Christine has always been a quiet and shy person when it comes to discussing her career and experience in photography. I’ve always been intrigued in her experiences in the professional workspace and the accomplishments she’s achieved before her move to Australia. Her “Norwegian humbleness” means that she is not someone who talks often of her work to others due to the unwritten law “Janteloven” she was raised on that tells you “Not to aim to be special because you are not”.
Due to Christine’s humbleness, I haven’t known much about her career, but I knew she was extremely talented and have even been witness to her skills firsthand. Throughout the process of interviewing her, I learnt a lot about the way she approaches her work and the values she has gained over the years, and the influence this has had on her as an individual. Her life as a child and the influences around her helped her get a start in photography at a young age, and her circle of life have played a tremendous role in her passion for her future.
Through the process of outside listening when exchanging with Christine, I gained the understanding that Christine had taken breaks throughout her career due to the value she has towards herself and her wellbeing. Incorporating the process of outsider listening allowed me to narrow down on details she provides and broaden the scope when looking deeper in them. She did not see these breaks as a crucial part of her career but more of a moment to step back and breath. However, by listening to how these breaks led her to truly focus on herself and gain confidence and enthusiasm back towards photography, it was noticeable that these breaks are an important part of Christine’s routine in the photography industry.
It also linked to the idea of absent but implicit idea. By taking these breaks in 2018 and now 2022, it demonstrates that Christine was getting everything that was beneficial for her in her career. She took it upon herself to create a space and timeframe that allowed her to slow down and gain her bearings again. Her own values weren’t met when they were needed
Throughout the process of interviewing and piecing together the presentation, my main objective was to ensure Christine’s values and personality shone through above else. She provides so much of herself in her career and as a value of mine is to demonstrate truth in storytelling, I was able to incorporate personal details of her life and experiences in the photography industry both in and out of Norway. We hold similar values which I discovered during the interview and therefore I was able to create a response that was shaped not only by my own but also Christine’s values. She is an individual focused on the practice of equality as well as humbleness. Although she is humble and kind, she has achieved many great things during her time as a photography in the professional field, and I provided a platform for her where she felt comfortable to share her accomplishments as well as still bearing her humble qualities.
Describe their practice. What is the ‘shape’ of this practice?
She is an American Actress, Writer, and director. She is best known for her role as director in the Oscar-nominated films ‘Ladybird’ and ‘Little Women’.
How are they situated in their field?
Although Greta Gerwig is fairly knew the field of Directing, she started her career as an actor and so developed knowledge and experience within the film industry. She has developed her own unique film style which makes her movies stand out.
Are they influential in this field? How did they become influential?
She has become influential in her field due to her directing style. She has been cited stating that she was originally influenced by individuals’ works such as David Bowie, Mike Leigh, and Woody Allen. Her directing style and a common theme of ‘young woman coming of age’, distinguished Greta Gerwig’s image and direction a part from others in the industry because she uses a truthful almost raw method of portraying the story. She allows a sort of freedom between her actors and their roles which is displayed through the screen creating a comfortable and realistic feel to her projects.
What are their working methods?
It has been pointed out by numerous crew who have worked with her such as Yorick Le Saux, as the cinematographer on Little Women, that Greta tended to work closely with the actors during shooting. This could be due to her knowledge and experience as an actor in the filming industry, and allowed her to help actors create their own characters that link to their own personalities or views on their individual roles. She also works closely with cinematographers as she isn’t as hands on with the filming camera side of the production. It is clear that she gives directions and works with cinematographers to create the overall style that she envisions for her films as there are similarities between her works. Her closeness with her team and crew can be reflected both on the screen and off. As stated in an article by FILMD, Greta’s projects only work if she has a reliable team behind her, and continues to state the reemployment of Soasire Ronan and Timothee Chalamet demonstrates Gerwig found actors she believes understands the way she works and envisions each project.
Do they have any advice?
“So many directors just get an actor on set, and they haven’t talked to them, they haven’t looked at them, and they say, ‘Ok now, do it.’ Your actors are the lifeblood of the movie. It doesn’t matter how good a shot looks, the lifeblood, the thing that people will connect to, is these people.”
