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FIMS student takes on the USRI for the third year in a row

Nicole Bussey, a recent Media, Information and Technoculture graduate (BA’24) and an incoming Master of Arts in Media Studies student, recently shared her experience from her third year participating in the Western Undergraduate Student Research Internship (USRI) program.

The Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS) teamed up with the USRI program for the fourth year in a row to offer paid, 16-week research placements to students and it continues to be a valuable opportunity for undergraduates to engage in original research under the mentorship of a FIMS faculty member.

This summer, the USRI program funded 10 FIMS undergraduate students to work on a variety of research projects. The program also provided professional development opportunities to support students in their research and career development. If they attended four workshops, they received a certificate of completion. Additionally, the program promotes collaboration and group learning.

Nicole, who worked alongside Professor Tim Blackmore, shared some insights about her research experience and what she learned.

Q&A with Nicole Bussey

What year and program are you in?

Nicole: I just graduated from my fifth year at Western, with a double major in MIT and Popular Music Studies.

How did you hear about the USRI program and what made you want to apply?

Nicole: I first heard about the USRI program in 2022, when I was approached by Professor Matt Stahl to design a research project. The project was such a success that I decided to apply for the program again the following year. During my time at Western, I’ve been lucky enough to participate in the USRI program in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

What is your project about?

Nicole: Most of my scholarship deals with female representation in popular music. For this project, I wanted to examine Lana Del Rey - a much-debated musical enigma whose public persona is endlessly complex. After reading Susan Bordo’s Unbearable Weight (1993), I noticed a correlation between Del Rey’s work and Bordo’s “Hunger Ideology” - particularly the way Del Rey uses food imagery to express her relationships with her body and sexuality. Through this idea, my project was born.

What were your active responsibilities throughout the program?

Nicole: My active responsibilities throughout the USRI included conducting literature review, finding sources using the library database (both physical resources and online), attending PD sessions, drafting a research paper (which is still in progress), creating a research poster, and meeting with my supervisor on a weekly basis to check in and discuss my progress.

What was Professor Tim Blackmore’s role in the project?

Nicole: Tim was essential to this project. He guided me through the intensive process of crafting a major research paper while encouraging me to honor my ideas, never dismissing a thought or question as silly or irrelevant. Coming out of undergrad, this kind of scholarship freedom can be scary, but it fosters a unique and fresh perspective. Tim always provided useful feedback and recommended excellent source material for my paper. One thing I love about working with Tim is he really allows my ideas to flourish - no matter how bizarre or rough-hewn they may seem at first. I'm excited to continue watching this project unfold under his supervision.

What do you hope to get from the project and the program?

Nicole: Broadly, I hope this project will help others recognize the value of studying popular music. Despite sometimes being perceived as silly or imprudent on the surface, we can discover so much about culture and social constructs through the study of popular music. More specifically, I hope this project informs readers of the very complex themes underpinning the music of Lana Del Rey, and that critical engagement can lead to a more nuanced understanding of her work.

What’s next for you ?

Nicole: Currently, I’m working at as a Marketing Intern at AWAL, a record label at Sony Music Canada. I have been accepted to the FIMS MA Media Studies program for Fall 2024.

Do you have any interest in pursuing further research?

Nicole: Yes! Writing research papers is one of my passions. You can read my recent publication here, which analyzes Japanese-American indie-rock artist’s Mitski’s music video for her song, “Your Best American Girl”.

Interested in conducting original research? Visit https://uwo.ca/research/funding/students/usri.html to learn more.