Presentation Day and the Chosen Topics

A historical event took place on the 19^th and 20^th of June in the life of the students studying English and attending the University of Graz: the Culture Days. The students’ task was to write an 800-word-paper and then to create an 8-minute-presentation from the chosen culture topic. Not just other students studying English were invited to the event where the presentations were held but everyone was welcomed.

As all students having chosen English as a foreign language were supposed to observe more closely 10 presentations, for this I chose the presentations of the second day.

The 7 ‘home’ culture presentations (USA) I went to see:

1. Lucie Bois: Comic books and superheroes
   
2. Harald Pasch: Scientology: A Religion Made in America

One of the first presentations I decided include in my list for the oral exams was the one about Scientology. I have always found it interesting, how religions are being formed, not just in the Middle Ages but even nowadays. I would be interested to get to know more about this religion, its history and what its followers believe in.

3. Tiana Jerkovic: Racial Segregation as Depicted in 2 Movies

Since in the first semester I attended lectures on American History and Literature, I thought I already had certain knowledge about segregation and how it is depicted in literature. To be honest, apart from literature I never really paid attention to this phenomenon appearing anywhere else, so this presentation raised my interest.

4. Alexandra Haunold: How the Columbian Exchange changed the World

What I really liked about this presentation was that this well-known topic wasn’t about the historical events and dates, but the impacts were emphasized which are very important even nowadays. I’m really interested in this part of the history so it was an easy decision to also choose this topic for the KGP.

5. Anna Agabani: Why on earth would anyone live Tornado Alley?!
   
   
6. Sonja Haunschmid: Deaf Art

Although I chose the topics above because I was particularly interested in them and had already known them more or less, this presentation grabbed my attention because I have never heard of it before. I find it a very important part of culture, how deafness is handled.

7. Lejla Kurtic: Delta Blues

To be honest, I’m not especially fond of blues itself but I like music very much and I truly appreciate those people who want to achieve something and despite the difficulties they manage to make their life more enjoyable, for example in this case with the help of music.

And the 3 ‘foreign’ presentations (IRELAND):

1. Sabrina Krassnig: Witchcraft in Ireland
2. Shirin Mahrouzadeh: Homophobic Bullying in Irish Schools
3. Lisa Moder: The History of ISL

I found these two days very interesting and I’m very proud to have seen these hard-working fellow students who spent so much time perfecting their knowledge on their chosen topics in order to introduce them to others.