What materials do they work with? What are the ideas they work with?
She works alongside her cinematographers in order to use appropriate equipment and styled shots in order to capture the overall essence of the film. Continuing on with the examples of ‘Lady bird’ and ‘Little Women’ you can use their cinematography as a representation of different camera techniques or equipment used to create a different feel to a space.
For instance, in Little Women Le Saux and Greta collaborated on how best to capture a period piece on appropriate film. To create this piece of film and a unique tough to the overall heartfelt period piece they captured the entire film on 35mm film (KODAK VISION3 500T Colour Negative Film 5219 35mm film).
The Irwin’s are conservationists, television personalities and educators that work toward spreading the message of wildlife conservation. From an early age, Bindi and Robert were brought up in the life of media and all aspects of the Australia Zoo, even those including crocodiles. As quoted by the Australia Zoo on the influence their father Steve has on their prospects, “he instilled in them the need to treat every living being with kindness”. Each member plays an important role that best fits them on all conservation projects, media visits and directions in the Zoo.
They are considered interventionists through their work towards wildlife conservation and the protection of wildlife. Their ownership of Australia Zoo and foundations such as the Wildlife Warriors, has built a path for their work to be considered that of an interventionist. Their message to create a world where “people, wildlife and habitat survive and prosper without being detrimental to the existence of each other” (Wildlife Warriors), has been a main goal for all parties involved in their conservation projects and has reached the eyes and ears of both national and international audiences. Their fame began through their father and husband Steve Irwin, who established this foundation and took over the Australia Zoo with an aim to create awareness and change for wildlife. The family has since taken on this role continuing until present, through their work in the Zoo and through their media presence. Though all methods of media presence has been successful in keeping the faces and names of the Irwins in the spotlight, it is their time in reality television which has helped to keep their message alive.
As technology advances the way to reach the public have become forever changing. In an article by Kaarina Nikunen, they quote “The transformations in the media environment with its increased multiplicity of media platforms have created challenges in terms of how to reach the public (Orgad and Seu, 2014)”. The Irwins took this route starting with the ‘crocodile hunter’ with Steve, ‘Bindi the jungle girl’ in 2007 and now they have produced an ongoing television series ‘Crikey! It’s the Irwins’ starting in October 2018. The television series on Animal Planet features an insight into the conservation efforts, projects undertaken, and the family life of the Irwin family, showing off their relatable and loveable personalities favoured by the Australian and international public. By producing a reality television show which has lasted 4 seasons thus far, they have allowed audiences to see their conservation efforts almost firsthand and keep the audiences engaged through keeping their stories on an international screen that can be accessed all over the world.
As an interventionist, it is essential to use power and influence to establish and promote change for a cause. In this case, the Irwins have used their early influence in the media from the moment the children were born, and Terri married Steve, and have promoted causes both their own and others that help to protect wildlife and work towards wildlife conservation.
In today’s world, there is a need for online content that can help with the management of stress and anxiety. Social media plays a huge role in the influence of an individual’s mental health and the management of stress and anxiety. However, social media isn’t always bad, there are avenues that can be presented online that can help assist in the management or anxiety and stress. Through research and participatory observation, it is shown that cultivating creative and calming content online to assist with coping mechanisms and mindset changes can be extremely effective in providing resources for individuals looking for such advice. According to NYC therapy “being creative can increase positive emotions, lessen depressive symptoms, reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and even improve immune system functioning” (Brenner, 2019). Creative content not only helps participants to release tension and stress, but also helps to focus the mind, and due to its calming effect on the brain and body can be considered as a type of meditation (Stahl 2018).
There has been the production of apps that can be downloaded by individuals that can help track their stress and provide creative outlets to manage stress. The app ‘Clear fear’ is an app that provides activities like journaling and meditation, information on anxiety, space for self-monitoring, resources, and a ‘safety net’ which has contacts of your own choosing that you can contact. Apps like Clear Fear are great for users who want to manage their anxiety and keep tabs on their progress whereas content on social media apps such as Instagram and Tok-Tok provide a level of connection apps don’t.
