The New School. MA Media Studies. UMS. Academic Plan. Debbie Lin

the

Master plan (attempt) for the

Masters program: a

Masterpiece in the works ...

Narrowing. It seems to be the key word - what we must do to unravel the focus of our academic journey here. Much simpler said than done, but I will attempt to analyze my intentions here at The New School.

As I’ve stated before in my intellectual autobiography and Literature/Media review, I really do believe in finding ways to contribute positively in my own (be it small or large) way. Like any good invention, there are people out there exploiting and using it negatively, and some out there wishing to make that impact of goodness - to advocate, inspire, bring into light.

My one very distinct path is definitely to obtain the Media Management Certificate. Not to just frame and hang on my wall (as I do not see anything wrong with being proud in one’s accomplishments), but also to acquire the specific skills I am lacking in and have not been exposed to during my undergraduate Music studies at UCLA. Next semester, I plan to take the first class of the four, “Media Economics” to begin that informing process. My two other classes have been wisely selected to one, fulfill the methods requirement and two, to contribute to my overall goal of knowing how to reach out via media - “Research Methods for Media Activism.”

How do we become a media activist? How do we motivate? Just like marketers research how to bring the shoppers into a store, or consumer to click on an ad, I wonder how we make those same people think for others and do something positive. (This in itself is dangerous, as I do recognize, because there are the groups exploiting the goodness or good will of citizens). Thus, the “Market Research for Media Managers,” is a class I wanted to take soon, but halted as I was advised not to take on four classes in a semester.The third registered class for next semester is “Projects in Media Advocacy.” I am especially excited for this class because this is one of the classes that caught my eye before applying to the program. There are many organizations I have ready (and have volunteered for) to collaborate for this class, although I’m a bit nervous about the technical/production demands. Nonetheless, I’ve been given approval to take it without the prerequisite.

Spring semester 2010 looks to be settled for the time being. However, I did give myself a timeline of two years (the average time for the MA program at The New School). This is for various reasons, finance being one of them. Currently I’m very happy to be receiving a small scholarship from the department. This means I have to take nine credits every semester. I’m running my small business online, but I also need extra income as we know the turmoils of the start up. I am looking for a PT/FT job so I can support myself and contribute to my family. I’ve always loved volunteering, and I am with my church and other organizations. I often fall in the trap of spreading myself too thin, and I anticipate the possibility in the near future. And that leads me to the next question.

To thesis or not to thesis? I’ve wavered a few times already. I have much to say, and to my encouragement, my TA has even said my last Literature/Media review assignment hit thesis-like notes (which made me quite happy). Reality wise, I am constrained with time. But I do not want to regret not having the opportunity to do so. However, at the same time, I feel like the thesis time will take away from the time I can take other classes. But would it all be worth it? See, herein lies one of my indecision. I’ve made several rationalizations for either argument, but hopefully with the guidance of the experienced, I will find my answer.

For example, Douglas Rushkoff’s book and lecture was very inspirational for me. He would be a professor I’d be honored to work with (however I’m unsure of the options for the online student). Outside from the facebook groups, I’m not sure how else to connect better. I’ve called my advisor once, but aside from that, I have not been able to do so. I feel somewhat limited since I’ve already encountered a class I had wanted to take, but is not offered online (for the time being: “Competitive Strategies: Branding is not, but the professor did say to keep checking in since things may change). It has crossed my mind to take a summer in NYC, but I have heard that the summer classes are usually not as pertinent (correct me if I am wrong). Of course there is the expense to consider. Also, all the NYC events I cannot attend oftentimes frustrate me, but the gem of the online aspect was an initial draw for me since I do travel quite often.

My weakness is definitely the theories area, as I’m struggling in that class as I speak. That class in particular has made me feel the most lost ever- intimidated and insecure. Feelings that I are very foreign to me. This is a great area to segue way into the ‘suggestions’ area. Since I’ve been struggling with this class, I haven’t been able to reach out to people the way I’m used to in the academic setting. I’m a very one-on-one/face-to-face person and yes it is interesting to be taking an online program (but that is part of the challenge for me - to thrust myself into a ill-at-ease place, out of the ‘comfort zone). I would like to form a group in Los Angeles - for the online students. I feel very disconnected. So if I can connect with alums in L.A so we can speak to and meet in person in regards to internships, job opportunities, event collaborations and etc. I would like to head up events where New School alums can meet and share their experiences. My high school in Pebble Beach has an annual Holiday Party to connect Stevenson alums and I think something similar would be great for the current New School students.

