Final letter to self

Dear Past-Kelvin,

I often wonder what mailing service you used upon sending me this letter, it did take almost a year for me to receive it. Yes, I have been fine since I began this new journey in Coventry, the place is not as exciting as back home in London but that is good because there has been less space from distraction. I’m happy I still have the confidence you have because you predicted the year would go by well, guess what? it did and I enjoyed every moment. So, you mentioned an ‘energetic spunk’ about me?  Yeah I think that has remained, I needed it to carry on with some of these assignments I’ve been up doing.

Looking back on the work I’ve done I can see why you would have been impressed, you knew I had it in me. What did you think about the other projects I did, I’ll have to ask you some time. I think its a gift that I have been able to manage my team appropriately, you seemed to think that I’m well organised; I don’t know if I’d say I was always comfortable when working but it’s nice to know I handled the work I got. What distractions? you know I’m joking, yeah there were a few along the way here but it was never a problem because you once said that I should never make things one.

You almost give me too much credit for the work I completed; I know you’re just sending me a confidence boost because I still have plenty of room to improve on the level I’m at now if I’m to come out of here with the best work, but since you are asking, I treated the year like a competition with my peers; we were determined to keep each other ‘on the ball’ and continued to work hard together. Mum words are still heavily ringing in my ears, I wouldn’t have it any other way, to be honest.

So is this the end of our little conversation, don’t worry the letter was enjoyable for me to read and somewhat a motivator. I still have time to get taller ( I think ) and this beard is staying, I think it suits me. Of course, I will continue to progress and make stronger efforts towards success. Things are going to get harder than this?  I hope so, you know I’ve always liked a challenge. Thank you for writing me that letter, you’ve got me thinking I’ll write one to my ‘future-self’, well I might.

All the best, Kelvin

Extra Curricular Activity

I have always enjoyed football and is a hobby I have been taking part in for years. I have been playing within a football club system since the age of seven and learnt many things along the way. By taking part in the sport I have been able to develop with confidence and enjoy my free time creatively. Football is something I have an attachment and passion towards, by being able to channel the energy I have into a game of sport I can see the way it has helped me to focus myself in a productive manner.

By continually participating in football I can clearly say that it is not merely about the physical aspect of performing and playing that defines the sport; The value of football in my life is something that I appreciate dearly. My involvement in football has helped me grow as a person, the discipline required to be a competitor requires practice and patience to become a perfectionist; this relates to the work I have been carrying out academically because of the confidence I have in myself to achieve any challenge set before me. The patience I exhibit through the sport has also transferred on to my approach when carrying out assignments, to focus and acknowledge things I do not know so that I may accept that and practice towards understanding new information.

Football is a team exercise, this is something which should not be forgotten when considering the relevance of its practice. By playing in a team, football has developed my social skills and allowed me to feel more confident around new people I meet. Being able to develop a relationship with your team mates and trust so that you can rely on them is also something that football promotes; in relation to my enrolment in university, a place where I had to meet a load of new people, I can see that the character I now am has come about through my life experiences, including my involvement in sport. In relation to teamwork, I can also see the importance of establishing a cohesive team unit that will be productive whilst working. I am someone who is more than willing to be a member of a team and make useful contributions that will be beneficial to the people I am working with; I don’t think this would have been possible if I did not have good people skills.

Football is a sport that helps develop time keeping skills, if one is to be part of a team or session they must get accustomed to the timings of training and matches. Time is crucial in football as being late can hinder the progression of training or halt the start of a match. The idea of discipline is also greatly explored within the sport as misbehaviours are punished instantly. I am very happy to have been able to play football for as long as I have and look forward to continuing with the sport, my talent has got me into the university football team. I hope that as I continue to enjoy my time in Coventry, my skills progress in the sport and I build character within myself.

 

Inspiration – My mother and family

An Inspiration of mine has always been my mother. I have always looked at her to seek guidance and been inspired by her sharing of the things she went through whilst growing up till now and seeing how she carries herself today. My mother is someone who has always motivated me to do good and supported me with the decisions I have made regarding my career. Her successes in life have given me the belief that I too can become a success as I continue to move along with the world and the experiences that come way. I appreciate that my mother was able to graduate from university whilst looking after myself and my two sisters; I take great pride in the work I do and recognise how difficult it would have been for her looking after me and my siblings.

