1

Part B: End-of-semester reflective writing test

HUM100: Engaging in the Humanities
Reflections on the unit

Over the past weeks I learned the value of primary and scholarly text. This was
meaningful to me as it helped to deepen my analysis along with my understanding of
my chosen subject to discuss in my essay. Previously I would have just turned to
google not realizing that there was a more reliable sources I could use. I also learnt
how to write reflectively. I feel this is a vital skill that I will retain and continue as I
felt it really helped to develop my thinking, and allowed me to consider my
assumptions, through analyzing and reflecting on my own questions. Understanding
culture and how to read it was rather amazing for me. Particularly intercultural
communications. This really opened my eyes to the way stereotypes shape our sense
of who we are as well as how we see others. But also how our identity preclude
others. Discrimination and privilege I feel is something many of us take for granted,
but I feel having a deeper understanding will significantly alter the way I personally
look upon the two. Globalization for me was really just about technology, but having
explored it in such depth I now realize it has helped to increase contact between the
different cultures, despite the fact that some may view it as a threat.
There were many things I learned in this unit. Those above a really just a few. But I
was happy with all that I learned. The most important of all I think was learning the
library system. As by learning the system it has opened up a whole new world for me.
Its allowed me to seek answers to question I never thought possible. Also learning
how to write an academic essay as challenging as it was, it taught me the meaning of
asking questions, investigating them and then drawing conclusions based on research
found in scholarly text.
I didnt feel completely satisfied with the referencing system. I felt this was one of the
most important things to learn, but struggled to find clear answers. I would have liked
to have had the time to learn this more effectively as this is something that will affect
my entire education.
2

My aim with university is to hopefully go on to complete my Bachelor of (Fine Arts
and Visual Culture). To one day maybe use my education in the field of art therapy or
to teach others, so that they also can enjoy the gift art brings to ones life.
University I feel supports its students through guiding them and showing them the
way to access the information required to learn their field of choice. But I believe it is
up to the individual themselves to truly teach themselves as they follow these
directions. So I realize I get out of my course what I chose to put into it.
University is important to society as it helps to educate people, to give people the
opportunity to gain a much deeper understanding of the world around them, of their
discipline and future profession. Without it people could not go on to contribute to the
universe in such a meaningful way.
Therefore I feel it is important I take this opportunity I have been given by attending
university and use it to not only benefit my own life but also those around me in my
community. To take the wisdom I have gained and pass it on to others through my
work as an artist, so that both they and I can continue to improve our thinking and
language.

Reflective Journal
Part A: The journal itself
Reflective Journal EITH Week 3 Research and Referencing Monday March 24
th

2014
This weeks ilecture were on a series of videos which covered why I should use the Curtin
library, scholarly journals, eBooks, databases, reading list, journal articles, library databases
and how to access help at the Curtins library.

For me the most important thing was learning what the Curtins Library had on offer. This
was meaningful because previously I really only understood the library in terms of borrowing
books as you would from your local community. Being able to operate the databases was
important, it improved my ability to be able to access scholarly journals required from my
research easy. Having the knowledge of how to access ebooks, reading list and journal
articles meant I was able to expand my choice of references. Previously I felt like I was
3

unable to obtain this information due to this lack of understanding and therefore reducing my
ability to research to the best of my ability. For me learning about the and and or along
with key words and the best way to enter these into the databases was a most useful tool.
Subsequently, I began to think about the keywords I was using, and questioned if there were
more appropriate words I should be considering. In doing so I was able to experience more
appropriate outcomes in my searches, significantly reducing the number of unwanted text
available to me. However I have not yet become sufficient enough in these techniques, and I
will need to continue to further my understanding of the databases, until I feel I am able to
confidently search the database, without assistance.


Reflective Journal to EITH Module 5 iLecture - Language and culture: Protocols and
Audience analysis - Kara-Jane Lombard Tuesday April 1
st
2014
When I started writing this, I was saying how for me the iLecture was important as it gave
me a new understanding and ways of thinking about language. This is true but I was also
writing my response to this ilecture at the same time and it come to my attention that I had a
complete ignorance to language. I have always considered or thought of language as a means
of communication between a couple or a group of people. I have only thought about it as a
verbal means of communication. Until now I never really stoped and thought about the many
different levels of language. So I find myself really appalled at my own ignorance to
language, and I have started to see where my lack of understanding for language comes in.
Through my ignorance I have missed the opportunity to make the connection that language
has with culture and society. For me the ilecture was significant in shifting my ideas and
thoughts around so that I could draw these connections and better understand how language
is socio-culturally embedded.

