Faculty oF humanities and social sciences 2013 - Victoria University ...

Isobelle Thomson
Current BA student
“The constant presence of media within society
means that it never ceases evolving, making it an
ever interesting subject to pursue.”
Unable to pick a single topic to study I chose to do a double
major in Psychology and Media Studies. This allowed me to
actively pursue multiple interests and broaden my thinking in
more ways than one, yet to also identify crossovers between
the two. I have a particular interest in how and why people
behave and think the way they do and find that both subjects
highlight different, yet important aspects of this notion.
I am particularly interested in how media technologies are
used to shape the way people think and behave. The ubiquitous
presence of media within daily life means that it is an ever
relevant source in which to identify and establish cultural
norms, issues and the discourse of modern society. Because of
this I have found the study of media to be critical to expanding
my understanding and thinking of such topics.
24 Victoria University of Wellington
Miriam Ross
Lecturer in Film
“Victoria University is in an ideal position to reflect
upon and contribute to Wellington’s stimulating and
expanding film culture.”
Miriam Ross studied Drama and English at Trinity College
Dublin and then worked as an English teacher in South Korea
and Chile before returning to her home country, Scotland,
to undertake a Master’s and PhD in Film Studies. During her
time overseas she became fascinated with national cinemas
that operate outside of Hollywood and Europe, leading to a
PhD project that allowed her to travel through much of Latin
America. This project has recently been published as the
book, South American Cinematic Culture: Policy, Production,
Distribution and Exhibition.
Since arriving in New Zealand in 2011, she has been awarded
funding by Victoria to begin a new project on the global spread
of 3D cinema. This work has taken her to archives in Berlin, a
film festival in Belgium, a conference in Boston and numerous
3D film screenings in Wellington. She has discussed this work
on the local podcast Cinematica and on National Radio.