Naturally, with my retail start-up, the fashion program, the new MFA in fashion and society is very appealing to me. However, my problem has always been to focus and hone in. So, while these opportunities make me excited, I worry that it will tempt me to stray in focus. Although, another way to look at it might be to simply just embrace it. I’ve been taught and raise to focus because I’ve always been too interested in too many things. Certainly there are areas I definitely know do not interest me, however, I was the girl who wanted to play basketball softball, and take jazz, tap and modern dance class. I’ve been all over the place, wanting to do everything constantly. I feel this way still, at the age of 26 years old. There are certain things in my life I am certain of, but I love to sing. I love to paint. I love to decorate. I love to design. I want to help. I want to give. I want to inspire. I want to motivate. I strive to activate. I strive to advocate. I strive to heal. I strive to better.

I’m certain this program will allow me to grow and discover. I can feel the possibilities that will arise and I anticipate the knowledge I will receive. Certainly this is the place to be for me to fuse all the verbs I’ve listed above and reach that haven. Two weeks left in my first semester of graduate study at The New School, I’ve already realized the new angles in my thought process, learned more about the design process, and tried to keep up in the current of heated theoretical debates.The exciting news is there will always be boundless of knowledge to be learned and spread, and I’m privileged to be part of that group of media soon-to-be scholars who carry the responsibility of that all-too-often stated ‘brighter tomorrow.” Here, I will perhaps create my version of the Da Vinci’s masterpiece, that will set the way, I truly hope.

Narrowing. I began with narrow and as I narrow in this program, I will only further expand my mind.

And that’s why it’s all so beautiful.

The New School. MA Media Studies. UMS. Media/Lit Review

Compassion and the Children

World peace.

Commonly the crux of jokes, this provided response by the “Miss (fill in city/county/state/country)” is really no laughing matter. In fact, what we can really extract from the all-too-often satirized pageant is the ever importance of finding peace on earth. Not to completely sound like a Christmas carol, my ultimate quest in life, and for my purposes at The New School, is to simply be that ‘do gooder,’ and make a positive difference in this world, through positivity in media.

For me, it starts with compassion, empathy and morality. And it ends with children, education, and media as an integral positive resource. Upon embarking on my first daunting literature review adventure, I found myself out of focus and grappling with the larger concepts. I knew I had to zone in to hone on the specific concepts and issues, as well as the methodologies and theoretical approaches. I scoured and poured over periodicals and video clips (as I’m a huge advocate of the visual stimulus). Finally, I was able to collect and select a group of work that represents the well-reviewed and intellect of professionals and the sweaty-palmed, filled with wonderful intents of the amateur hopefuls wanting to make their dent. And I dare say, they all have their appeals.

What moves an individual to feel compassionate and then act in compassion? What makes citizens of this globe genuinely care for the well-being of others (family, friends, acquaintances and strangers). Some cannot even be kind to their own parents/children, but can lend a helping hand at a homeless shelter filled with unfamiliar faces. Some shower their families with love, but litter on the unknown faces, without a care. This is not meant to be a fuzzy cuddly festival of amor vincit ominia, but really more about bettering and shaping social ethics and morals.

I went about this endeavor from all sorts of angles. I wanted to gather specifc topics I feel all contribute to the nurturing of our well-begin. Specifically, I looked for the learning process, education, morality, media as an education, and compassion. I will begin with a TED talk by Robet Wright on “The Evolution of Compassion.” I start with him because he discusses the biological definition of compassion which explains why compassion is natural, even though the biological definition is “a gene’s way of helping itself.” Regardless of one’s faith or belief, biology is studied in class because we must know how the human body is made up. Wright speaks of the biological findings in relation to the human compassion gene. In the very beginning, they have found that while compassion is natural, it is naturally confined to the family. This is quite self-explanatory as we see a majority of compassion occurring in families (again, very many exceptions such as abusive family dynamics and domestic violence). However, Wright further says that even though compassion was reserved for within the family, the concept of ‘reciprocal altruism’ developed to assist the unfortunately unable to be naturally compassionate outside of friends and allies gene. Wright’s discussion is refreshing because, unlike most talks on compassion, he does not focus on the ‘let’s hold hands and sing love hymns’ approach (again, there is nothing wrong with that method, it’s just done a lot), but uses science to discuss the human ability to feel compassion. Interestingly enough, Wright utilizes ‘game theory’ to further his point and ultimately gives us a glimpse of hope that humans can biologically reach that point of compassion for the world. Finally, his take-away point was exercising “moral imagination,” which is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. While this is a frequently used and discussed example, it nonetheless brings validity to the center of compassion. While risking the possibility of sounding like a naive dreamer, I find this scientific method encouraging. TED held a thematic series called for “Charter for Compassion,” and Wright, amongst various religious leaders addressed the ability to push for compassion beyond your small circle. Robert Thurman talks about “Expanding Your Circle of Compassion,” and Reverend James Forbes, used his childhood family dinners to draw examples of extending your compassionate wings. My ideal approach would to combine the two, as I am personally of a Christian faith, and pair it with the science of compassion. One fuels the soul, and the other satiates the mind, using music to evoke emotion, and paintings to show shades of our mood, I can create a “Compassion Concerto” of sorts that fuses all senses and hopefully forward the compassion movement that is slowly taking place.

