USJ Academic Leaders Deliver Keynotes at International Media Conference in Bengaluru, India
USJ Academic Leaders Deliver Keynotes at International Media Conference in Bengaluru, India
14
Apr
14/04/2026
Vice-Rector Professor Álvaro Barbosa and Dr. João Leong Brochado delivered Keynotes in the International Media Conference on “Media, Culture and Identity: Exploring Global Narratives and Intersections” in Bengaluru, India, organised by Kristu Jayanti University in collaboration with USJ Macao.
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) collaborated in the International Media Conference on “Media, Culture and Identity: Exploring Global Narratives and Intersections” held on 6 and 7 April at Kristu Jayanti University (Deemed to be University) in Bengaluru, India.
Organised by the Department of Media Studies of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Kristu Jayanti University, the conference convened international scholars, industry innovators and researchers to explore the transformative confluence of disciplines shaping modern communication and identity formation in a globalized world, shaped by cultural, political, and technological forces.The conference also emphasises how media and cultural narratives can advance sustainable development goals and foster socially responsible narration on identity construction.
Professor Álvaro Barbosa, USJ’s Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Academic Affairs, served on the Conference’s Advisory Committee, and delivered a keynote titled “Sonic Narratives: Unveiling the Immersive Power of Cinema Through the Film Sound Analysis Framework” as part of Plenary Session 2. In his presentation, he introduced the Film Sound Analysis Framework (FSAF) , a systematic tool he developed to codify film sound as an audiovisual language. Drawing on theories from Michel Chion and Pierre Schaeffer, the framework reveals how sound elements – such as diegetic voices and non-diegetic music – construct meaning, foster immersion, and influence emotional engagement. Professor Barbosa demonstrated how the FSAF can empower creators to harness sound for authentic, cross-border storytelling.
Dr. João Leong Brochado, Head of the Department of Media, Arts and Technology within USJ’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities, presented “An Analysis of Cinematography Elements Contributing to a Cinematic Look of a Narrative Digital Film” during Plenary Session 3. Drawing on a mixed-methods study involving 127 participants from 21 countries and interviews with 15 filmmakers, Dr Leong Brochado found that no single element guarantees a ‘cinematic look’. Rather, it emerges from the deliberate combination of multiple factors guided by narrative intention. He proposed a pyramid model and decision matrix to classify these elements, offering practical guidance for filmmakers and educators.
Alongside the main conference, Kristu Jayanti’s Department of English, in collaboration with its Office of Global Networking and Collaborations, hosted the first edition of the “Faculty Training Programme: Global Transdisciplinary Dialogue” under the theme “Perspectives on Skill Integration in Literature, Media & Learning”. Professor Barbosa and Dr. Leong Brochado served as resource persons for this initiative, sharing best practices in interdisciplinary pedagogy and skill-based learning models that bridge traditional academic disciplines with emerging media competencies.
The participation and academic staff mobility marks an early and tangible outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between USJ Macao and Kristu Jayanti University in March 2026, aimed to deepening institutional ties and promoting academic collaboration across borders.
