The journey of my summer research has now come to an end – or rather to a pause of reflection that will definitely lead to more learning. And let me tell you… what a journey it was!

I started this adventure with so much enthusiasm and many ideas, but I could have never anticipated how deeply this project would have affected how I now interact with the entertainment and the narratives I am exposed to in my everyday life. Through this research, titled “The Dangers of a Single Story”, I aimed at developing a better understanding of the influence narratives and stories have on us and on how they can shape our world and future society. I would say I partially succeeded in this. Partially because, as it usually happens in research, not everything went as smoothly as planned. I had to readjust (and sometimes contain) my expectations. There is an overwhelming amount of additional material I could look into, and even though I plan on doing so in the future, I had to come to terms with practical reality. Six weeks seemed like an eternity at the dawn of my project, but I quickly realised that was far from true. I learned to prioritise, a skill I must admit I have always struggled with, and to be more pragmatic in my approach.

I had to face some technical difficulties as well, as some of the books I intended to analyse in the beginning were not available in Europe through any means I had at my disposal. This changed the scope of my research, but it also left room for reflection on the obstacles that threaten the analysis of literature coming from marginalised groups and cultures. On a personal level, this technical issue allowed me to concentrate more deeply on a specific selection of texts, which was ultimately beneficial to my research.

Through the help of my supervisors, dr Melanie Otto and dr Jane Carroll, I found the support and guidance I needed to develop my critical thinking even more and open up to sources that challenged me not only in my academic life, but in my personal one as well.

I am immensely grateful for this opportunity, and, as previously said, this journey is far from over. So stay tuned for the upcoming posts where you will find my research in full and the new exciting experiences that the Laidlaw Program will offer!