Dr Rama Venkatasawmy
Honorary Senior Lecturer
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci (Communication)
- Email:rama.venkatasawmy@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:+65 6517 2654
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Rama Venkatasawmy is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Communication and Media; he currently teaches in the Bachelor of Communication program.
He previously taught film/television production courses in the Mass Communication program at Curtin University’s Malaysian campus where he co-designed the Borneo Studies major and was also the founding Head of the Department of Mass Communication. He has also taught at Murdoch University in Australia and at the University of Mauritius.
Dr Rama Venkatasawmy has additionally worked as a copywriter in the advertising industry, as well as undertaken media production-related consultancies for various public and private organizations and institutions internationally. He has presented papers at various conferences, and in 2010 he was co-Chair of the 10th biennial Borneo Research Council International Conference. In 2015, he was the Chair of the inaugural 'Media & Journalism' judging panel for The Undergraduate Awards 2015.
Dr Rama Venkatasawmy is currently a member of the:
* Communication and Media Research group in the Hunter Creative Industries and Technology (HCIT) Research Centre ;
* Mass Media and Communications Research Unit of the Athens Institute for Education and Research ;
* Scientific Board of the Communication and Media Research Center ;
* Institute of Public Relations of Singapore ;
* Editorial and Review Board for the Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (online) as well as a manuscript reviewer for the Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications (Greece).
His multi-disciplinary research and publications have so far addressed Creativity and Cultural Production, Big Data in Media and Communication Education, Transnational Higher Education, Digital Visual Effects, Hollywood cinema, Australian cinema, and Borneo indigenous cultures. He is the author of The Digitization of Cinematic Visual Effects: Hollywood’s Coming of Age (available at https://rowman.com/ISBN/978-0-7391-7622-1) and co-author of Sarawakiana series –The Traditional Kayan Wedding: Pelah Hawa (available at http://www.pustaka-sarawak.com/Pustaka-Sarawak/Sarawakiana/pelahhawa/about_authors.html).
Research Expertise
Dr Rama Venkatasawmy’s early research publications related specifically to Australian cinema and popular culture. His research later shifted to film history and theory, especially in the context of Hollywood cinema, while addressing the digitization of visual effects and of filmmaking. And during some years spent in Borneo, he additionally developed an anthropologically-oriented interest in indigenous cultural heritage and preservation.
While maintaining his earlier research interests, Dr Rama Venkatasawmy has more recently been: examining problematic aspects of teaching communication and media in transnational higher education contexts; looking into creativity in relation to television and film production; and discussing the implications of Big Data in professional Media and Communication practice.
Dr Rama Venkatasawmy is the recipient of:
* the Best Paper Award at the 1st International Conference on Arts, Science & Technology 2017 (ICAST-2017) in Dubai, December 20-22, 2017 organised by the Academy of Arts, Science & Technology.
Teaching Expertise
The University of Newcastle is the fourth institution of higher education at which Dr. Rama Venkatasawmy is teaching in a Media and Communication program. Courses that he has taught over the years at various universities include: Communication, Creativity & Cultural Production; Media, Law, Ethics; Professional Writing; Communication Theory; Ethics, Technology, Engineering; Documentary Workshop; History of Screen Language; Media & Communication Studies; Corporate Documentary Screenwriting; Corporate Documentary Production; Screen Production Techniques; Australian Cinema; Television & Popular Culture; Political & Sociological Theories of the Media.
Dr Rama Venkatasawmy is the recipient, from the University of Newcastle, of:
* one 'Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning' Award
* two 'Excellence in Teaching' Awards
Administrative Expertise
Dr Rama Venkatasawmy currently coordinates the Bachelor of Communication program at the University of Newcastle, Singapore. He preciously established and was the founding head of the Department of Mass Communication at the Malaysian campus of Curtin University of Technology where he taught for many years prior to joining the University of Newcastle. That position required the coordination and management of an undergraduate and a pre-university communication program as well as of staff and film/video production resources involved in the teaching of these programs.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Murdoch University
- Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies), Murdoch University
- Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies)(Honours), Murdoch University
- Master of Educational Studies, University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Australian Cinema
- Communication Studies
- Creativity & Cultural Production
- Cultural Studies
- Film & Television Production
- Film History
- Film Studies
- Film Theory
- Hollywood Cinema
- Indigenous Cultures of Borneo
- Media & Communication Theory
- Media Studies
Languages
- French (Fluent)
- African Languages, nec (Fluent)
- English (Mother)
Professional Experience
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/1/2010 - 31/12/2010 | Chair - Borneo Research Council International Conference (2010) | Borneo Research Council International Conference Australia |
1/8/2002 - 1/8/2010 | Lecturer & Head of Department | Curtin University |
Membership
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
23/1/2017 - | Member - Athens Institute for Education and Research | Athens Institute for Education and Research Mass Media & Communications Research Unit Greece |
1/1/2017 - | Member - Institute of Public Relations of Singapore | Institute of Public Relations of Singapore Singapore |