The discussion of a rather slow-paced movement brings me to my next example which is a talk by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, the founder of The Center for Nonviolent Communication. In his video clip, he discusses his findings on how to eradicate violence in our society. His point is that overall, the community knows to head in that general direction of learning how to communicate better and more effectively, but it’s overall going at a very slow pace and it is his intentions to speed it up. Rosenberg’s beliefs on nonviolent communication is relevant in that “compassion” and “violence” are almost antonyms. To be rid of violence is in ways promoting compassionate living. There is almost no way refuting something that promotes nonviolence, but I would say in his talk, he really repeats the idea of fulfilling needs. I feel that while it is important to address needs, naturally, it is also very difficult to simultaneously address everyone’s needs as they will often contradict and overlap. So to primarily focus on ‘needs’ can be a dangerous thing as it soon become a tug-of-war amongst individuals and groups and can potentially become a one-upping festival of who is louder and who has the bigger suffering story. Seriously, how do you measure and compare one good cause to another and one dire state to another?

In attempt to answer that question, I will dive into Birgitta Hoijer’s article on “The discourse of global compassion: the audience and media reporting of human suffering.” This article is one that I find to be of the most relevancy to what I would like to research. She says, “As pointed out by Tester (2001: 1) questions about media-reported suffering and misery, such as if and how they move us as audience, have received very little academic attention. (p. 2),” thus it her intention to explore this minimally charted territory, as would I in my future studies on compassion and the media. Before I extrapolate more from Hoijer’s article, let me try and answer that above mentioned question with something she wrote (2004: 6):

Further, some victims within an area picked out by the West are worthier; that is, they are perceived to deserve our empathy better than others. According to Herman and Chomsky (1988: 38) people abused in what are regarded as enemy states are portrayed ‘as worthy victims, whereas those treated with equal or greater severity by its own government or clients will be unworthy’. Worthy and unworthy relates to the extent character of political and mass media attention and indignation.

Hoijer’s response is that the western society actually makes that decision, and the preferences are reflected in the media coverage.

Now for the part where I find to be most useful: forms of compassion. Hoijer categorizes compassion into three forms: Tender-hearted compassion, blame-filled compassion and shame-filled compassion. I think her ability to break down compassion makes is easy to see what drives people to feel and care. However, the very nature of filing compassion into folders and drawers takes away from the overarching goal of compassion. The final excerpt I would like to comment is the point about the dependency of the visual. In her methodology, Hoijer used conducted phone interviews, as well as using images. It’s just like the reason why advertisers use the fail-proof method of using cute puppies and adorably delicious babies in whatever the client is trying to sell (and I must admit, I am not immune to these images as they get me every time), so do suffering images of disasters, traumas and global injustice. Most people remember the images and most people feel the twinge of sorrow that the images are meant to evoke.

As I ended on the note of visuals in Hoijer’s article, I will begin on visuals in this next article that discusses how “Just as charities involved in famine rescue often employ shocking images of starving children with emaciated bodies and decaying social lives, the image of the AIDS orphan can also become a commodity and at the same time a point of conscience” (Pullen, p. 2) and how it ties in with media as the moral compass and how to improve the learning process to ultimately allow compassion to permeate like any other funny youtube clip of the week or celebrity tabloid.