The media niche
Creative and calming content produced to manage stress and anxiety is becoming a large niche amongst social media platforms. Within this niche, there are multiple areas that content can be considered calming and creative but for this project, the aim is to distinguish and represent the content that conclusively helps manage stress. There is art, drawing (mandala), meditation, quotes/affirmations, journal entries, and anything that allows an individual to ease the mind enough to allow them to distract or think clearly. Within this niche, there is many content creators, who like myself, aim to produce content surrounding creativity or calming methods on a variety of platforms such as Tik Tok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Emma Carey (Instagram – Mandala)
LaurDiy (Youtube – DIY)
Jessica Lambert (Instagram – surfboard art)
Wetheurban (Instagram – Quotes/affirmations)
anxiety_wellbeing (Instagram – focuses on anxiety)
Jess Lambert and Em Carey are two Australian artists who focus on Mandalas. Mandalas can be used as a means of art therapy which is widely used as a tool to slow and calm down the mind in moments of stress and is considered a form of meditation (Wong, 2020). These creators produce videos, lives, and images where they provide tips, advice, and simply show off their own work, which encourages other users such as me in the niche to embrace our own creativities through mandalas. They are not pages that focus on the management of stress and anxiety, but their content links to the effectiveness and importance of art therapy for stress.
However, to truly grasp the importance and influence content has on an audience I had to conduct research as both an audience member and a content creator. So, my page Calming Core became a page where I used my own experience, research, and knowledge to create a space where creative and calming content was used as a tool for managing stress and anxiety.
Autoethnographic research
This process of conducting research as an audience and a content creator is known as participatory observation. Through participatory observation research is gathered through mapping as I observe, take notes, and listen to content these other creators such as LaurDiy and Jess Lambert are putting on social media. By observing as part of the audience I was able to discover not only new tips and tricks through art forms, but also ways in which as content creators they develop personas, frameworks, and a voice for their audience that defines them in this niche. Then I further displayed these findings through my own content.
The research was conducted via both platforms TikTok and Instagram, however, as time progressed and epiphanies showed that this media niche had a larger range on Instagram, I focused my research into the niche mainly on Instagram. I used methods of mapping from the start for things such as the field site, which allowed me to map out the areas in which I aimed to research, as well as, mapping my observations throughout the entire process. These observations allowed me to develop epiphanies which helped to transform and enhance my research methods and overall research results.
Not much engagement 😦 However, when I posted this to my Instagram story I got comments back from my audience
The autoethnographic research approach meant I used qualitative research skills to define my research methods and to gain a clearer understanding of the niche.
Exploring – Exploring different platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram to research engagement and content.
Sensitivity – Being sensitive regarding the topic.
Narrowing – Narrowing my niche to mild anxiety and stress.
Perspective – Using perspective to create a realistic approach to my research.
Approaching – Approaching the topic and content through an ethical perspective.
I used a personal analytical framework and inclusive framework as the root of this research process. By creating this idea of personal and inclusive content, I was able to design a persona that fits just this as well as gain an audience that fits this framework.
Overall, this project as both an audience and content creator, and through the autoethnographic research method, I found that creative and calming content online can play a huge role in the management of stress and anxiety and the importance of establishing a place where people can visit to find this content. There are many forms in which calming and creative can come in from art, words, advice, to just simply providing a space where these individuals or groups can come to for help and support.
Just like with the pitch, I am again providing feedback on others BETA’s.
My aim Throughout my commenting process was to both support them by stating what I enjoy about their DA (Which I loved all three of then) and also tips or advice on what they could work on to help build their DA and research.
I did a total of three comments providing feedback for peers. The first one, I focused on their strengths and didn’t touch on weaknesses or any opportunities I could provide for them (If you were to follow similar to the SWOT method (Kenton, W. 2021). After this original comment, I felt I could provide more further in depth feedback which could help them build their DA and future opportunities. I looked at the first comment as a ‘guide’ or a ‘test run’ for my feedback, and I learnt for the next 2 a more constructive method of providing advice and help. Each BETA and comment taught me a valuable lesson which can help me in later improving my own DA and perspective.