My mother grew up in Nigeria, a country that is tougher than the more advantaged upbringing I received whilst growing up. My mother’s teachings allow me to value the situation I am in and consider how lucky I am to live the life I live in this country. Through listening to my mother and reflecting upon the way I carry myself I can see aspects of herself in me. My mother is the reason for my motivation to succeed; I want to make her proud and also make her smile, she inspires me to continue when times are not as smooth as I’d wish them to be.

I come from a very proud family where it is not merely through effort alone that success may be achieved. My family are people who encourage that we remained determined and have focus towards the future. I am someone who is always planning the next step I shall take in my life so that I am prepared for any situations I encounter. I feel that by having positive examples around me I can continue to persevere and chase the goals I have set for myself. I am very grateful to have the family I have and will make them proud of the effort I put into the work I conduct; They are my inspiration.

Film Screening: Isabella

Isabella is a film from Hong Kong that has swept the east asian film market through the way in which it engages the audience by being a truly authentic film. The film is said to be “touching and beautiful, though calculated and questionably substantial”; through my own watching of the film, I believe that it has been delivered in a professional manner that can generate appeal from other markets. In relation to the director Pang Ho-Cheung and his direction towards a target audience, I can see that it is key for him to have the Hong Kong local as the initial target audience.

Although the movie covers graphic areas of society such as violence, sex and prostitution it is to be said that it is not am complete representation of the people and nation. The  scenario and time in which the film is set adds to the sense of realism whilst viewing, as content shown in the film relates to how things were during a time of federal corruption and disarray.

The film captured my attention with the way it began in the club with uptempo music and bright colours; this connoted the vibrantly frantic story we were about to embark upon. The film was shot with the quality that would rival that of any Hollywood or European productions being released. The film establishes itself in a manner that allows the audience to think that its direction is completely one of fornication and wrong doings; The early scene of the bar portrays this idea well. The violence near the beginning emphasises the concept of relationships being explored in the film, how important it can be to ensure a good one between the audience and producer is also a concept that develops through watching the film.

Money is also a major contributor in the film, not only is it by the currency alone but through the way in which people are valued and disrespected in the scenes. Sex and prostitution are seen to be normal and part of the habitual ways of life; the corruption in the film continues to be seen with its inclusion of gambling and depiction of the ghettos. By leading the audience towards an assumption of what to expect from the film, they are cleverly being lead into surprising twist in the plot which becomes sudden and somewhat unexpected. The interlinked story between the protagonists being father and daughter is something which highlights the way in which the film captures our attention. The trickery in the plot by the daughter to locate and establish a relationship with her father shows the determination she has; this is shown well in the film by the camera shots and slow soundtrack accompanying them.

The emotion felt in the film is believable because of the way in which the plot and the story being told relate to each other; by having the mother dead in the film highlights the desperation felt by the characters to do good in their lives together, the dog Isabella is symbolic of the past and how they have held on to their memories. Time is also something that bears significance in the film, as time passes so does our character’s behaviour. The bonding exercises between the protagonists are seen to be playful (hence their intoxication), by the time they have finished their fun it is evident to see that the relationship between them is a strong one. The film understands human emotion and is able to deliver effectively in its portrayal of the feelings we go through and experience.

The idea of security is generally associated with fear in the movie; the relationships that have to be broken up in the film also reflect the loss of safety and trust being lost as characters change from their previously immoral ways to those which are considered more acceptable. Isabella is a film that questions the idea of ‘running away from tough situations’, the mystery towards the climatic ending answers the call of restoring equilibrium to the balance of things. My watching of the film was an enjoyable one, the music and speech at the end rounded up something that was truly riveting. The film left me with an air of promise and expectation towards my outlook on life.

Under-represented group within the media

Gender is the socially constructed roles of and relationships between men and women, there are conceptions of femininity and masculinity. The difference between gender and sex is that the latter is only biological. Gender focuses on the inequalities between males and females, not focused with feminism or women’s studies. Analyses often shows a disadvantaged and weaker position of women and girls in social, political, economic, legal, educational and physical issues. reason for gender discussions and interventions to focus on correcting these imbalances by specifically targeting women and girls.

In recent years, a significant shift from advocating for ‘gender equity in sport’ towards using ‘sport for gender equity and personal development’. The concept of self-esteem suggests that girls and women who participate in sport and physical activity demonstrate higher self-esteem as well as improved self-perception and self-worth. ‘Gender norms’ refers to the responsibilities and privileges assigned to men and women. Participation remains largely imbalanced when compared to participation amongst males. most researchers remain in agreement that consistent participation in sport has had major impact on achieving gender equality in certain contexts.