While Jonathan Drori uses four questions to challenge the audience to think about how we think, Chouliaraki uses two theoretical approaches (“Baudrillard’s postmodern thesis, drawing on ‘simulation’ and ‘post-aesthetics’, and Habermas’s critical theory developed from his earlier ‘refeudalization’ of the public sphere thesis”) to propose her point on moving from theory to analysis, of which I cannot agree with more. While we cannot dismiss theories, (that would be quite the horror), to really reach out to the world and communicate compassion is analysis, and then action. It our job, as students of media, to take the theories we learn and apply it in a practical manner. What will the world do with the teachings of these scholars? With attention-span dwindling, how do we keep the world’s attention on what’s crucial and be reminded of the often lost compassion? Well, Drori would say, start with learning from and working with the children. Contrary to popular belief, children soak their knowledge from common sense and experiences. To get learning right, we must not see them as “empty vessels” because they are not. Media can be the exact tool for the right kind of education. To stop violence and to spread compassion, we must start young. It’s common knowledge babies/toddlers have the amazing and gifted abilities very very quickly. Personally, I learned the piano at the age of four, and I wish I had been exposed to the spanish language while I was plunking away at the keyboard (a slight digression since being located in Los Angeles, my french skills are not as relevant as the need for the spanish language and to further illustrate my point, soaking that knowledge while young is essential). This is not to say, let’s stuff our children with all sorts of random skills, but here is the vital point: let’s not necessarily teach compassion, but do and show. Children will then see and experience, and then do themselves.

Here we come to Jeff Skoll’s point on filing the ‘hope gap.’ He is the founder of Participant Media, whose mission is to use film and entertainment to inspire social change. Skoll’s motto, “invest, connect, celebrate,” is something to take away as motivating. While his company produced the ever-inspiring “An Inconvenient Truth,” not all of us are successful ebay creators with an abundance of financial resources. However, as I surveyed through the youtube clips from the funny, frustratingly stupid, indifferent mundane all the way to change-worthy clips, I see a plentitude of examples where one or a small groups of people with modest means come together to create something built on the concept of compassion in their community.

As Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, we see that people try to spread the holiday cheer and gracious acts of kindness. But let’s hope for it year-round - let’s hope for a lifestyle -let’s hope for a permanent change. As human beings, we are not necessarily “programmed” to be compassionate towards everyone, in fact it’s simply quite difficult to do so. We are wrapped up in our mortal issues, so much to the point of moral negligence However, biologically, it’s there. Mentally, it’s possible. The more we create and disperse through the media, the more we can plant the seeds of compassion. Once it’s there, it simply requires some water, some light - a very basic nutritional diet. So as we project more of this morally-good and ethically-sound, at times, visual displays of the frailty of life, onto the media, the more we can come together as a compassionate world. It’s quite a simple concept, actually. Just not the easiest to execute. Just like when you eat healthy food, your body stays healthy, if you are exposed to positive media, your well-being stays on track, and your moral in tact. If we can get vaccinated for the outbreak of influenza, we can similarly be injected with a dose of compassion, for life. Then who would dare laugh at the Miss Universe who replies with, “I want world peace?”

References:

“AMA: Portrait of Compassion.” youtube.com Online video clip. Accessed on 11 November 2009. http:/www.youtube.com/watch? v=ONKzZTlEAUs

“Children of Promise: Portraits of Compassion Mentoring Children of Priosners.” youtube.com. Online video clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JvyglKfLoQ&feature=related

Chouliaraki, LilieThe media as moral education: mediation and action Media, Culture & Society © 2008 SAGE Publications (Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore), Vol. 30(6): 831–852

Drori, Jonathan. “What we think we know.” TED.com. Online video clip. Accessed on 11 November 2009 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jonathan_drori_on_what_we_think_we_know.html

Forbes, Reverend James. “Compassion at the dinner table.” TED.com. Online video clip. Accessed on 11 Novmber 2009. http://www.ted.com/talks/james_forbes.html

Hoijer, Birgitta. The Discourse of Global Compassion: The Audience and Media Reporting of Human SufferingMedia, Culture & Society © 2004 SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks and New Delhi), Vol. 26(4): 513–531 2008; 30; 831

Pullen, Christopher. “AIDS orphans, parents and children in documentary: disclosure, performance and sacrifice.” Media, Culture & Society © 2008 SAGE Publications (Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore),Vol. 30(5):663–676