In Maddy’s BETA, she discussed her process of changing her media niche all together in order to find a balance that worked for her. I particularly loved this because it demonstrated that not all research works out and may not be right for us. By changing her media niche, she found something she was more passionate about, something she could research properly, and a niche she felt comfortable building a DA in. Which was very evident in her BETA. This helped me reflect on my own DA, as it showed me that not all research and feedback will be progressive, but you make changes in order to encourage different results. Looking back on it now, I do wish that I had provided some opportunities or sources for her to use in order for further research and growth. But, as I stated, Maddy’s was a stepping stone into how I decided to structure my comments.
Katrina is doing a DA surrounding books and more specifically feminism in fantasy, importance of book covers in immersing audiences, and influence on capitalisms. Her BETA focused on the research has already conducted and her research methods through auto ethnographic research methods. Although, there were bits of important information missing which i touched on slightly in my feedback. I touched on the idea that Katrina could’ve discussed more about her epiphanies as she did mention in her blog post how she has a shift or ‘expansion’ of her paradigm and main topic of research. I would’ve loved to hear why there was this shift and what caused it. Here, some epiphanies could’ve been added as a further explanation. As Katrina is starting her blog post very soon, I thought I could provide a tool for her to create a successful online persona as she moves into this next stage of development. Here is where I aimed at providing opportunities.
Sophie’s I was very excited to comment on, as I was excited to see her growth since the pitches which I provided feedback on. It was really nice to hear through her BETA, that my feedback was helpful and something she used to inspire an Instagram page. This taught me that feedback is important and something we should take seriously in providing help for others, in a constructive way. I noticed Sophie hadn’t touched on the type of persona she had created or wanted to create for her page. So, I provided a source which has really helped me build a persona which works in my niche (a pattern I noticed with Katrina’s). And also distinguished a connection with lecture content by mentioning the possibility of incorporating qualitative research methods in her research moving forward.
I am also adapting qualitive research skills into my autoethnographic research into this niche:
Exploring – Exploring different platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram to research engagement and content, as well as discovering other content creators within the niche. Also, exploring various content. Not sticking to the same content but also branching out to explore different and new ways of helping stress.
Sensitivity – Being sensitive regarding the topic – anxiety can be a sensitive topic so considering ethically how to discuss it and addressing it. Example, stating it is an anxiety page in the biography for anyone visiting the page, keeping topics light-hearted and helpful, as well as sharing content that isn’t too ‘deep’ or can be triggering for others or myself.
Narrowing – Narrowing my niche to mild anxiety and stress. As proven in my last post on epiphanies, I found that narrowing down my niche and content to ‘mild anxiety’ and stress not only helps to not mislead my own audience, but helps to navigate the niche easier
Perspective – Using perspective to create a realistic approach to my research. Gaining perspective from being an audience and adapting that into my own small audience. As well as providing my own perspective not as a professional, but as an individual in her 20s going through a similar experience.
Approaching – Approaching the topic and content through an ethical perspective. Being sensitive regarding the topic and not showing peoples identities through feedback
In my last post I discussed my observations and some epiphanies that occurred during my research into the calming content niche in social media. So this post is aimed at breaking down these epiphanies already discussed and new epiphanies that have appeared through previous observation.
Instagram is a more engaging platform through stories
I found through my own research on my own DA ‘Calming Core’, that Instagram stories seem to create more engagement between me and my audience. Posts don’t seem to get the same reaction or viewing as what stories do and I wondered why. I found through research that “Since they do disappear in 24 hours, they’re seen as in the moment videos that are perhaps less polished or marketed…..Thus, stories are used for real-time engagement. They are meant to be watched by your current active followers to react to” (Hitsteps).
Stories are a more engaging way to interact with audiences through real time videos or photos, allows me to ask them questions, initiate responses and feedback, as well as creating a private space where individuals can share their own feedback or questions. By adding this personal dimension to my page I am able to build up a relatable persona as people can experience my own journey in real time.