1/1/2014 - | Member - Communication and Media Research Group at The University of Newcastle | Communication and Media Research Group at The University of Newcastle Australia |
1/1/2014 - | Member - Communication and Media Research Center, Scientific Board | Communication and Media Research Center, Scientific Board Australia |
Professional appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/6/2015 - 30/11/2015 | Chair - “Media & Journalism” panel for The Undergraduate Awards 2015 | The Undergraduate Awards Chair of "Media & Journalism" panel Ireland |
Awards
Award
Year | Award |
---|---|
2017 |
Best Paper Award Academy of Arts, Science & Technology |
Recognition
Year | Award |
---|---|
1995 |
Vice-Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence Murdoch University |
Research Award
Year | Award |
---|---|
1997 |
Murdoch University Research Scholarship Murdoch University |
1997 |
Overseas Postgraduate Research Studentship Murdoch University |
Teaching Award
Year | Award |
---|---|
2017 |
Excellence in Teaching Award University of Newcastle, Singapore |
2015 |
Excellence in Teaching Award The University of Newcastle, Singapore |
2013 |
Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning The University of Newcastle |
Invitations
Speaker
Year | Title / Rationale |
---|---|
2006 |
A Cultural Agenda for ASEAN Conference Organisation: Union Network International (Media, Entertainment & Arts) Description: The Creative Industries and Employment: Quality, Opportunity and Livelihood – Towards the Creation of an ASEAN Creative Industries Academy? |
Teaching
Code | Course | Role | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
CMNS 1234 |
Introduction to Communication Theory The University of Newcastle - Faculty of Science and IT |
Course Coordinator, Lecturer & Tutor | 1/8/2012 - 15/12/2019 |
CMNS 3310 |
Creativity & Cultural Production The University of Newcastle - Faculty of Science and IT |
Course Coordinator, Lecturer & Tutor | 1/1/2012 - 1/12/2019 |
PHIL 3910 |
Ethics, Technology and Engineering Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle |
Course Coordinator & Lecturer | 1/9/2017 - 15/12/2018 |
CMNS1090 |
Introduction to Professional Writing The University of Newcastle - Faculty of Science and IT |
Course Coordinator, Lecturer & Tutor | 1/9/2011 - 15/12/2019 |
CMNS 2720 |
Media, Law, Ethics The University of Newcastle - Faculty of Science and IT |
Course Coordinator, Lecturer & Tutor | 1/9/2011 - 1/12/2019 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Book (2 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Venkatasawmy RC, The Digitization of Cinematic Visual Effects: Hollywood's Coming of Age, Lexington, Lanham, Maryland, 333 (2013) [A1] | Nova | |
2009 | Abdul Ghani BA, Terry JD, Venkatasawmy RC, Sarawak Kayan Culture - Traditional Kayan wedding: Pelah Hawa, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia, 30 (2009) [A2] |
Chapter (2 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Venkatasawmy RC, 'Theorising the Hybridity of "Australianness" in Australian Cinema', Creative Nation: Australian Cinema and Cultural Studies Reader, SSS Publications, New Delhi, India 233-252 (2009) [B1] | ||
1999 | O'Regan T, Venkatasawmy RC, 'A Tale of Two Cities - Dark City and Babe: Pig in the City', Twin Peeks: Australian and New Zealand Feature Films, Damned Publishing, Melbourne, Victoria Australia 187-203 (1999) [B1] |
Journal article (14 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 |
Venkatasawmy R, 'More than just a lust for life: a systems view of Iggy Pop's creativity', CREATIVE INDUSTRIES JOURNAL, 16 345-360 (2023) [C1]
|
Nova | |||
2019 |
Venkatasawmy R, 'Identifying systemic creativity in Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad', JOURNAL OF POPULAR TELEVISION, 7 93-108 (2019) [C1]
|
Nova | |||
2018 |
Venkatasawmy RC, 'Communication and Media Education in an Era of Big Data', Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 7 87-101 (2018) [C1]
|
Nova | |||
2017 | Venkatasawmy RC, 'Transnationalizing Australian Higher Education Communication and Media Studies Curricula for Offshore Delivery in South East Asia', International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, 47-53 (2017) [C1] | Nova | |||
2017 |
Venkatasawmy R, 'Creating the Dragon', Film International, 15 34-45 (2017) [C1]
|
Nova | |||
2016 |
Venkatasawmy R, 'Crisis in the Digital Visual Effects Industry and Hollywood Cinema', Film International, 14 6-23 (2016) [C1]
|
Nova | |||
2015 | Venkatasawmy RC, 'The Americanization of English Soccer: A Bird s Eye View', AMERICANA E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary, 11 (2015) | ||||
2015 | Venkatasawmy RC, 'Ethnic Conflict in Africa: A Short Critical Discussion', Transcience : a Journal of Global Studies, 6 26-37 (2015) [C1] | Nova | |||
2012 | Venkatasawmy RC, 'The evolution of VFX-intensive filmmaking in 20th century Hollywood cinema: An historical overview', TMC Academic Journal, 6 17-31 (2012) [C1] | Nova | |||
2001 | Venkatasawmy RC, Simpson C, Visosevich T, 'From Sand to Bitumen, From Bushrangers to "Bogans": Mapping the Australian Road Movie', Journal of Australian Studies, 75-84 (2001) [C1] | ||||
1998 | O'Regan T, Venkatasawmy RC, 'Only One Day at the Beach: Dark City and Australian Filmmaking', Metro, 16-28 (1998) [C1] | ||||
1998 | O'Regan T, Venkatasawmy RC, 'I Make Films And It's Up To Other People To Pigeon-Hole Them: An Interview with Alex Proyas', Metro, 29-33 (1998) [C1] | ||||
Show 11 more journal articles |
Other (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | O'Regan T, Venkatasawmy RC, 'Le Cinéma Australien Face au Nouveau Millénaire', ( pp.20-27). Montreal, Quebec Canada: Association des Cinemas Paralleles du Quebec (1999) [O1] |
Thesis / Dissertation (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Venkatasawmy RC, The Hollywood Cinema Industry's Coming of Digital Age: the Digitisation of Visual Effects, 1977-1999, Murdoch University (2010) [T1] |
Dr Rama Venkatasawmy
Position
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Communication
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci
College of Human and Social Futures
Focus area
Communication
Contact Details
rama.venkatasawmy@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | +65 6517 2654 |
Office
Building | Hunter Building |
---|---|
Location | University of Newcastle, Singapore , |