A picture is worth a thousand words

I am a firm believer and personally live by the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”. These words are the exact reason as to why we have chosen to use photography of students within Rhodes University in order to portray our feature story of student life and the diversity of beings presented on our blogging site.
Rhodes is considered as a very alternative university, catering for a variety of ethnic cultures, as well as beliefs concerning dress codes, habits and personal characteristics, which all constitute for a wide array of imagery, which our blogging site aims to capture and share with students from other varsities that do not experience such lifestyles. These particular happenings experienced within and around campus are common ways of life and home to this particular campus. Such activities include that of stereotypes made about Hippies, Rastafarians and alternative rockers, all of which are less common in other education institutions.

Mirror, mirror on the wall blogging site has been designed by a group of first year journalism students that attend university at Rhodes with intentions of capturing everyday moments and turning them into memories for those who attain a being of this diverse way of living. Our aim is to display these real time photographs on our site and allow for others to take note of and view the typical Rhodes way of life, with reference to the format of dress and culture.
As students of a contemporary lifestyle, we are constantly made aware of the image conscience that goes with our daily appearance, some more so than others. Within the “chilled” environment and nature of Rhodes University, it is evident and that there is a fashion sense that differs among the students and their social output. Photographs used in our site display this particular routine and place emphasis on the assortment created within this diverse institution.
Studying Journalism at this particular university used in the site allows for first hand image resource and has taught us how to portray the media as students of this modern-day way of living, that it is the current format of image and sense that is topical and how we learn through not only ourselves but the people around us, who create the way in which we perceive our surroundings and chose to categorise individuals simply by their physical appearance, which indicates in our minds who we consider them to be. Photography is an expressive way of feeling the emotions and expressing characteristics of this large arrangement of cultures and beliefs. All achieved through the use of image rather than that of words, creating a sense of reality.

Tay Johnston

Sometimes All You Need is One...

‘Mirror Mirror on the Wall’ portrays photos of people just being themselves, irrespective of what is the right image. If you are a young student and you are reading this, you know what you are up against in the 21st century. It’s image, right? It’s threatening and uncomfortable, and sometimes a feeling of hope needs to be instilled. But sometimes, image is the simple component. Living through it, that is the frightening part.
Whilst studying journalism at Rhodes University, it’s not about what you say, it’s about what you do. ‘Mirror Mirror on the Wall’ has been created by a group of female journalist students, eager to portray images of a student town through capturing glimpses of uniqueness. I want to capture an image that means something to someone. Like when you witness the view of a stereotypical ‘hippy’ and no one dares to talk, but somehow everyone is thinking and living the same experience. I want to capture that feeling.
We all know the student life isn’t easy, and while embracing life, we believe that everyone has the right to express what they feel. Our photography will be based on capturing moments in time that may have the ability to allow an individual to look back and say, “That’s when it all changed...” or simply opening up an individual to difference. A simple photo of a music concert displaying students with ambition to live made a difference in my life; it’s what made me believe in journalism. So if through photography, someone’s life can be inspired, then ‘Mirror Mirror on the Wall’ is the perfect opportunity for us to make a difference in your life.
Today, journalism allows you to express yourself and your personality through a variety of innovations. Photography allows us to convey a feeling and experience that maybe you can relate to, or want to relate to. Through our blog, you will be able to express commentary regarding our photography, giving students an opportunity to meet other people acknowledging the same moment. Through visiting our blog, you will be able to witness divergence and change within a student town. Rhodes University is just a place, somewhere in the world. Maybe it is similar to your experiences, or maybe it is completely different. But look closer into our blog, and you may view someone similar to you. An individual trying to find their place and self in the world.
There are six billion people in the world. Some are displaying the person they want to be, while others are running scared. But we all have something in common, the desire to be filled with hope and meaning. And sometimes all you need is an experience, one moment...to make a difference.
Nadine.

Why I Write, Why We Should Write for What is Right

Many know from a young age as to why they wish to become journalists, for some it is a love of writing that compels them while for others it may have been a sudden realisation that this is their calling. I've always felt that my purpose in becoming a journalist was not only to write about interesting and ever-changing topics but to travel to unknown places to meet unusual people in order to inform an audience of thier stories and to give a voice to the voiceless.

I have always believed that freedom of expression is front and foremost to human survival in today's society and that every person regardless of their status within this society has a right to declare thier opinion whether or whether not it is an agreeable one.

This brings me to the aim of this blog, which is to reach out and appeal to a vast array of journalism students from various backgrounds, cultures and countries. However, we wish to bring up controversial topics which will be enhanced with pictures and graphics that will appeal to many people, some not even journalism students. Most pictures will be taken around Rhodes University campus, but some will come from various random sources in order to start debates and allow people to voice their opinions on the subject matter.

The world is full of interesting things that people tend to overlook in their daily whirlwind that they call life and so "Mirror Mirror on the Wall" will beg you to slow down, take a look and contemplate the finer details of life.