Evidence from developing countries indicates that some sports programmes provide women and girls with opportunities to develop leadership skills. The provision of possibilities to develop specialised skills in coaching, refereeing, training, league organisations as well as access to information on health and peer education is of great value to the participants. Exposure to competing internationally is seen to add the boost of public recognition of the skills that females can develop through sport. There is a need to involve and engage with gender issues through sport in the context of developing countries.

Major highlights in policy development in sport, gender and development:

1949: – International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW) is formed

1968: – a female athlete lights the Olympic fire for the first time at the Olympic Games in Mexico city

1975: – UN Women’s World Conference in Mexico City leads to the creation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

1979: – UN General Assembly adopts the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

1981: – Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is formed

two female members are elected to join the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

1984: – Women’s Sports Foundation is founded in Great Britain

1994: – the first World Conference on Women and Sport and the signing of the Brighton Declaration, signals the ‘women in sport’ movement taking on an international dimension.

1995: – The International Working Group on Women and Sport is formed and receives the status of official IOC commission

The fourth UN Women’s World Conference takes place in Beijing, signalling the shift in discourse from ‘Women in Development’ (WID) to ‘Gender and Development’ (GAD)

1996: – the promotion of females sport is added to the Olympic Charter

2004: – the third IOC World Conference on Women and Sports is held in Morocco, entitled: ‘Sport as a Vehicle for Social Change’

In many of today’s developing countries, everyday tasks to meet basic needs (food, shelter, etc.) require most time, leaving few to think of ‘luxury’ of recreational activities. In most cases, work conducted by women and girls in the home as providers of food and carers of the family is not considered as productive because it is not a directly income-generating activity, which implies the assumption that females may not require recreational or free time as much as men. In such contexts, it is important to determine the extent to which women and girls can access time and resources to participate in sport.

The sociocultural context of established gender norms must be considered when conducting sport programmes that aim to address gender norms. It may be considered a provocation for women and girls in some contexts, to be seen in public. wearing sports attire that may not cover all parts of the body. Not behaving according to established gender norms can have significant negative consequences for those who deviate from these norms. Sport and physical activity deal with the body and physical activity. The lack of appropriate facilities (e.g. changing rooms, water and sanitation facilities, etc.) and sports equipment can deter females from participating in sport activities. The risk of injury can be particularly restrictive.

Sport is often perceived to express heterosexuality and male excellence. Experience shows that in most contexts, women who would like to be successful in sport competition have to demonstrate some ‘typically male attributes (such as: ambition, self-confidence, aggressiveness and power). Females who ‘trespass’ on these socially and culturally defined boundaries, ares seen to challenge and perhaps transform well-protected gender norms. Research has shown that most girls learn ‘culturally appropriate styles of movement’ by imitating their older female counterparts. But communicating the achievements of those exceptional women to others remains a challenge.

Having designated spaces for women’s and girls sport activities can have practical benefits but also a symbolic character, especially if these areas are public. Generally, access to community ares is primarily granted to males. In some cases, should females use these community spaces, they are usually allowed to do so under the specific condition that they are accompanied by a male family member. Experience shows that by females claiming public space, the community may become slowly accustomed to seeing them sharing public space with males. Besides infrastructure, sports programmes for females have shown to require organisational structure as well. Sports programmes that assure females active membership in leading positions, equity, financial means, participation in decision-making and strategic planning are likely to be more successful in producing lasting change in the self-perception and self-confidence of female participants in such programmes.

Successful sport programmes for women and girls have shown to have paid careful attention to categories of sports, such as: sport vs. games; contact vs. low-contact vs. non-contact sports; mixed vs single-sex sports, team vs double vs single sports; etc. Careful consideration of these aspects can help to establish female sports participation and its integration into everyday life. An understanding of the community’s perception of different sport is required. have shown to be useful in promoting gender equity, an approach which does not focus heavily on mainstream sport; This can help to avoid potential issues with promoting competitive sports. Experiences show that modifying existing games, changing certain rules and focusing participation and fun rather than on competition and performance,  is more effective in achieving an inclusive approach to promoting gender equity.

 

Information found @ www.sportanddev.org

Coventry Conversation: Evan Davis

The visit from Evan Davis was probably the most anticipated Coventry conversation I have attended. The lecture theatre was filled with students from a wide spectrum of courses, all seeking an insight into his life and experiences to gain advice towards advancing their own careers. I enjoyed feeling involved with the conversation and listening to what he had to say; the questions asked provided useful answers that gave me information I believe I will be able to use in the future to my benefit.