So how do I open my eyes and mind to intercultural communication so that I am no longer
ignorant towards it? One of the things I could consider is understanding how the rules of
phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics all come together to fabricate
language so that it brings power to engage with and read messages within a given culture
which will alter the context of its meaning greatly for me. I could choose when transferring
information to the receiver, to take into account their culture and gender, and consider the
differences this might present so that the information being transported to the receiver is
being received in the same manner that I had intended it to be.
4



Reflective Journal Your Body language shapes who you are Monday April 14
th
2014
Watching TED talk slide 10, made me realise how I often feel like Im not supposed to be
here. I related to how Amy Cuddy (Social Psychologist) felt on her first day. For me her
speech was important, it was relevant and helped me to identify an issue within myself and
understand why and what is happening when I am taken out of my comfort zone. Previously I
would hid in a corner and hoped no one noticed me and maybe over time Id be able to build
my confidence. Subsequently I realised this is never going to happen. For me to build my
confidence I needed to believe I could do it. This seemed like the right thing to do. Haven
experienced Amy Caddys talk Your Body language shapes who you are I realize that I
need to train myself to fake it till I make it or better still fake it till I become it. I find
these words powerful as I often find myself saying The power of the mind is a strong thing
if only you believe, yet I never take my own thoughts to seriously. Its time I did. I need to
give myself the chance to do just that. To take on board Amy Cuddys ideas and try to shape
my brain to cope the best I can in a stressful situation. Every time a stressful situation comes
up Im going to tell myself I can and try to be that alpha. In the group presentation. Im going
to try to step forward and push myself to be a little more confident. In fact I have already
began to do this by suggesting a group discussion live and then putting together an email with
possible discussion items as a guide for us all.


Reflective Journal on EITH Module 6 iLecture: Working without words Tuesday
April 15
th
2014
I really enjoyed this iLecture. Having this knowledge is both useful and important to me as a
learner, but also to me later once I have completed my Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts and
Culture) because it will enable me the power to negotiate or resist change, thereby allowing
me to fully understand the meanings embedded in a given text. Having the knowledge of the
three key ways of reading visual text (mainstream/compliant reading, resistant reading and
tactical readings), open opportunities for me to interpret both meaningful and significant
elements of the text opening my eyes to new meanings that might have otherwise been
overlooked. This knowledge when combined with the categories of non-verbal
communication such as personal appearance, body posture, eye contact and gesture, become
5

a valuable tool. If I take this tool and synthesize all this knowledge when reading text or other
peoples body language I start to see the text or individual in a different manner, but I also
start to become aware of my own actions and how people might be reading myself. Because
of this I can start to question my own understandings surrounding these visual text in order to
form my own opinions, and then challenge my own assumptions to gain a deeper
understanding of the meanings attached. Many of the visual text we come across are taken in
automatically without us making a conscious choice. I find this intriguing as it really shows
just how impressionable we are. I also find it interesting how often our interpretation may go
beyond what the author had intended. This really makes you stop and take stock of your own
actions and those around you.


Reflective Journal My Essay Monday May 12
th
2014
For me academic essay writing did not come easy. It was new to me so posed many
challenges. Initially I thought the biggest issue was understanding the layout and referencing
system. But I soon come to realise that for me the most significant part was getting my thesis
statement correct. At the time I questioned the assumptions that its derogatory to use female
nudes in art. Asking myself what problems laid within this assumption, and what main points
I can make to support my argument and do it justice. Initially I thought about their
essentialism to art training, and how this could affect the artist overall learning. Alternatively
I questioned both the artist and societies moral and cultural beliefs. This lead to a lot of
research to seek the answers to my questions. For me this was useful in that it taught me a
new way to approach ideas, and seek understandings. To not just rely on my own ideas but to
source out how others feel and what they too have learned through their personal and
professional journeys. I feel this has been my greatest learning. I believe I have done well
with developing my thesis statement as a result of these actions. However I feel I need to
expand on some of my ideas surrounding the moral and cultural effects so I can further build
on my understandings and ideas. Gaining this further knowledge will be essential to the
outcome of my essay, but will also broaden my personal understandings of how moral and
cultural effects impact the art world.


6

Reflective Journal - EITH Module 11 iLecture - Analysing Media Representations
Friday May 16
th
2014
This weeks iLecture Analysing Media Representations I feel was significant in changing
my view of the power of the media. Previously I questioned if media representation was good
or bad. At first I seen this as a bad thing as I feel it encourages a lot of negative outcomes for
people as it often portrays things in a negative manner such a 9/11 and the assumptions made
about the Islamic community which often implied they were all terrorist. But unlike this
demonstration the Kony video alternatively showed me where the power of media can also
have a positive influence in the outcome of mankind. It demonstrated for me the need for
globalisation and how although we may be on the other side of the word it doesnt mean we
cannot influence what happens to others.
Previously I didnt realise that I had a connection to others around the world. Sure I was
aware that I could email or phone friends I have overseas, but I mean a real connection to
other countries faced with issues I care about. I just identified as a white Australian women
separate to the rest of the world. This understanding is important to me as a learner as it helps
me to understand how constructivism, low and high context in communication, essentialism
and non-essentialism as well as imagined community all comes together to construct our
knowledge through language and giving meaning to communication in the global
environment. Bringing it to reality, our reality as a nation or individual.