"...the biggest source of inspiration were certainly the people around, especially other students and my classmates...”
Ruta Kronberga studied Visual Representation at METU, where she got inspired by the creative environment, by her teachers, mentors and her peers. For her, METU’s motto, “Inspired by Creativity” directly relates to her experience here.
Why did you choose this field, this major and what inspires you?
Visuality as such and storytelling have always been the biggest interests in my life. I get inspiration from all sorts of creators including filmmakers, authors, researchers and artists. In direct relation to my field of study in film, I‘m inspired the most by filmmakers like Luca Guadagnino, Andrea Arnold and Céline Sciamma. I chose this major, as it aligned with the subjects I was interested in, and also because how ''broad'' it was. It didn't just cover one particular field of filmmaking but provided a broad spectrum of subjects that, with time, allowed me to understand to which sections of filmmaking I am more or less drawn to.
What were your favourite projects at METU and why?
One of my favourite projects during my studies was the task of making a 3 minute long film. It was quite challenging for me, as I believe I tend to struggle with compressing my stories and making them shorter and more straightforward. It was certainly good practice. Other than that, I've always enjoyed writing stories and scripts the most. With all its challenges, and ups and downs.
What was your diploma work and why did you choose this topic?
My diploma work was a single shot, directed and edited scene from a short film called ''At Odds''. ''At Odds'' tells the story of a modest and curious 23 year old, who amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, comes across the OnlyFans content creation platform embarking on a journey of self-exploration, sexuality and shame in the adult entertainment industry. I chose this topic as I wanted to take on the main character's inner conflict within herself rather than a more external one. This story is not primarily about OnlyFans or the adult entertainment industry as such. It is a story of a young woman struggling with her image, and the idea of life she's supposed to lead, in contrast to one she wishes to lead. It was also important to me to address the stigmatisation of sex work in our society. As Dr. Lauren Rosewarne puts it: “We’re still a society that has some puritanical views. There has never been a time in human history where we haven’t had sex work. So we have had an awful lot of time to get used to it, but we still haven’t."
What did METU contribute to your professional development?
Most of my teachers in METU were very helpful and truly interested in helping the student's development. The attitudes from teachers there were more personal and humane, and less authoritarian, which personally affected my professional development for the better.
What does METU’s credo “Inspired by Creativity” mean to you?
For me ''Inspired by Creativity'' directly relates to the literal meaning of this sentence. It was hard not to get inspired while spending your days and lessons in a primarily creative environment. However, the biggest source of inspiration were certainly the people around, especially other students and my classmates. Seeing your peers showcasing and cultivating their creativity daily, resulted in a proper dose of inspiration that I was and still am very grateful for.
What would you say to those, who want to apply to a university, why choose METU?
I would recommend METU primarily because of its environment. Meeting new interesting people, professors and potential colleagues comes as easy as it can. It seems like a safe, creative and progressive environment.
What are your plans for the future?
For now I'd like to continue traveling, preferably leaving Europe even if temporarily. I travel to meet new people, to hear and collect stories, to inspire and create. I am also continuing to write, aiming to one day turn a story that's grown precious to me, into a more palpable material, such as a film.
Take your next step at METU’s bachelors' program – get to know our Visual Representation BA program!