Melina Mallos to give Melbourne talk on Greek migrant youth and new media

·

Melina Mallos, a lecturer in visual art education at the University will present a lecture entitled “Communicating Identities in Digital Spaces: Greek Migrant Youth and New Media” at the Greek Centre, on Thursday 21 March 2024, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

“My doctoral research was motivated by my personal experiences of migration. Migrants not only navigate time zones but languages, cultures and relationships,” said Melina Mallos.

“The spontaneous effect of new media can be considered beneficial for migrants wishing to maintain a connection to their birth country. But is it?

“Collaborating with eight migrant youths living in Melbourne, aged 18-24 years, we met online to explore the question, ‘In what ways does new media usage shape the identities of Greek migrant youths, and help them find a sense of belonging?’

“Together we explored instances of our identities performed for and shaped by our online communities. As the a/r/tographer (artist/researcher/teacher) leading the research, I captured our individual and shared digital journeys through storyboarding. My arts practice as an author of children’s books centres around arranging text and images on a page to communicate meaning. For this research, each storyboard I created was an assemblage of words and photographs contributed by the participants that also resonated with me and my identities.”

The research study was impacted, perhaps in a positive way, by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown not only heightened the desire for connection during what was an isolating time for the youth participants, but also fuelled personal contemplations about their migration journey, the enormity of physical distance from Greece, as well as the pandemic’s impact on their future life plans, such as careers, social life and interests.

Communicating Identities in Digital Spaces: Greek Migrant Youth and New Media”

Mediating the use of new media for ‘survival’ in a new homeland, and the value of the digital space to enable communities of belonging, were significant outcomes of this research.

Melina Mallos is a lecturer in visual art education at the University of Melbourne. Previously, she created educational initiatives for educators, families, and schools in Australian museums, including the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Melbourne, and the Queensland Art Gallery or Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in Brisbane. Melina holds a Master of Education (Research) and a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education.

In 2010, she was granted a three-month Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship to investigate object-based learning at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Melina has also authored a bilingual picture book, Catch that Cat! in Greek and English.

Her doctoral research explored the ways Greek migrant youth in Melbourne communicated their identities through new media practices and was undertaken during the global COVID-19 lockdown of 2020. Melina leads arts-based workshops exploring identity and belonging with Greek migrants worldwide.

Event Details:

  • When: Thursday 21 March 2024, 7 pm
  • Where: Level 12, The Greek Centre, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
greek film festival melbourne

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Greek school memories: Honouring the teachers who shaped our language and lives

Both the negative and heartfelt stories of Greek school have a way of becoming core memories for Greek Australians.

Spotlight on VCE Greek teacher Kristian Raspa

Sunday, October 5th is World Teachers’ Day and gives us the opportunity to celebrate the influential educators who have shaped our lives.

Movie ‘Arcadia’ picked for Oscars 2026 as Greek entry

The submission will represent the country at the 98th edition of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States.

Greece remains world’s maritime powerhouse in 2025

Greece continues to dominate global shipping, maintaining its position as the world’s top ship-owning nation by capacity.

WA Parliament hosts discussion on book honouring Colonel George Devine Treloar

The Hon. Maryka Groenewald MLC hosted an afternoon tea discussion on Tuesday, 30 September at the Parliament of Western Australia.

You May Also Like

Greek citizen Ionas Karussis killed in Jaffa terror attack

Hamas' military claimed responsibility for a mass shooting in Tel Aviv that caused seven fatalities, including Greek national Ionas Karussis.

‘Unforgettable’: Greek Australians share how it felt to return to Greece for summer camp

Greek youth from across Australia have returned from the inaugural Greek Summer Camp in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Hellenism on proud display at Australia’s Parliament House to mark Greek National Day

Greek communities from across Australia gathered at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra on March 27 to mark Greek Independence Day.