Hi! I’m Rosa (she/her), a taught Masters student here at York. Masters study is a significant commitment, and finding the right programme for you is so important. In this blog, I’ll share my perspectives on MA Digital Media and Culture, taught within the School of Arts and Creative Technologies.
What makes this course special?
One of the reasons I was drawn to the MA Digital Media and Culture programme was the comprehensive core modules. Digital media and culture are large subject areas where multiple disciplines intersect. Our core modules provide a strong theoretical and practical foundation for research. If you’ve already decided on a research topic, this will help you refine your ideas and consider them in new ways. If you don’t already have a specific focus, or if you change your mind as you go, that’s totally fine! You’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore new ideas during your first semester.
Your dissertation options are really exciting. You can either write a traditional dissertation or create a media artefact and reflective report to go with it. As someone with a digital background, this creative option really attracted me to the programme. It’s a great opportunity to focus on an extended project as a critical and reflective practitioner. You’ll receive guidance from your dissertation supervisor, who will work with you to help your creative portfolio stand out!
The flexibility of the course has meant I have tailored it to my specific learning experience and goals. The option modules are fascinating and varied, and the wider activities that you get involved in at the University – including events, workshops and industry masterclasses within the School – mean each degree is unique.
The lovely late autumn sunset views are a definite benefit of studying on Campus East.
Academic support and resources
It’s worth noting that the course itself focuses on critical analysis and research rather than creating media artefacts. However, there are brilliant resources at York if you want to develop your digital making skills while you’re here. For example, the library offers brilliant digital skills training, from 3D modelling to creating music with code.
Finally, the teaching staff at York are incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. They’re interested in me as an individual and what I want to get out of my degree. They’ve consistently encouraged me to make interesting choices, rather than easy ones. This is something I really appreciate!
What about the wider University community?
The MA Digital Media and Culture is based in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies, a vibrant interdisciplinary community with a vast range of research interests and expertise. There are regular opportunities to find out about the research going on in the School and to get involved in the academic and creative community there, which I really recommend.
The School of Arts and Creative Technologies building on Campus East.
There are plenty of opportunities to connect with other departments through talks and events throughout the semesters. This is a great way to make links between your own research interests and other disciplines, and to get to know people across the university too.
My favourite thing about the course
One of my favourite things about this programme is the way that we explore digital media and culture within a historical context. We don’t just think about the present and what the future might hold, we also consider how this particular now came to be. Our analysis reveals that nothing about digital media and culture today was inevitable.
I find this a really empowering way to approach the complex questions we face as individuals and societies in today’s digital landscape. If nothing was inevitable, then the choices that we make now really matter if we want to shape better possible futures. My studies in this programme so far have really helped me clarify my own perspective on this, as a researcher and in my creative practice.
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