Rosenberg, Marshall. “Nonviolent Communication.” youtube.com. Online video clip. Accessed on 11 November 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dpk5Z7GIFs

Skoll, Jeff. “Makes movies that matter.” TED.com. Online video clip. Accessed on 11 November 2009. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jeff_skoll_makes_movies_that_make_change.html

Thurman, Robert. “Expanding your circle of compassion.” TED.com. Online vide clip. Accessed on 11 November 2009. http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_thurman_on_compassion.html

Wright, Robert. “The Evolution of Compassion.” TED.com. Online video clip. Accessed on 11 November 2009. http://www.ted.com/talks robert_wright_the_evolution_of_compassion.html

Violence in Media Entertainment: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/ violence_entertainment.cfm?

The New School. MA Media Studies. UMS. Reaction Paper. Debbie Lin

“SpamWow” By Debbie Lin

“The way I see it, marketers have two choices. Either create products and brands with genuine value, or give young people the tools to develop their own. In order to recognize what’s valuable, try to determine whether the product you’re pushing comes from an organic culture.

” In Douglas Rushkoff’s article Let it Grow he discusses the tiresome and arduous path of marketing to the youth and I would agree with his point. I would also add that generally, allowing your unique product sing above the rest in a long solo aria is quite difficult these days, in any age group. As Rushkoff suggests, if your product isn’t sincerely useful, perhaps let’s rethink the method. Piggybacking off Rushkoff’s point of changing directions for just teen market, I say, let’s do it for everyone, and rethink marketing methods on a whole.

Putting aside the controversies tied to the ShamWow©

guy, and honing in on the actual informercial, we can examine how products are touted to each demographic. We have a fairly average (maybe even below average) looking man with curly blonde hair, and wireless mic, speaking loudly and rapidly to the viewers at home - showcasing the amazing abilities of the ShamWow©. (And just to be fair, while I did not order this product through the informercial, I did end up purchasing it at one of the mini carts in the mall). What does this say? The method of selling isn’t necessarily superior, and in fact, one may argue that this advertisement is quite elementary. But people buy it and use it. This example, I believe, perfectly illustrates Rushkoff’s first option: a product of genuine value. ShamWow© actually works. I saw the need for the bath mat and my friend saw the need to dry her dog after a shower. It does work.

This led me to think of the effectiveness of marketing products. If marketing and advertising companies really took a step back, perhaps we can end all the horrible mailers and penny mail stuff in our mailboxes. All this spam! Texts to our cell phone, messages to our land lines, jammed in our mailboxes, spamming in our email spam folders and on our social network walls and bulletins. I often find myself saying, I wish I can come up with a research to SHOW these people, IT REALLY DOESN’T WORK!! And herein lies the problem - too often times these companies NEED and rely on the all majestic research, to justify their methods.

Furthermore, Rushkoff writes “If you put yourselves in the shoes of your customers, rather than simply noting which brand of sneaker they’ve purchased, you’d find out that just as you use all the tools at your disposal to trap them, they use everything at theirs to avoid you.” While research is undoubtedly important and vital, let’s really scrutinize this process. It’s like a parent wanting to tell their child something, but pushing them every farther away with all the information and words that eventually don’t mean anything to the child; it simply becomes mindless noise and while some children choose to be rude and actively walk away, some other children adopt and acquire a skill to hearing without listening. Just like advertisers, people have learned to circumspect what they don’t want to be around.

While the cheap mailers are so cheap, companies don’t even think about their effectiveness anymore (and just rely on the few eyeballs that may or may not catch the SALE or message), think about the waste! Here we have companies touting their newly “adapted” green slogan. Think Green. Be Green. We are Green. But on the other end, they are, without even a blink of an eye, churning out these newsletters and promotion coupons. I say it’s fine to jump on the green bandwagon trend (after all it’s a positive one), but let’s not exploit and abuse it.

Here I come back to Rushkoff’s point of letting the teens create and be autonomous. Either, create a ShamWow© type of item that actually works and assists daily life (although there is absolutely no need to name your product in the cheese vicinity of this item), or provide opportunities and tools for people to uncover the next item. Open a creative center for exploration and collaboration (the kind Professor Peter Rutkoff encourages) so ultimately, we can be free of waste, futile messages and empty products that pile up in our storage and garages, picking up dust and mothballs, while our spam folders rapidly bulge up and our mailboxes become a trash (not even a recycle) can. Its hard, but it’s worth a try.

