EPQ PRES

EPQ ESSAY  

The decision to create an artefact for my project was something that I decided on very early into the project itself, as I felt that I would ultimately be unable to fully examine the question that I had posed before beginning the project.   

My research included finding out about multiple areas which I could include in my project. Initially I titled the project “What are the lasting effects of colonialism, and how can we see this today?” as I thought this would be most appropriate to create a detailed look at the lasting harmful consequences of colonialism which we see in our world today. However, as the project progressed this title adapted and was changed to “Colonialism and Change, how has Zimbabwe been shaped by colonialism throughout history?” 

As I began the project, my supervisor suggested the change in title for my project, in order to create a more cohesive and precise project, which would later result in a decisive answer to the question posed in the title. With their help, I also decided to change from writing an essay to creating an artefact, specifically a video documentary. This was to be formed from both found footage, as well as video from my own previous and upcoming trips to Zimbabwe. I felt that this would be a more effective choice as it would enable me to visualise and demonstrate the topic at hand with greater ease. There was also the idea of being able to document the history of the country visually as well as being able to fully use all available resources. 

For the research portion of the project, I started early on during the project in June (as detailed within my logbook) as I wanted to have ease when it came to the actual creation of the artefact, but also as I was eager to quickly build up an extensive amount of research and resources into my topic and be at ease with the actual creation of the artefact. I chose to use not only my own videos and audio and photographs, but also added informative videos and documentaries and even managed to access certain clips from Zimbabwean state television to aid my artefact and gathering of knowledge. I also read articles and webpages online, alongside books about the topic on a wider level to gather as much useful content as possible. 

My artefact quickly developed into something not only informative, but also analytic with regards to the question posed in the title of my project. This was specifically so it would comprehend and examine the situation. From early on, I began collecting resources specifically for the artefact itself, and began creating it in September, after my trip to Zimbabwe allowed me to gather more useful glimpses of Zimbabwean people, history and culture. I edited this on the editing software ‘Openshot’ and spent roughly 4 weeks creating this. Prior to the creating, I also filmed several videos with which I could narrate the history, as well as give my own opinion near the end of the video with a decisive answer to the questions posed. I also downloaded multiple audio tracks to add pathos and a ‘mood’ to the video, with apt choices like the song ‘Zimbabwe’ by Bob Marley, which was recorded specifically as a sign of support for the republic and the end of colonial rule in then-Rhodesia. 

I chose to begin my video with this very audio, alongside the etymology of the word Zimbabwe layered on top of a very well-known picture of the jacarandas trees native to south Africa which bloom in September on Milton Avenue in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.

The project was not without its difficulties as I had to do things I hadn’t done previously, such as taking video for myself to use within the project, as well as interviewing and posing my own question to native Zimbabweans. I also had to become familiar with editing software and using it effectively, so I had many challenges with this section of the project. Additionally, I had to contend against many obstacles as some resources I wanted weren’t available in this country, or the fact that certain documentaries were also not available to me

Nonetheless, the project has been a huge learning curve in that I have learned many useful skills and also been able to develop myself into someone who can take an idea and work with it into a fully completed and cohesive project. I have also displayed self-governance as I have managed the project and overseen the entire responsibility of it myself. Although the skills in the analysis and comprehension weren’t anything particularly new, the practical skills in editing videos and combining several different clips to create one cohesive video, was something that I found challenging and will hope to use in further experiences as I view it a valuable skill.

The project was not only important academically, but I was also crucially able to gain a more specialist knowledge in my native country, and fully understand and appreciate the history of it, which was even more useful as the country underwent major historic changes throughout the course of the project. In this regard, the project has been particularly important as it has given me both practical skills, intellectual knowledge and a personal connection and appreciation for my native country and my extended family who live there, and have done so for many generation before me.