Creative/calming is aimed more specifically at mild anxiety and stress
Obviously with anxiety there are difference levels of seriousness to someones mental health. This means that creative and calming content isn’t a solution for anxiety but more used as a meditation technique. As supported by Ashely Stahl, “A creative act such as crafting can help focus the mind, and has even been compared to meditation due to its calming effects on the brain and body”. This epiphany has helped me to narrow down my research from ‘Anxiety’ as a whole to specifically ‘Mild Anxiety’.
Less variety of calming content online
Another epiphany I came across through research is lack of calming content on one singular page. Navigating on Instagram through Hashtags like #anxiety #calmthemind and #mindfulness has provided me quick access to another of other anxiety pages with similar aims to my own. However, I have noticed a lot of these pages focus on a specific niche within the niche. For example quotes or affirmations surrounding anxiety and mental health. Some pages focus only on mandala drawing. While others focus on their family lives and taking their audiences through their routine on a daily basis. My page however aims to focus on all areas and activities of anxiety providing a page where you see mandalas, quotes, art, books, products and snippets into my personal life and my own methods for coping with stress, linking to the inclusive theoretical framework.
Using the autoethnographic process of participatory observation, through a short time period I have been able to put together considerable notes that has helped me understand how calming content helps ease the mind. This is through my own personal experience. I set out on this project trying to distinguish firstly, how content creators keep us engaged in this niche and how I can include this for my own audience. Secondly, why I keep coming back and engaging in this niche. And thirdly, overall how does calming and creative content ease the mind, especially with anxiety and high stress levels.
Focusing my research on two platforms Tik Tok and Instagram there’s is a noticeable different between the two when it comes to engagement. This all lies in my observations as such:
Tik Tok
Using popular sounds gains views and more traffic to video
More creative content – less personal
Limites space to create a distinctive person outside of the creative content
Not a lot of engagement
TikTok is tricky to navigate engagement wise as it’s unpredictable
Instagram
Niche is primarily on Instagram – more accounts
More engagement via stores as compared to posts
Don’t want to see the same content – produce a variety of content
Account was made previously so familiar with the content – Have gained 15 followers since providing surfboard art
Mix of personal and creative content
Where I post more content
More engagement – feedback
Focusing on stories creates a connection between audience and myself – people feel more free to privately comment
Can create a more relatable persona – allows me to share my experiences
Through observations I found the media niche was more specific to Instagram as people are more likely to search for methods for anxiety or stress through Instagram, whilst Tik Tok is more a platform you view content that is provided to you through the ‘For You Page’ or popular sounds. Whilst through these instagram pages, my content is more prevalent on stories as I feel this is the best way to reach my audience personally, and also allows me to build this vulnerable yet bubbly and honest persona.
I also focused my observations on other content creators in my media niche who I either previously followed or came across through this research process.
I found these observations so far have coincided with my observations with my audience. There is more engagement on stories. Content tends to be more on Instagram than on Tik Tok, something I want to do further exploration in. And a familiar and relatable persona is important.
Throughout this I have discovered some epiphanies.
Calming content is good for mild anxiety. However, pages to help for higher levels of anxiety are harder to come by
There is less calming content surrounding anxiety online and more anxiety pages that focus on quotes and breathing methods – not how to cope with anxiety through creativity. Focus on what I can bring to the niche through creativity and reality
Branching out via blog posts can link the seperate components of my niche together. Eg. A blog on the benefits of mandalas. Another blog on some affirmations I use and why they are helpful etc..
Last week I discussed the translation of reality TV across the world through the use of a ‘shell’ concept. This week, I will be discussing an oh so similar topic, yet very different, surrounding the concept of Quality TV and adaptations across the globe.
First it’s important to understand what Quality TV is. Quality TV is used to describe a type of genre of television… kind of the opposite of reality Television. For some the word ‘quality’ links to the quality of audience or a level of standard of content.
Now, unlike reality TV, quality TV has a lot more risks when it comes to adaptations. They are of high production value, meaning if a show does not take off, a lot of money will be lost. It is also essential when a show is adapted, the script must conform to the local humour, local actors, and overall be cultural sensitive, by not only working off the original, but also formulating the script to adapt to its new audience.
There are 2 examples I will give of successful and failed remakes from the US of popular TV shows around the world.
