Davide Banis
Why did you choose this Research Master?
During the last year of my Bachelor’s in Philosophy, I realised that my ‘intellectual hunger’ needed a more concrete object of research. Media just seemed to fit this aim. I had several options in my mind but at the end I chose to study here because it’s a very well-known and large department. And, of course, because I liked the idea of living in an international and dynamic city such as Amsterdam.
What do you like about this Master’s?
Firstly, I like its interdisciplinarity and flexibility. You can really tailor the programme according to your own needs and interests. Then, I’ve always had the feeling of studying in an cutting-edge academic environment, fully part of all the relevant debates in the field. Last but not least, I really like the small-scale character. Coming from the huge classes of my Bachelor’s, this has been a major positive shift in my student experience.
How did you design your programme?
In the first semester, I did the ‘Television and Cross-Media Culture’ track but then I preferred to broaden my perspectives, taking, for example, an elective in Film Studies and even a tutorial in Information Retrieval.
Which subjects did you find interesting?
Let’s say that I’ve never found a subject ‘not interesting’. Anyway, just to give an example, I really liked an elective called ‘Thinking the Moving Image’ since it gave me the possibility to make an audio-visual essay, an experimental academic form that I find quite fascinating.
What are your plans for the future?
I might apply for a PhD, but at the moment I’m not ruling out any options.
Would you recommend this Master’s programme to prospective students?
I would definitely recommend the Research Master’s in Media Studies to anyone who is willing to study in this ever-expanding field. It’s an intense and challenging programme that will provide you with all the critical, cultural and (if you want) even technical skills to pursue your research in Media Studies at a high level.