Meet Jeffery Cui: Doing Arts Co-op Olympic style
By Julia Palmiano Jeffrey Cui, BA 2011: Major Political Science, Minor International Relations When the world’s eyes were set on Vancouver, British Columbia for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Arts Co-op student Jeffrey Cui was in the thick of it all, working through a Co-op term with Olympic sponsor Jet Set Sports. […]
Meet Helen Bell: Looking to the past
Helen Bell came to UBC to pursue a bachelor’s degree, but will be walking away with much more than a piece of paper: learning to conduct research has opened the door to a wealth of knowledge — and her own identity. “The research component at this institution is excellent,” says Bell. “The respect, integrity and recognition of the uniqueness of First Nations people has really stood out for me. It’s crucial for me that we’re doing research for and with First Nations people, not studying them like specimens under a [magnifying] glass.”
Arts Insights: How can Arts Co-op help your career?
By Stephen Satterfield “Doing a Co-op degree was the smartest choice I made at UBC!” said Phil Casey, BA 2010 Major Geography, Minor Visual Arts. Two of Phil’s former Co-op employers have made unofficial offers to have Phil return to them post-graduation, and he’s accepted one of them. Phil’s first work term was with Rescan […]
Meet BA ’06 Cait McKinney: Uncovering subversive and politically charged historical valentines
Sending valentines may not be the most obvious method of political campaigning, but it was one of the ideas adopted by the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage in their campaign for the vote.
Cait McKinney (BA English Honours, ’06) came across these witty and pointedly political historical records as part of a research project completed for the English honours seminar she took in her final semester of study at UBC with Professor Mary Chapman.
Political Persuasion
The valentine cards, sent to anti-suffrage American congressmen and President Thomas Woodrow Wilson on Valentine’s Day 1916, are personally tailored messages that used tongue-in-cheek rhymes and cartoons to advocate for suffrage. McKinney’s project and website includes reproductions of the previously unpublished valentines accompanied by critical annotations and an essay.
Working With Experts
To compile it, McKinney worked closely with the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum in Washington, DC, dedicated to the evolving role of women and their contributions to society through the continuing story of women’s pursuit for equality. Museum staff helped McKinney track down some of the valentines, and also scanned these for the project. The Sewall-Belmont House recently featured McKinney’s website in their online newsletter, a publication that reaches more than 2,500 readers.
“I wanted the students to experience, even vicariously, the thrill I have when I go to the archives and snoop around and find things,” says Professor Chapman, who taught the research-based seminar on American suffrage print culture. Prior to teaching the course, Chapman had conducted research in Sewall-Belmont House archives.
Primary Research A Great Learning Opportunity
“Most of the research that we get to do as undergrads is a new take on things that have already been done,” adds McKinney, who welcomed the opportunity to tackle research involving primary sources and then present her findings using the web. “Dr. Chapman wanted us to explore how we could use the Internet as a tool for letting other people gain access to either research that has not gotten a lot of attention, or is in danger of effectively going out of print,” McKinney says. “That’s particularly a big issue when you’re talking about women’s history because sadly there’s still not a lot of money devoted to publishing this kind of stuff,” she adds.
When McKinney first signed up for the honours seminar, she thought studying the suffrage movement would be a drag. Her original research gave her the chance to find an angle that interested her — the valentines and their representations of female sexuality. “It’s an example of how suffragists were really cunning in the way that they formed their arguments and eventually managed to win the vote by appealing to men on their own terms,” said McKinney. “They’re playing with the male idea of woman-as-object to be sexually conquered —they’re throwing it back in their critics’ faces. That’s why these valentines are so subversive and so effective: because they take the argument that was always thrown at feminists during that time period — that women were to be controlled and used by men and were not suited to voting — and make it their own.
More about McKinney
McKinney was a well-known undergraduate at UBC — she edited the AMS Insider, the student planner that is distributed to students every year. She also worked at the wellness centre as a peer educator and was active with the UBC Film Society as advertising manager and social coordinator. While she has plans to get back to school to pursue graduate studies in cultural theory, in the long term, she plans to continue doing what she’s doing now — writing with a youth focus. She currently works as a writer and researcher for Free The Children in Toronto, an international charity that seeks to raise awareness of global poverty amongst youth, and empower young people to realize that they can have an impact on the world.
By Alexandra Chu, BA ’07 in English Literature and a minor in History.
Meet alumnus Robert Parungao: Finding video games rife with stereotypes
Robert Parungao, who graduated from UBC with a BA in sociology, spent eight months analyzing the storylines and characters of four popular video games, finding stereotypes generally condemned in other entertainment media. “These images have gone unchallenged for the past 20 years or more,” says Parungao, who completed this eight-month analysis for his honours thesis.