First is Kath and Kim. An Aussie classic which we grew up watching, as it’s a show that plays on the stereotypical bogan characters of Kath and Kim. It’s had massive success here in Australia and personally I could never see it being successfully adapted anywhere else due to the humour simply being unmatched. Yet, US made a remake. To say the least it was not the same. The US chose a show that heavily focused on Aussie humour and culture, so when it was adapted culturally to them with a much higher production quality (which took away from the overall uniquness), the show was not a massive hit.
Secondly is Jane the Virgin. Jane the Virgin is an adaptation of the Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen. The US adaptation incorporates the classic telenovela storytelling technique and traditional storylines, with an American spin on it. Therefore, it is not considered a ‘telenovela’. Instead, keeping the dramatic and suspenseful storylines of a tradition telenovela, the American adaptation demonstrated a very realistic look into the lives of Venezuelan-American families living in America look like, regarding immigration, language, religion, sex, marriage, and family bonds.
“As a market product, Jane the Virgin follows a television trend in the United States that seeks to attract the U.S. Latina/o population as an audience, given the context of growing Hispanic demographics and market trends, in contrast with general ratings declines in U.S. made television products. The success and large audience following of telenovelas within the U.S. Hispanic television industry has positioned the genre as merely one opportunity for the U.S. television market to draw audiences from the growing Latina/o population. The narrative formula and characters needed to offer different cultural and linguistic elements have always existed in the U.S. television market.” (Piñón, J. 2017)
Jane the Virgin made its way to Netflix, and has become a massice success. The US didn’t simply copy the original Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen, but actually adapted it to suit the local audience. The overall vibe of the show when compared is very different when as stated in an article by BUSTLE “as Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times observes, “refitted with ironic distance and much more artful cinematography” and “shot in a bright candy-colored palette that suggests a modern fairy tale”, in relation to the American adaptation.
These two examples demonstrate the risks that accompany adapting quality TV shows from across the globe.
References:
Piñón, J. 2017, “Jane the Virgin”, ReVista (Cambridge), vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 23-26,66.
Sophie is doing her research project on ‘modern day women’ and specifically the podcast ‘Happy Hour with Lucy and Nikki’.
For Sophie’s comment I brought up her great use of relevant topics and points throughout her pitch. However, I wanted the comment to focus on how she could potentially use a similar platform and format of what she is already researching, to create her own content to her own audience.
Ruth is doing a DA focused on graphic design and using the tips and tricks from other content creators to produce content of her own on TikTok.
For Ruths comment I mentioned how examples of content and content creators would be beneficial for identifying the type of content she will be identifying. This was also something that I had failed to mention in my own pitch, so it opened my eyes to how important those examples were to include.
Pia runs a fashion page on Instagram called Piaxmolly. Her DA focuses on the media niche of Australian fashion labels, specifically researching into 4 labels.
For my comment on Pia’s I kept it focusing on a few outstanding aspects of her pitch and her DA. Pia included everything that was needed in an interesting and informative way.
By giving my own feedback, as well as receiving feedback there were lessons I learnt could’ve been adapted into my pitch and can be further adapted into my DA. I’ll go through each comment separately.
Sophie’s pitch demonstrated to me the importance of narrowing down the sort of content I will be immersing myself in through identifying the content creators I will be following. I already have a clear idea of 3 artists I follow (Em Carey, Jess Lambert and LaurDiy), but it could be beneficial if I did further research into other content creators to gain a better understanding of the media niche. I will be narrowing my content by broadening my scope of content creators.
Ruth opened my eyes up to the value of inclusive theoretical framework as a tool for incorporating the content of small creators as well as larger creators. Ruth mentioned she will be using tutorials from all content creators on TikTok within her graphic design media niche. This helped me to realise that the content I immerse myself in doesn’t necessarily just come from larger content creators with hundreds to thousands of followers, my content can also come from creators who like myself are just starting out in this media niche.
Pia outlined her pitch super clearly and outlined every aspect needed. She again linked to this idea of narrowing my research down to specific content creators, as she has done by picking a small number of labels to really focus on.
Altogether, all three pitches were great and helped me gain a better perspective for my own DA and pitch.
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