Welcome to the Digital Showcase!
The Professional and New Media program is proud to host the annual digital showcase. This showcase brings together some of the digital work being done by our students throughout UMass Boston. Each of the 17 projects displayed here is created and designed by our participants and showcased as they wish it to be seen. We hope you spend careful time with each project and listen to what worlds are being created. Each piece, we believe, has something meaningful to tell us.
Please read each contributor’s brief remarks and then click on the project link. When you are done, use the browser’s back button to jump back to this page.
When you are done, please take a moment to vote for “audience choice.” The winner will receive a small prize and be recognized during the English Department’s year-end celebration on May 22, 2023 from 11-12:30pm in the Campus Center Alumni Lounge.
UNDERGRADUATE PROJECTS
“Screen + Time – Life” a short film poem by Nalani Depina
Nalani writes, “the story I am telling is a sort of first-person essay in a poetic mode. Showing the perspective of a child growing up around 2011, when technology was majorly developing after apple products started launching. In the story, you see the child start to grow through height changes in the camera angle, and as the child grows, you watch the different montages of games and social media that were popular with different age groups. Then the narrative shifts to a new perspective once the child starts doing different activities and away from any screens, and ends with a positive message.”
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“The Heartbreaking Sound of Silence” a sonic project by Jeremy Weaver
Jeremy writes, “My project is an audio project that sort of borders on both a podcast and soundscape format, publicly accessible via my blog. The goals of this project were to make people like myself, who are uncomfortable with the idea of hunting and trophy hunting, think a bit more critically about the positive impacts that both activities have on wildlife conservation.”
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“Vagabond” an original song by Joe DiPersio
Joe writes, “This is a song that I wrote called ‘Vagabond.’ It’s about drifting around and the tendency to want to do that sort of thing. I was in the midst of recording a different song when this one presented itself, so I decided it would be more relevant to write and record something completely new… it’s really only a rough demo quality but you gotta make do with what you got I suppose. “
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“Transportation, Transit, and Traffic in the City of Boston” a photoessay by Daniel Repeta
Daniel writes, “The goals of my project are to spread awareness of the issues with transportation in Boston (although I’m sure that this isn’t entirely necessary as the issues are widespread and well-known), and to offer another lens (no pun intended) through which Boston’s residents can view the infrastructure that they rely on every day.”
“Untitled 1” and “Untitled 2” digital paintings by Dina Gebretensae
Dina writes, “A colorful and creative Digital art portrait of girl. The unique poops of color and abstract painting leaves a bold statement of womanhood and confidence.”
On “Untiled 2,” Dina writes, this is “a digital drawing of a black girl to express the complexities that hair has on identity and individualism for black girls.“
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“Your Fear of Looking Stupid is Holding You Back: An Interview with Michael Eshun” by Steffline Rosemond
Steffline writes, “In my journalism class I was able to interview and write an article about his latest streetwear business. BlackLettter.PDF has now since launched and I was able to talk to the designer and the CEO of the company. The article talks about his upbringing, the journey to his business and the outcome. I want to showcase a black business in the Massachusetts area, I want people to read his story and relate to his story and the importance of buying black.”
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“Exposing UFC Fighter Pay” a blog post by Derek Torres
Derek writes, “My project is a visual project where I altered and edited images to expose the issue of fighter pay in the organization called the UFC . My goal for this project is to bring awareness to the fighters who are being robbed out of the money they deserve for putting their health on the line.”
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“The Writing’s On the Walls” by a visual essay Kveten Nerudova
Kveten writes, “”The Writing’s On The Walls” aims to discuss vandalism as a potential form of political action and expression, and argues its validity and necessity of being taken seriously in that vein. It is a form of visual essay, mixing together photos, text, and graphics to argue its point. To establish vandalism as a potential form of political action and expression, and to then defend it as valid and important terrain to engage with.”