Davis spoke of being engaging and interesting when delivering content to an audience; his own style had always aimed “to raise the sum of human knowledge”; it was not necessarily the path I had always aimed to take for myself but I was interested in the position and direction he took when speaking to the group. Relating what he had said to the work I have been doing at university I can see that we are always required to produce unique content which should also be captivating to the eye and satisfying to the viewer; by focusing the style of production I wish to take out I can become more established as a recognised media producer.

Speaking about his style of interview, Davis explained how it is crucial to know when to be firm in an attack style format and when to be more reserved and soft whilst speaking to a guest or interviewees. I understand that interviews are very useful in production, where it be for a documentary, a journalistic approach or in television production; they can be the key towards making a story a decent one or a strong one that is remembered and revolutionary. Respect for those you speak to is something we take for granted, by recognising that conducting an interview can formulate hostile situations I can see that by establishing a comfortable setting I am more likely to receive positive responses.

We also discussed how essential it was to not keep the knowledge gained to ourselves but to instead expand our knowledge to other areas of study. Understanding that we are all important in the progression of the social economy is something I may have previously taken for granted before, to seek knowledge and share it with my peers and networks is now something I aim to develop within myself as Evan said: “to know the size and shape of the world” requires interest and determination; something I believe I possess.

Evan Davis’ conversation became one of inspiration as he continued to speak of how we are to improve ourselves through confidence and projection, in an explicit exhibition of ourselves. I know that I am determined to succeed and will continue to do so as long as i remain resilient and willing to learn. Davis said “if you’re willing to look weak, you actually look strong”; this comment allows me to feedback constructively and build upon what others say to improve. I appreciated the visit from Evan Davis, it gave me optimism towards the continuation of my career. I look forward to hearing from other practionists and attending future Coventry conversations.

Coventry Conversation: Debbie Isitt

It was very pleasant experience having Debbie Isitt visit us in Coventry Conversations; her joyous personality seemed to spread around the room, as we listened to what she had to say. The discussion was mainly centred around her new release of the film Nativity, she also spoke of how she had achieved her successes and gave us advice towards what steps we would have to take to establish a career for ourselves.

Speaking with Debbie helped me put things into prospective and see that I did not have to follow the traditional methods of carrying out my work to be accepted in the industry; it was rather through having confidence in myself and the work I produced that I would be successful. Debbie is renowned for her usage of the unorthodox improvisational technique, we spoke of how she enjoyed the thrill of her work and that although she took risks, when they were performed well it was to her own credit and benefit.

Trial and error is an essential practice we partake in regularly, by learning from what we have done previously we can begin to produce and be actively involved in the creative aspect of any work being conducted; Debbie highlighted this idea and spoke of how important it is to have authenticity. Relating what Isitt had said to the things I have been learning in university, I can see that as I develop a style of work I want to produce I will be able to focus myself towards achieving goals I set. My degree involves a significant amount of group work and participation, from listening to Debbie I have also realised the importance of my peers and colleagues; to establish respect for each other will only benefit the projects we conduct.

Debbie rounded up the conversation with some inspirational words which left me thinking. Belief, confidence and persistence are things I believe I already possess, I must make sure I do not take for granted the gifts and talents I have been blessed with. In reference to the professional aspect of my career, Isitt also spoke of how it is essential to be decisive and be tenacious; this is something I agree with as it is those who make an impact that are remembered and considered highly in the industry. The concept that patience is a virtue also came about as success does not happen overnight when hard work is involved.

Coventry Conversation: Steve Cropley

Steve Cropley’s conversation was one that helped me understand how competitive it was to obtain and sustain a job in the media industry. From his visit I was able to note down what he said and reflect upon it; this helped me put it into retrospect and relate to myself. Having knowledge of Cropley’s experiences and achievements made what he said all the more enticing, as he had already gone through most of the emotions we are facing and will feel in our careers.

The competitive nature of the media industry was the point of focus as we began discussing how important it was for us be skilled at what we specialised in a remain determined. The inevitable fact was that ‘positions are rare’ and it will be the people who are at the top of their game that establish themselves in this business. Thinking about the work I am conducting already, I can see that we as students and peers are already competing against each other as we carry out group work and decide roles for each other; this shows how essential it will be for us to refine the skills we are learning now to use to our advantage. Although we may find employment,  Cropley also spoke of how ‘security is indispensible’ and that we must be versatile to remain useful in the industry as jobs come and go.

