consultation has now ended. The consultation over whether the course should be discontinued lasted from October 9 to November 9, with the final…
Widows – Inheriting crime
Olek Młyński - November 14, 2018Steve Mcqueen’s latest film is a bold move from slow-burn dramas with a strolling pace into the department of fast paced blockbuster heist-movie. Regardless of this, Widows…
Luqman Faces Deportation with Tribunal Approaching
kenyon55 - November 14, 2018Luqman Onikosi, an ex Sussex student, came to the UK from Nigeria in 2007 and continues to campaign for his right to remain in the country. His…
Ex-Sussex Professor: “Israelis blew up Twin Towers”
kenyon55 - November 14, 2018The University of Sussex is investigating after emeritus professor of International Relations, Kees van der Pijl, tweeted: “Not Saudis, Israelis blew up Twin Towers with help from…
Latest News
Self-Representation – Women of Colour in Publishing Event
Florence Dutton - October 29, 2018Union obliterates the debate – unwritten requirement used to shut down free speech debate
Jordan Wright - April 27, 2018
Remakes and Reimaginings: Suspiria (2018)
November 13, 2018
Full Discussion with Little Green Pig
November 12, 2018
CINECITY Opening Night: The Favourite
November 11, 2018
New Poets Take to the Stage at Hi Zero
November 8, 2018
Poets and Musicians Against the Arms Trade Preview
November 6, 2018
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning: 50th Anniversary
November 2, 2018
Self-Representation – Women of Colour in Publishing Event
October 29, 2018
Poets Wow Crowds at The Haunt
October 25, 2018Brighton and Beyond
October 24, 2018The best breakthroughs of 2018 thus far
October 22, 2018
De-Stressing with Rob Cowen’s Common Ground
October 18, 2018
Johnny English Fails to Strike Again
October 18, 2018
Sexual assault in the US government
October 17, 2018
What’s ACCA-ning?
October 16, 2018
Review: Journeying with Grace Nichols
October 12, 2018
Review: Suzanne Ciani & Martin Messier at the ACCA
October 10, 2018
Shelf Help: The Organisation Encouraging Self-Development
October 10, 2018
Freshers’ Week from a second year perspective
October 9, 2018
National Badger Day: 10 fun facts you might not have known
October 6, 2018
University of Sussex Joins Libraries Week
October 6, 2018
Oscar Jerome at The Hope and Ruin
October 4, 2018
How Fenty Beauty changed the face of the makeup industry
October 3, 2018
Why we should all embrace drag
October 3, 2018
In Conversation with Alannah Myles
October 3, 2018
Brighton Needs You!
September 28, 2018
Books Every Fresher Should Read
September 19, 2018
INCREDIBLES 2: The Sequel with a Feminist Twist
September 18, 2018
France in Fine Fettle
September 17, 2018
Dive into Brightonian Culture
September 17, 2018
Oh, baby, baby, did you see Britney at Pride?
September 15, 2018
Brighton and Hove Employment
November 17, 2018
BBC Introducing Live| Sustainability and Music
November 16, 2018