As journalism students it is important to make sure the right topics and the right people get their story heard. Far too often newspapers and television news shows are bombarded with stories of corrupt politicians and sensationalised celebrities. This blog will allow ordinary people, like you and I, to have their very extraordinary stories told and for journalism students to change their perceptions on what we deem newsworthy.

I think it's about time that journalists start acting as hardcore as they make themselves out to be and forget the illusion of objectivity and political correctness that shrouds and detracts from the raw talent and pure emotion of writing. Journalist are the voice of the people and have a sense of power far more extensive than even the most powerful leader. We have the ability to represent and to persuade and the responsibility to do this with utmost accuracy and morality. Oscar Wilde said it best: "In America the President reigns for four years, and Journalism governs forever and ever."

Tarryn

Saving the World One Blog at a Time

I thought that studying towards a Journalism degree would be "cut and dry". After seven months of lectures, tutorials and assignments, I have found this to be entirely untrue.

This blogging assignment has made me realise the type of journalist I would like to be when I've received my degree and I'm officially all grown up. Being the type of journalist that reports on celebrities and the latest gossip around town can definitely be interesting and there will never be a dull moment in that however, is that really a fulfilling career as a journalist? For some, maybe, but not for this aspiring reporter. I would like to write about issues that matter in the world, issues that can have a huge impact on many lives. It is true that most students dream of this aspect of journalism, some achieve it and some don't, but I'm in it for the long haul.

In "War by Media", John Pilger talks about how his first big assignment as a journalist was reporting on the Vietnam War from the are itself. He explains that the American soldiers committed so many horrific crimes, but the journalists wouldn't report on them as they were protecting their own country. I want to be the type of reporter that will be able to crack these cases open by writing about war crimes and war in general - by being a war journalist. The world is not a depressing place, it is just that some of the actions by the inhabitants of the world make it seem that way and maybe it's ktime that stopped. I'm not talking about superheroes or the ultiomate do-gooder, we can make a difference through the type of reporting that we do.

In our blog, we aim to not only show the world and other journalism students the happenings of Rhodes campus, we hope to spark debates about serious issues in the world today, and get feedback from them on the topics that they agree with. I hope that my writing will come across as intriguing (so that it appeals to almost anyone who comes across our blog), but that it is also able to engage more experienced journalists in that it will not just be about student life, but life as a whole. After all, it isa blog and should appeal to veryone when it's done right.

Lately I've been getting the impression that some newspapers and other news media are not reporting for the greater good of their country, but rather for the greater good of themselves and their pockets. This could be our chance to change that, to reflect the journalists that we hope to be when we're all grown up.

Rochelle

Life is like pop art, through the tiny benday dots we can make up the full picture.

I have always thought bloggers to be rather pathetic. What, nobody will listen to you in real life so you have to create an online profile in order to rant and feel important? It is, in essence, a narcissistic concept. And when one blog-browses, most of the narcissistic creators discuss banal activities such as the new shade of nail polish Revlon has released, or their puppy’s digestion problems (Really. http://www.kikislife.blogspot.com/). I constantly battle the urge to scream “WHO CARES!”. Sadly, many do. I think this is a bleak reflection of the state to which our society has deteriorated, where more people enjoy reading about topics such as Kiki’s toenails than about events that are going on in the world – after all, how on earth could a coup d’etat in Libya possibly concern them?

Now that I have crossed over to the dark and wordy world of blogging, I am determined not to even vaguely resemble the kind of vapid nonsense that appears on the pages of people like Kiki. This blog will be aimed at showing its readers the real world which is filled with the delightfully eccentric and the exquisitely humane. Little things that go on around us such as a homeless man feasting on Kentucky, a student rejoicing, a child sobbing. Although it is likely that the footage will be of something less clichéd and more realistic, such as tears of inebriated joy flowing down the face of a withered old homeless man while he glugs a bottle of old Brown Sherry. All of these things are more important and far more human than ranting about whatever drama is going on in one’s mundane existence and whilst they are not as serious as dealing with topics such as political upheaval in the Congo, they too are crucial elements of life. Life is about details and it is through attention to these that we compose the pictures that make up our world. Thus they should be captured, observed, reflected upon. As a journalist I hope that I will never miss the details in any situation because it is someone’s mannerisms when telling a story that so often can say more than what their mouths do. While I study here at Rhodes and learn all about the necessary factors of the profession – such as writing, research, blogging, I hope I never lose sight of the importance of the information hidden within the information. And I hope through photographing the often ignored facets of the world around us, the necessity of them can be revealed. The trivial is not the subtle curl of a human mouth but rather the superficial musings on which we waste so much of our time.

Greetings

Welcome to Mirror Mirror on the Wall where anyone can be the fairest, marest or anything of them all.
We will be giving you the latest happenings on campus and from around the world, so be prepared!
Over and out (for now)