Media releases

• Community event to explore obstacles faced by older adult volunteers

  Monday, April 21, 2025 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE – April 21, 2025 – R0051

  Older adults are a vital part of the community, yet they may face obstacles to donating their time and skills to organizations, Brock University research has shown.

  A policy brief from Brock’s Niagara Community Observatory (NCO), “Change in an Evolving Niagara: Navigating the Age-Friendly Communities Movement and Volunteerism,” explores ways to make it easier for older adults to volunteer, which also boosts their sense of well-being.

  The research will be presented Thursday, April 24 at 1 p.m. in the Accursi Room at the Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill, followed by a meeting of the Niagara Older Adult Alliance. Members of the public are welcome to stay for both portions of the event.

  The NCO brief explores the formation and continuing work of the local age-friendly movement against a backdrop of demographic and post-pandemic changes in the region and shares recommendations for making Niagara a more age-friendly community.

  “People getting into retirement, and those who are active in their 70s and even 80s, are valuable resources who have much to offer to the community,” says Associate Professor of Health Sciences Miya Narushima, co-author of the brief.

  Co-author Aliya Aragon, a fourth-year Public Health student, says volunteering is not only altruistic, but “also provides a social safety net and benefits to the economy, things that will help Niagara continue to grow and develop.”

  A panel of representatives from community organizations will discuss the NCO brief following the presentation.

  Those interested in attending can register on ExperienceBU.

  Event details:

  What: Presentation of NCO policy brief, “Change in an Evolving Niagara: Navigating the Age-Friendly Communities Movement and Volunteerism.”

  Why: To encourage planning for ways to make Niagara a more age-friendly community.

  When: Thursday, April 24, 1 to 2:15 p.m.

  Where: Accursi Room, Meridian Community Centre, Fonthill.

  Who: Presentation by Brock University researchers Miya Narushima, Associate Professor of Health Sciences, and Aliya Aragon, a fourth-year Public Health student. Discussion to follow by panellists Dominic Ventresca, Chair, Age-Friendly Niagara Council Interim Board; Jean D’Amelio-Swyer, Chair, Thorold Age-Friendly Committee; and Dolores Fabiano, Executive Director, South Niagara Chambers of Commerce.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  *Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University, [email protected] or 905-246-0256

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock experts talk fandom’s move to mainstream, video game adaptations as Minecraft slays at the box office

  Thursday, April 17, 2025 | By Brock University

  EXPERT ADVISORY – April 17, 2025 – R0050

  With A Minecraft Movie already the highest grossing film of 2025 and poised for another big weekend at the box office, Brock University experts are commenting on the challenges of adapting video games for the big screen and expressions of fan identity.

  Associate Professor of Game Studies Jason Hawreliak said for decades, movie executives have seen the popularity of video game franchises and tried to capitalize on them.

  But according to Hawreliak, the Graduate Program Director of Brock’s Master of Arts in Game Studies program, most video game adaptations haven’t been very successful — save for a few exceptions, such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023.

  “One of the problems is that a core feature of video games is their interactivity, which you can’t really duplicate in film. That’s especially tricky for something like Minecraft, which is all about exploration, creativity and building a world,” he said.

  “It’s difficult to turn that openness into a two-hour, coherent narrative.”

  Having said that, Hawreliak thinks the success of the Minecraft movie isn’t too surprising, even given the history of unsuccessful video game adaptations.

  “Minecraft is among the most popular video games in history, and Jack Black has already established himself in this space by voicing Bowser in the 2023 Mario Bros. movie,” he said.

  While Hawreliak wouldn’t call it a particularly strong script, movie producers have been able to trade on Minecraft‘s brand recognition.

  “I do think they got some of the spirit of the game right,” he said. “Minecraft is still very popular, and a lot of young adults grew up playing it, so seeing that world on screen is fun for them.”

  Derek Foster, Associate Professor of Communication, Popular Culture and Film, says crowd reaction to the film is only the most recent example of an upswing in participatory culture among audiences.

  “As fandom becomes more mainstream, this type of audience behaviour is going to be indicative of the ways in which people engage with media, the ways in which we engage with each other as we consume media and the ways in which people increasingly find value in immersive media experiences,” said the audience studies expert.

  According to Foster, audience members are not just consumers but users and producers who “actually help constitute the nature of an event” like a screening of the Minecraft film.

  “The immersive experience is co-created by the fans and their interactions with the movie and with each other, going beyond their existence as fans into the performance of the fan identity,” he said.

  Foster connects the current Minecraft movie phenomena with other recent examples of cultural immersion like the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, which invited fans to connect through collective identity practices.

  But he notes that while there is a marked overall trend of fandom moving from subculture to more mainstream, visible formats, it has not yet lost its “connotation of excessiveness,” which may explain some of the finger-wagging at the cinema.

  “Minecraft movie-goers playing ‘chicken jockey!’ may seem juvenile or even lawless from an outsider’s perspective,” he said. “But for insiders, for people who are part of Minecraft culture or community, it’s actually a form of cultural competency — they’re keeping their eyes open for the codes that they all recognize and then coming together and creating the spectacle.”

  Associate Professor of Game Studies Jason Hawreliak and Associate Professor of Communication, Popular Culture and Film Derek Foster are available for media interviews on this topic.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  *Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University, [email protected] or 905-246-0256

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  Categories: Media releases