Teamwork is a very essential practice if we are to be successful in media. Cropley spoke of how important it was for us to get used to working in groups and establish a cohesive unit where our shared work ethic would achieve great things; thinking about the projects we are completing now, I can see that each member of the group must be committed for the work to be completed efficiently.

Cropley also spoke of it can not be by mistake why we are successful in media. Literacy is a very important area where we must be confident to express our style and voice in a creatively professional manner. Carrying out work in the media should never be easy but yet it can be enjoyable; Cropley expressed his urge that we must remain observant and pay “attention to detail” when we are doing projects. Looking upon my experiences in the media already and how we as students aim to be innovative with the artefacts we are producing, I see that taking a greater deal of care with my work will help me  a long way.

The conversation with Mr Cropley was one I enjoyed participating in as he seemed more than willing to answer questions we had for him. We rounded up with his message that “good readers make good writers” and how it would be important for us to sustain an interest in the topics we were studying, so that it would be more enjoyable for us as we carried out our tasks.

Coventry Conversation: Nick Pollard

The conversation with Nick Pollard was centred around the topical question “Does Television news have a future?”. It was very interesting to heard what he had to say, as the subject matter related to some of the career paths I am considering taking. Knowing that Pollard was the former boss of Sky News made my listening of the conversation more attentive; I was interested in taking up as much valuable knowledge from the time we had with him.

Video Journalism was the first area of discussion we engaged in, the idea that “anybody in the world” could be a journalist as long as they could upload their content to the web and post it on national and global levels. The concept of us having ‘specialists’ in this present time is one that seems to be withering away as debates continue to arise over the traditionalist’s approach of authentic journalism and the new medium that is mainly amateur driven. A concern poised by media providers also circulates around the idea of regulation and control; to have a brand of media that represents the message one is portraying is very important in today’s world of biased decisions.

Pollard went on to speak about the advances in technology, bandwidth expansion and how they are the reason for the changes for most of the changes in society; because of their ease of use and versatility. People have been able to begin posting content and footage ‘on-the-go’ in what seems to be a race of who can get the most exciting stories first. As journalism becomes a more universal practice it continues to evoke the eradication of its professionalism; people are transforming it into a hobby rather than an actual career, considerations have been taken towards establishing the difference between the two. Because of the emergence of free journalists events such as the writer’s strike have taken place, which is unhealthy for business.

The conversation with Pollard was inspirational as he took us on a journey of his career, which also covered the transition from broadcast to live streamed footage. It was good to hear what advice he had for students who are encountering choices in life that will shape the successes and achievements we go on to gain. Determination and technical skill are the key to being part of the scene in media, as I continue to develop my own skills and gain experience I too look forward to what the future holds for my career.

Coventry Conversation: Paul Abbot

The Coventry conversation with Paul Abbot was a very inspirational one; he spoke of life in a very interesting way and I was followed and enjoyed since its introduction to television, finding out that the creator of the show was coming to Coventry intrigued towards listening to what he had to say and learn from his experiences in life. Shameless is a channel 4 series that I have automatically made it essential for me to attend the conversation. From listening to Paul Abbot’s story; I took it upon myself to take my interest further and include his biography in a case study I was conducting in my Add Vantage module.

During the conversation Abbot spoke of the methods towards his success and ways in which he conducts himself whilst carrying out his work. I will highlight quotations from Abbot that I regard very useful. To “exploit yourself into pieces” emphasised the way in which it is essential to remain versatile and continue to be able to fit into different situations; this relates to my work during university and the way in which challenges arise. Overcoming obstacles is paramount towards being a success in life. The conversation enabled me to focus on my own characteristics and how I could use them for my benefit.

A concept that caught my attention was how Abbot spoke of ‘emotional honesty’ being the key to good production and writing. The production aspect of my degree is very significant as we continue to produce artefacts throughout our time in Coventry. Abbot said “don’t make it if you wouldn’t watch it”, this drew upon the way in which production should be personally satisfying to the producer before it is ready for release to an audience; this topic progressed on to how it is important to “surround yourself with excellence” so that you have positive influences around you, thus establishing a creative work ethic and portraying a voice of sophistication in production.

The recurring motif during our conversation with Abbot was that it was all about “quality not quantity” and how we must pay attention to detail. To have “intellectual and creative support” so that we “absorb criticism positively” is an aim we must set ourselves. The conversation with Abbot is one I regarded highly; it made me consider how I would conduct myself in future projects. The concluding quote Abbot left us with was that “if you stand still, you go backwards” and how it was crucial that we keep progressing.