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“The History of Vampires” a digital booklet by Oscar Brown
Oscar writes, “‘The History of Vampires’ is a research project focused on understanding the origins of vampiric folklore and using that information to then understand the transformation they have undergone in order to represent the fears of a modern audience. The teacher-established goal of this project was to research an area of interest using a variety of scholarly sources to present an argument while also incorporating a multi-media element. In the goal I set for myself, I pushed myself to create an engaging zine for the essay.“
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“From Chaos to Order – A Visual Project on the Importance of Planners” a comic by Neeti Shah
Neeti writes, “The visual text aims to inspire college students to adopt the use of planners and create a habit of planning to enhance productivity, reduce stress, and achieve greater success. The piece is intended to showcase the benefits of using different types of planners and help viewers choose one that fits their needs and preferences. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage students to take action and use planners to better manage their time and tasks.”
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“How to Make Classrooms More Accessible for Individuals with Learning Disabilities” a visualization by Siara Morel-Ortiz
Siara writes, “This piece gives different ideas and perspectives on how to make classrooms more accessible for those with learning disabilities by inspiring and educating university or college teachers/professors. The goal is to bring awareness to the topic and get educators to change their approaches or challenge their current approaches in their own classrooms in regards to this particular subject. Making classrooms safe and accessible spaces for all students especially those with learning disabilities in higher ed (university/college).”
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“Untitled” an audio project by Jordan Mutz
Jordan writes, “New England’s indigenous past, and indigenous present, haunt the white-washed history of Massachusetts. Using excerpts from Jean M. O’Brien’s talk, “Firsting and Lasting:Writing Indians Out of Existence,” as well as sounds from the Wessagusset Memorial Garden, this soundscape is my reflection on the history of the land we live on. It is a soundscape for reflection and knowledge, interpolating piano playing, natural sounds, and quotes from historians of the time, as well as analysis by O’Brien. Giving people space to reflect on our past, and the history of the land we live and depend on, as well as educating and reaffirming the importance of Indigenous history.”
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“Fast Fashion” a documentary by Erin Cornelius and Samantha Alexander
Erin and Samantha write, “A video essay based in research that explores the modern fashion industry and how college students’ feel about fashion. We not only did research on how the modern fashion industry works and how it effects the environment, but got first hand accounts of how young people feel about fashion. Young people use fashion to convey an ideal image of themselves, and get fashion inspiration from social media, but also from their peers and mentors. Many fashionable young people are aware of the fashion industry’s negative effects on the environment, and seek to make sustainable choices when consuming fashion in order to mitigate this impact.”
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“Writer’s Block Information & Tips” a stop motion documentary film by Anny Perez Sanchez
Anny writes, “It is about writer’s block, added in there are information and tips about writer’s block. It is a stop motion video that is supposed to be informational and fun.”
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“Clothing Overconsumption Acts” a sonic project by Fizza Ahmed
Fizza writes, “It is a soundscape or audio ‘skit’ of a consumer going shopping and how they are unaware of just how much they are buying and its harms. It is to tell the audience in a subtle, way of just how easily it is to give into temptation of buying more clothes and items, especially with the influence of social media. I want to showcase how much social media, trends, and just people in general contribute in influencing the general public to excessively consume clothing, in the point of view of the very person being influenced. The data I include, and the way it is included, is to emphasize the dangers overconsumption is causing.”
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“Educators of the English Language vs Black and Other POC Students” a photoessay by Anthony Rieves
Anthony writes, “My project is a photo essay that talks about how those that teach the English language can be biased and negative towards their black and other POC students.
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“Online Shopping” a photoessay by Abbie Nelson
Abbie writes, “The goal of my project was to highlight the ways that dating apps such as tinder have commodified potential romantic partners as a result of the appearance of a large partner pool.”
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Digital Showcase Voting Booth
Please vote for your favorite digital project.
You are required to sign in to cast your ballot. While others may enjoy the digital showcase, only those who use their official UMB email will count in the voting (this will avoid “vote stacking” from bots).
Voting will begin on 12:30 May 4, 2023 and end at 5:00pm May 5, 2023.
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