Asian characters as Antagonists
Parungao’s analysis found Asian characters are consistently modeled on antagonistic stereotypes, such as kung fu warriors or faceless, yellow-skinned victims. “I think that, in many ways, they’re saying what a lot of people want to be hearing, because society has that inherent racism still, that’s kind of masked.”
The video game industry currently generates more than US $30 billion a year in worldwide sales, surpassing the motion picture industry in profits. In Canada, 35 per cent of households — and nearly 50 per cent in the U.S. — own a video game console.
Robert’s Research of Popular Video Games
For his study, Parungao looked at four titles that span two decades of video game design — Kung Fu, Warcraft 3, Shadow Warrior and Grand Theft Auto 3. He analyzed the storylines and characters, and spent 100 hours playing the games.
Grand Theft Auto has been a best-selling franchise for more than 10 years, says Parungao, and features non-white characters that are mainly triad members, yakuza gangsters, Latino gangs, or black hoods. “These stock characters are seen in a lot of games and function as narrative obstacles to be overcome, mastered or ultimately blown to smithereens by the white hero.”
Further, Parungao says games designers like to use a mix-and-match grab bag of Asian stereotypes that are often nonsensical. “The villain in Shadow Warrior goes by a Chinese name, Lo Wang. But when he fires his rocket launcher at his enemies, he screams ‘Just like Hiroshima.'”
Video Games Behind the Times in Cultural Sensitivity
Parungao believes video games have not kept pace with the changes seen in other entertainment media. “Film and television come under greater critical scrutiny, so civil rights and minority groups can voice their concerns and effect some change,” he explains. “But video games have generally been seen as kids’ toys. There aren’t the same mechanisms or critical forums to encourage game designers to evolve.”
Parungao says he believes that video games as an interactive media have a far greater impact than movies or sports, which are passive and observational.”It’s very different for a 15-year old boy to see stereotypes in a movie like ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ where Mickey Rooney plays a bucktoothed Japanese character, versus entering the world of Grand Theft Auto, where you can walk into Chinatown and start mowing down Chinese gangsters with an AK-47.”
“I hope to continue looking into ways to improve video games because they’re fun and I’d like to see them turn into positive media instead of negative ones.”
Meet Erin York: Student education through the Arts
Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Erin is a film studies graduate with a drama minor and one of the 20 international students formally enrolled in the UBC Arts Co-op Program. While many students going into the program are still unsure about their career goals, Erin knew from the start what her ultimate dream job would be and how the co-op program would help get her there.
Nick Angiers: Discovering a love for the Chinese language
Nick Angiers (BA ’08) stumbled into Chinese after completing all the courses he could take in Japanese. Angiers graduated with a BA in Asian Languages and Culture, specializing in Chinese. He’s fluent in four languages: English, French, Japanese, and Chinese.
Meet Cornell Yeung: From Science to Arts
After spending his first year at UBC as a Science student, Cornell Yeung quickly discovered that working in a lab was not something he wanted to pursue as a career. Frustrated with his initial experiences with academia, Cornell made a somewhat surprising and unexpected decision to leave school altogether.
After a two-year hiatus Cornell made the conscious decision to return back to school, this time as an Arts student.
Cornell lists the Arts Co-op Program as one of his main incentives for coming back to UBC. “I believed that co-op would give me opportunities to acquire practical experience and that is what I wanted to gain most out of my university degree,” he notes.
The decision to join co-op turned out to be a good one for Cornell as he went on to complete four work terms which included a communications position with Vancouver Coastal Health in addition to two international placements in Australia and Japan.
“I enjoyed the diversity of tasks my co-op positions offered me,” Cornell says, “Through my work terms, I had opportunities to work as an English Teacher in Japan, plan an awards ceremony for Vancouver Coastal Health, develop and present an anti-smoking campaign for elementary school children, work as an advisor in an Australian university, and travel.”
Reflecting on the two years he spent out of school, Cornell has no regrets. The work experience he acquired during that time contributed to helping him get into the program as well as gave him experience to offer to employers during his early search for his first co-op placement.
“Everything is a learning experience,” Cornell states, “It’s important to be open-minded when it comes to acquiring experience in both life and work.”
In describing his philosophy when it comes to planning his career, Cornell quotes Oprah, stating, “Luck is opportunity meeting preparation. When I joined the Co-op program, I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career but I did know that I wanted to be prepared for when I did decide.”
What the Arts Co-op Program offered Cornell was the chance to explore career options. Working in a variety of fields helped him to decide what he wanted and also, what he did not want to do. The Co-op Program gave him opportunities to apply and develop his strengths, acquire transferable skills, network, and build a strong resume.
Now in his final work term, Cornell is traveling to Shanghai, China to work for a land development company.