Lastly, I leave you with this: Spam will not Wow anyone to buying anything from you. It is simply a waste of space and time for everyone. Instead, let’s be really creative and think of reaching people through thought and meaning. Perhaps something called “FamPow,” where families can gather and meet? Or not. The floor is open.

¹ Rushkoff, D (1999, Nov). Let It Grow. Retrieved from http://rushkoff.com/articles/articles-and-essays/let-it-grow/

² Shamwow is a chamois, towel sponge. See site for more info: https://www.shamwow.com/ver15/index.asp

Rushkoff, D (1999, Nov). Let It Grow. Retrieved from
http://rushkoff.com/articles/articles-and-essays/let-it-grow/

The New School. MA Media Studies. UMS. Abstracts. Debbie Lin

Abstract 1

Dyer’s main purpose in this article is to provide the definition of stereotyping and the alternate options to combat the problem. He focuses on the stereotypes of gay people to make his points. He compares the four ways from Sociological theory, role, individual, type and member to his key issues of type and then individuals and members. He begins his method by defining type and differentiating social types, stereotypes and member types. Quoting Orring E. Klapp’s book, Heroes, Villains and Fools, Dyer emphasizes the missed objective and common pitfalls of understanding stereotyping. The important detail to note is not the inaccuracy of the stereotype, but the fact that the stereotypes forces heterosexuality to be the norm. Dyer notes that it’s essential for gay people to define themselves, excluding the ideas of the society.

To transition, Dyer discusses the vehicles used for stereotyping: iconography and structure. In film, a gay character is quickly summed up and illustrated as “gay” through small dogs, neat and well-groomed appearances and hyper fashionable style. Dyer chooses not to focus on the issues of having these stereotypes convey this character, but the reason why this character must be quickly summed up as gay in this film. He uses ‘synecdoche,’ to describe this problem, because in these films, for one reason or another, the fact that the character is gay, will allow the audience to understand his/her subsequent actions. Herein lies the issue. In structure, Dyer uses various examples to deliver his primary point. Ultimately, the gay characteristics exist to reemphasize and bring home the rightness of the heterosexual structure.

Dyer, R. (199). Stereotyping. In Durham and Kellner., Media and Cultural Studies (pp. 353-365). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

Abstract 2

Rushkoff tackles the “hardships” of marketers (particularly teen) in our current times. He notes that while most companies will rely on trusty research, what really may work is to look to the teens as a partnership, providing tools for them to develop themselves and including them in the creative process.

Young people have developed a skill to fend of the ads at every possible turn. The biggest problem is not the “how” to reach them but actually the entire concept of pushing things on them. Rushkoff discusses the importance of not selling the new trend, but showing the real opportunities for creating an original. He uses the example of video games to illustrate how companies took something good and eventually poisoned itself to death. Rushkoff’s answer is autonomy and squeezing creativity juices out of the youth rather than their allowances.

Rushkoff, D (1999, Nov). Let It Grow. Retrieved from

http://rushkoff.com/articles/articles-and-essays/let-it-grow/

Abstract 3

Miller speaks of an obvious every day visual force: color. Comparing indeterminate attributes, that are innate in human beings and determinate attributes, going deeper into the intricacies behind the apparent reflection in our retina, Miller explores and breaks down how color influences the culture and vice versa.

Historically, our vision was regarded as merely an “visual equipment” that measures light and receives. However, over the years, Miller says, seeing color is actually an active movement, not passive. He continues to discuss four factors that determine our color visualization: light, surface, eye-brain neurology and finally “feeling color.” In addition, Miller discusses the three reception systems in which humans see color (red/green, yellow/blue and black/white-producing).Miller ultimately reaches beyond the vernacular understanding of color and its effects on mood and spirits to explain how our eye sees, differentiates and selects color. Regardless of the medium, the color undoubtedly is influenced by the consumer’s reactions and emotions. Our every day language is too, filled with colorful expressions. In Miller’s case, he expresses his knowledge of color through the vehicle of office furniture and design.

Miller, H. (2001). Experience of Color. Retrieved from http://www.worqx.com/resource-recommends.htm

The New School. MA Media Studies. UMS. Intellectual Autobiography. Debbie Lin

DBYJ

The four letters stand for my name Debbie Yen-Ju, but they also stand for “defined by your journey,” the name of my start up company, focusing on organic sustainable clothing & home furnishings.

