Archives

  • The Motley Undergraduate Journal
    Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024)

    The publication of the fourth issue of The Motley Undergraduate Journal marks yet another exciting milestone in our ongoing exploration of communication, media, and film studies. This issue brings together a diverse range of research articles and creative work, all contributing fresh perspectives on emerging trends and challenges within the field. With contributions from emerging voices in this field, the Motley continues to serve as a platform for rigorous inquiry into the role of discourse and its role in reflecting and creating reality. This issue covers such topics as (post) feminist discourse, Indigenous leisure practices and land-based recovery, medical reframing, data colonialism, meaningful inefficiencies, and even what it means to be an 'aesthete.' We are so excited and proud to present this issue to all of you. It promises to engage you with thought-provoking content and advance the conversation in the dynamic realm of communication studies.

  • The Motely Undergraduate Journal - Disrupt Something
    Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025)

    The Motley Undergraduate Journal is proud to present its first special issue, Disrupt Something.  As an interdisciplinary publication rooted in the Department of Communication, Media, and Film, Motley continues its commitment to showcasing the power of words, images, and ideas to question, challenge, and connect.

    This collection features analytical and creative works exploring what resistance truly means on different levels, moving from individual meditations on racialized identities, critiques of longstanding institutions, and analysis into social movements. Taking on different methods and approaches to research, challenging existing hierarchies and pushing against dominant narratives, this collection not only asks what it means to disrupt something, but also what needs to be challenged. 

  • The cover of The Motley Undergraduate Journal, text reads 2023, Volume 1, Issue 1, ISSN 2817-2051, University of Calgary Department of Communication Media, and Films Studies

    The Motley Undergraduate Journal
    Vol. 1 No. 1 (2023)

    The Motley has arrived! Let us welcome it as a peer, a friend, a colleague and a liberator! Why liberator? Because it comes to liberate the best academic work that our undergraduate students do from the obscurity of professors’ drawers and hard drives, and from the secretive passwords of university servers. This issue of The Motley showcases the gems of original analysis and creativity that UCalgary undergraduates produce.

    The Motley is marching into the limelight today in shining colour thanks to the tireless work that numerous champions and supporters performed on the backstage for months. Starting a project like this from scratch takes faith, dedication and perseverance. Now, it is your turn, the Motley’s first readers. The Motley team expects you to do your job diligently and devotedly. Read, view, discuss, criticize! Then come and join us as authors, reviewers and editors - a motley of powers, all in your hands!  

  • Issue Cover

    The Motley Undergraduate Journal
    Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024)

    We are thrilled to announce the publication of the third issue of the Motley Undergraduate Journal, an open platform for communication scholars and enthusiasts alike. This issue showcases a diverse range of insightful research papers exploring various facets of communication theory, practice, and application. From thoughtful reflections on racial representation in contemporary television to hard-hitting research on the social construction of breast cancer to a so-called 'Dummy's Guide to Instagram,' each contribution offers valuable perspectives and fascinating insights. As we celebrate the culmination of months of hard work and dedication from our talented authors and editorial team, we invite readers to delve into the thought-provoking content of this latest edition. Join us in celebrating the pursuit of knowledge and excellence in the field of communication as we continue to foster intellectual discourse and academic achievement through the Motley Undergraduate Journal.

  • The Motely Undergraduate Journal
    Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025)

    The Motley Undergraduate Journal proudly presents its Fall 2025 issue: a vibrant collection of creative scholarship, critical inquiry, and diverse voices from across Canada. As an interdisciplinary publication rooted in the Department of Communication, Media, and Film, Motley continues its commitment to showcasing the power of words, images, and ideas to question, challenge, and connect.

    This issue explores the many ways communication shapes our shared world, from the subtle influence of digital media and pop culture to the profound intersections of identity, environment, and technology. Each piece invites readers to consider how storytelling, research, and creative expression intertwine to illuminate both personal and collective experience. Our contributors approach their subjects with curiosity and courage. Together, they remind us that scholarship is not confined to one form or voice, but thrives through multiplicity and collaboration.

    As we release this issue, we also mark a moment of transition: our managing editor concludes two years in the role, leaving behind a legacy of care, growth, and dedication to student research. To all our authors, reviewers, and readers — thank you for continuing to make Motley a space for thought, creativity, and community.

  • The Motley Undergraduate Journal
    Vol. 1 No. 2 (2023)

    The Motley team is proud to present the second issue of the Motley Undergraduate Journal! This second issue provided more opportunity for the University of Calgary’s talented students to showcase their academic work, as well as signifies the Motley’s expansion into publishing work from other universities within Canada. This opportune meeting of youthful perceptiveness and time-honoured theoretical perspectives has allowed the Motley authors to pose and answer some essential questions about the media environment in which most of us swim like fish in water without paying much attention to its properties. Read on to enjoy work by brilliant student authors and join us again for our next Volume!