By Carmen Chu (BA 2008, Psychology and English Literature). Carmen is an Arts Co-op student.
Meet BA ’00 Sarah Galashan: Aiming for the front page
Sarah Galashan had wanted to be a journalist since age 16, and after she gained experience volunteering and interning at various news stations, she realized she thrived off the adrenaline in the fast-paced news environment. Sarah graduated from UBC in 2000 with a BA in Canadian Studies.
Meet ’97 BA almunus Richard Lam: Taking a snapshot of the future
Richard used to feel as if his only options upon graduation were either teaching or law. However, his first term working for the Ubyssey taught him otherwise – that he could get paid for taking photographs!
Richard graduated from UBC in 1997 with a BA in Political Science (major) and History (minor). He decided to concentrate on these subject areas out of genuine interest and planned to apply his studies towards a career in teaching.
As a second year Arts student, he was worried about job prospects with his degree, especially since many of his friends were graduating from BCIT with specific job training. He felt his only options were teaching or law. However, his first term working for the Ubyssey taught him otherwise – that he could get paid for being a photographer!
From second year onwards, Richard became increasingly involved with the Ubyssey, first as a volunteer and then in a paid position as Photo Editor. He also joined the Photo Club and became involved with intramural sports.
Aside from his on-campus involvement, he further clarified his career goals by interviewing and talking with other freelance photographers. These combined experience helped to better prepare him for a career in the journalism industry. He is now the sole proprietor of his Freelance Photography business and the main freelancer in BC for the Canadian Press.
If you are interested in pursuing a similar career path, Richard suggests refining your photography skills, getting feedback from professionals, learning business sense, and getting involved with a student newspaper or Photo Club.
Why did you choose UBC?
It was the local or ‘home’ school. I got into other universities, but UBC replied first, and it made the most sense practically.
When did you start post-secondary education?
1992, the September following high school graduation.
When did you graduate from UBC?
1997, I took five years to complete my degree. Some terms I took four or five courses, and in others I took three.
How did you choose your major?
I stumbled into it. I took classes my friends were taking, and I had an interest in government and politics. I chose history as a minor in third year when I thought I was interested in Education. I needed to have a concentration in a teachable subject of study, so History fit with my thoughts of being a Social Sciences high school teacher at that time.
Did you ever change your mind about your Major/Minor?
Yes, I also had an interest in landscape architecture, but at that point I decided it was too late, and that I was too far along in my degree to change and start over again. There would have been lots of required courses and I would have had to go back into first year, and I didn’t want to do that.
Why did you decide to major in the subjects you chose?
I had a genuine interest in the subjects, so I took the courses that I liked.
Did you have an idea of what you would do after graduation?
Yes, I thought of law and education, but then started doing photography as a volunteer at the Ubyssey and loved it. After my first term of working at the student paper, I realized I could get paid for doing this and I wanted to pursue my dream.
Why did you think of Law and Education?
I had been a counselor in teen youth groups and coached hockey, so I thought I might enjoy being a high school teacher. I thought of law as being a good stepping-stone to being employed in a company’s upper management.
Many arts students seem to consider those same options, thinking that those are the only professional options that exist for BA grads. Was this a factor for you too?
Yes, especially after second year, I was worried. I had only worked in construction and I had no sales or marketing experience anywhere. I thought "what next?"
My sister went back to school after working as a bank teller, finished her degree and went back to a job as a bank teller with a degree. I believed that an Arts degree was worth something, but I didn’t know what.
What were your other interests in high school? University?
Photography was always at the back of my mind, but I never pursued it in high school. I enjoyed hockey, and hoped to land a sports scholarship that would put me through university, but it didn’t work out.
Were you involved in any extra-curricular activities while at UBC?
I did some intramural sports and got into photography by joining the Photo Club.
If so, how did you choose those activities?
I liked to play hockey and be active…the Photo Club became the basis of my social life while at UBC, especially after third year when I volunteered and then worked at the Ubyssey.
Did involvement in activities help you gain experience or skills that helped you to find or secure your current job?
Yes, absolutely! All of my learning was on the job. There was no formal training, all hands-on experience, and being involved has been the key.
It was through the Photo Club that another club member encouraged me to volunteer at the Ubyssey, which was a great experience. My friend also prompted me to apply for the job of Photo Editor when it came up at the Ubyssey and I took his advice and applied for and got the job.
Was volunteering a factor in getting hired there?
Yes, it was the turning point. I wouldn’t have been qualified otherwise, they knew me and knew my work, and I was right there when they needed someone.
Did you ever feel afraid or worried about what kind of career or work you could find with a BA?
Yes! Especially early on because many of my friends went to BCIT, which is a focused job training institution. These friends were finished after two years and looking for work as I was just heading into 3rd year. It was around that time though, that I got more involved in photography and the rest is history.