And that’s exactly what I believe in for my life - to be defined by my entire journey. Too many times I’ve been put in a box with some sort of label. Asian daughter. Music student. Advertising woman. Only Child.

But I am not just.

I am a Chinese Canadian from Taiwan, resident of the United States, living in Los Angeles. I am a singer, painter, small business owner and graduate student. I’ve always wanted to break those boundaries, embrace the slashes and promote multi-culturalism. More importantly, I wasn’t always the only child in my family. The driving force behind my desire to pursue this path is losing my older brother to leukemia when I was barely twelve years old. Losing him at an early age taught me so many things, but the most resonant message was the importance of life -- what we do with our time in this world. He showed my family and me the truth in living fearlessly, passionately, ambitiously and conscientiously. I want to start a parallel non profit to my company, in memory of my brother to dedicate funds to the research of leukemia and other cancers, through my net proceeds and my artwork and music events. Concurrently, I will continue to sing and paint and use my artwork to speak to the individuals in the society share similar stories.

“Most graduate programs ask you to choose between studying media and creating it. The innovative MA in Media Studies at The New School lets you do both.” Why would the MA at The New School benefit me, or how? This statement on The New School website, alone, captured me immediately, but furthermore, the MA in Media Studies at The New School, with a focus in Media Management and International Affairs, is the one and only program to which I applied, and the reasons for this were very specific. One, the online format allows me to travel internationally (as I do want to work in the global capacity), which segues to reason two, to put to practice what the program believes in (“mix of theory and practice”), and lastly the unique courses will provide the building blocks for me to manage a successful company and non profit, while still allowing me to breathe as the artist that I will always be. Simply put, the The New School is conducive to my desire to be defined by my journey, and personally it is the greatest pairing, beyond any pinot noir and fromage.

The MA in Media Studies is a haven for me, as it fuses the sensory, visual and academic spaces, allowing for the most organic and pure learning environment. Intellectually, I will be provided the information that is forefront of teaching for the present and the future, necessary to become a positive role model. Creatively, I will be able to fully grow, fostering my artistic nature. Personally, I will find fulfillment and meaning, and hopefully reciprocate that sentiment for a lifetime. I know my strengths and weaknesses quite well, but I’m confident they will unravel even more so as I traverse through this program. I want to contribute creatively and personally through my company and non profit, to better interpersonal relationships and communication in the society. My jobs at Time Warner Cable and Warner Brothers selling TV and digital ads definitely guided me to think about Media, but they also reminded me of what I actually want to dedicate my life doing. If I can learn the tools to better the world in my way and incorporate my music background and artwork to reach people, I will have attained my goal. The touted flexibility of this program fits my lifelong aspirations perfectly.

I have a healthy mixture of very clear strategic steps to take and to-be-discovered gems en route to obtaining my MA of Media Studies at The New School. I would like my culminating project and/or thesis to be tied to dbyj and the beginning stages of my non profit for my brother. I have very specific classes I want to take, including the four Media Management courses for the graduate certificate program. In addition to those, these classes have reached out to me, “Projects in Advocacy Media,” “Art as Social Practice,” “Media and Architecture,” Media and Child Development,” and “Other Music: Music and Difference.” Moreover, I am immensely interested in graduate courses from Parsons as to boost my knowledge of fashion for my clothing line. I strongly believe the rest of it will come to me accidentally (as mentioned in lecture). I am an advocate of the planning, anticipating, and surprise blend which illustrates the life in general, quite adequately. More specifically, as a budding company, the constant struggle for me is, how do I reach my consumers, and share my vision, without being invasive. Personally, I abhor email marketing. It peeves me to no end, so to dodge the hypocrisy, I struggle with that concept with my own brand. I want to find a better way to reach out and bring awareness - branding in a non invasive way? Is that even possible? I believe this would be a strong contender for my thesis.

Ten years from now, I will be almost thirty-six years old. I see the MA in Media Studies giving me a head start because the ever-evolving Media, and the actual study of it, is still rather foreign to most people. I see myself as leader in my community to divulge the knowledge I’ve acquired. I see my company and non profit running side by side reaching out to local and global organizations. I see my paintings and music giving some individual comfort and encouragement, and I see a lifelong dedication to the arts, to giving, and to sharing that same fearlessness and passion, ambition and conscientiousness I’ve learned from the person who has and always will be my inspiration.