masterwork
Mirage
The graduation project titled Mirage is an experimental communications project aiming to prompt a dialogue about public affairs. I examined whether an unusual platform (the customised label of an aluminium beer can) may serve as an attractive communications interface for opinion leaders to convey their thoughts, and whether opinions spread this way may prompt the emergence of a dialogue. The labels of the beer brand Mirage, specially created for the project, feature the thoughts of opinion leaders with radically different values on three areas of public affairs. This enables consumers (who might be anyone regardless of gender, location, financial situation and countless other factors) to look outside of their 'opinion bubbles' and encounter stances that are most probably unknown to them, in a situation that is unexpected yet sits within their comfort zone. The aim of the pilot is to lay the groundwork for a similar campaign involving real life partners.
thesis
A defining subject of public discourse in Hungary of the 2010s: xenophobia
In my thesis titled 'A defining subject of public discourse in Hungary of the 2010s: xenophobia' I examine the phenomenon of the 2015 refugee crisis that drastically stirred up emotions and opinions on immigration, highlighting its impact on domestic public discourse. As a starting point, the thesis summarises the key moments of the refugee crisis, with a special segue into the events in Hungary, then presents the main aspects of the media portrayal of the crisis. This is followed by the recent history of xenophobia in Hungary, proceeding onto illustrating how the government defines public discourse by demonising immigrants. The next chapter analyses domestic media pieces regarding the refugee crisis through a few examples, then showcases the solidarity operations we witnessed at the height of the crisis. The final chapter of the thesis displays the success of governmental anti-immigration propaganda, identifying the social groups that are the most vulnerable to it.