Did you plan to be where you are now career-wise?
No, not when I first started. After I graduated, I learned what it takes to be a freelance photographer. I knew it would be a small business and I decided to go for it and give myself three years to make it.
How important were your grades in terms of landing your current job?
Not important. I learned very quickly that an Arts degree is not like an Engineering degree, for example, where grades are very important to employers. No one had ever asked me in a job interview or work setting what kind of grades I got in university. Just having the degree completed was useful.
What is your job title?
Freelance Photographer.
What other job titles have you had leading up to this one?
Photo Editor at the Ubyssey. Before that, I was a volunteer photographer and before that I had been a laborer.
Can you give me an overview of your job description and some of the day-to-day tasks?
I do corporate photography and specialize in Editorial work, but you name it, I’ll shoot it. As I’m the sole proprietor of the business, there’s also lots of computer work, business skills, paperwork, negotiation skills, self-promotion, and cold calling. I use the Internet a lot to research and find contacts who might be interested in my work.
Do you think you developed any of these skills as an Arts student?
Yes, the BA taught me how to think imaginatively and independently, to use creativity and stay self-motivated.
What aspects of the job are most important and satisfying to you?
Variety. I do something different every day. Sometimes I know I have upcoming work months in advance. Sometimes it’s literally minute by minute or day by day. I’m okay with the uncertainty.
What aspects are least satisfying to you?
At the beginning, not knowing when the next paycheck would be. Rejection was also more difficult in the beginning.
How long have you been in business?
1999 to 2004. After graduation I continued at the Ubyssey for one more year and took English 301, a business and technical writing course that was very useful and practical.
How did you support yourself at the beginning?
I was still living at home, and received $500 stipend for working at the Ubyssey, but my parents’ help was important. Three years ago, in 2001, I secured an agreement with Canadian Press as their main freelancer in BC.
They have only one staff member in Vancouver, who I serve as back-up for. When he’s called away out of town or on vacation, I have guaranteed work. It’s been my main bread-and-butter for the last three years. Although there’s only work when there’s news that sparks national attention.
How did you land this agreement?
Persistence. The guy who was doing this job previously moved on to the Province Newspaper, so I called the staff photographer and pestered him until he agreed to meet with me. I bought a digital camera and was working within a few days after that.
If there were some aspects of the job you could change, what would they be?
More job security, benefits, vacation pay.
Did you know before you started the job what it would be like?
Yes. My father is self-employed as a Chartered Accountant, so I knew the benefits and drawbacks right away of being your own boss. No medical or dental, no set vacation. He helped me to learn the paperwork side too!
How did you do your research?
I interviewed and talked to other freelance photographers. There weren’t many mentors really, but I met with people after school for coffee to talk about what I was getting myself into. That was quite helpful.
I am now a mentor for the Ubyssey staff and volunteers because I never had one and it would have been easier if I had.
What salary range could most BA graduates expect in this field?
$30,000 -$40,000 per annum, but it can be higher or lower depending on how much hustling you do and what type of photography you do. Many paparazzi earn six figures. For me, as an Editorial specialist, I’m not rich but I’m happy.
What would you recommend that students interested in this field do while in school to better their chances of finding work in this field?
Refine your photography skills, learn business sense, and get involved with a student newspaper or UBC Photo Club. Just be taking lots of pictures and, most importantly, ask for feedback.
Be pro-active, show your work, and ask professionals for feedback. I went to a photographers’ conference and got help, and the business manager at the Ubyssey newspaper was really helpful too.
What is the worst thing a student could do?
Be lazy and unmotivated. Just going to classes and not getting involved. Not being willing to grow and stretch limits. Stagnancy shows up and really stands out in photography.
Looking back, is there anything you would do differently while at university?
The thing I kick myself over is not getting involved earlier in Photo Club. I knew I liked taking pictures as a kid, but in high school I didn’t have time to get seriously involved.
Photo Club was great, it had a low annual membership fee, I met more people who had a common interest, got more information, took pictures, learned along the way, and then started getting paid for it.
Any advice to current students?
Find a focus or niche, develop it, and work hard at it. The job market can be competitive, so seize opportunities as they can go by quickly.
In my case, I had graduated and signed up at Loyalist College in Belleville Ontario for a photojournalist diploma. But when the opportunity at Canadian Press came up I jumped on it and left the program only three weeks after it started to sign on.
What I learned in that few weeks of photojournalism college was that I already had the skills I needed to make it on my own and that the course material was redundant.
This really helped boost my confidence because I had already developed the skills through my Bachelor’s degree and my volunteer and paid work experience. All that I needed to do next was believe in my goal and make it happen.