Constructing Realities: Media, Memory, and the Politics of Representation

Hey, my name is Sashreek Garg, and I am a senior at Northwestern University in Qatar with a double minor in Strategic Communications and Media and Politics. I am endlessly fascinated by how the world works, who holds the power, and, more importantly, how people push back.

Throughout my undergraduate years, I became increasingly fond of the concept of ‘narratives.’ I often wonder who gets to tell them, how they’re constructed, and how they shape politics and public perception. Whether it’s state-controlled media, the power of digital activism, or the way history is rewritten by the victors, every artifact that memorializes a story reflects the narrative with which it was created. Consequently, my project explores these patterns and questions what we often take for granted.

A central theme in my work is the media as both a tool of oppression and resistance. From state-led propaganda machines to underground movements, I investigate how the media is never neutral; it either maintains power structures or challenges them. My e-portfolio covers the role of art and activism in the Arab uprisings.

Through my work, I challenge dominant narratives, amplify voices that are often silenced, and explore the intersection of media, power, and resistance. Whether through academic research, storytelling, or creative media, I want to keep asking difficult questions and shedding light on the stories that matter.

Welcome to my portfolio—where history, media, and activism collide.

E-Portfolio:

https://sites.google.com/u.northwestern.edu/sashreekgarg-mnp-e-portfolio/home

Video Presentation:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sLRk_SVhI89ifLdNmpeVd_BgwxhNeNup