This week, I conducted a series of interventions themed ‘ Mapping your cultural identity’ both online and offline in different locations. Below is the details record.
Process
Initial Conceptualization and Learning Phase:
- My research, focusing on how individuals navigate their cultural identity’s complexities in urban environments, initially led me to conceptualize an intervention test involving a collage or drawing workshop. I envisioned participants using artistic methods like collage or drawing to represent their personal experiences in various cities or regions. They would create a composite map featuring city elements and symbols linked to their identity, showcasing the multifaceted nature of cultural identity. However, reflecting on the extended participation time required for such workshops and lessons learned from a previous intervention, my goal was to engage more participants without demanding much of their time. During a discussion, a visual expert, understanding these constraints, suggested the use of AI tools like Midjourney. This approach would efficiently create personalized identity maps for participants, accommodating those not skilled in drawing or collage-making, and addressing the time constraints. https://koalaland.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2023/11/03/unit4-7-expert-stakeholders-feedback-suggestions-1/
- Intrigued by the idea, I dove into learning about AI art tools, particularly Midjourney. I spent hours on YouTube, absorbing tutorials about how to effectively use the tool. I learned the intricacies of prompt generation, which involved understanding how to translate participant responses into visual commands that the AI could interpret. This phase was crucial as it equipped me with the skills needed to bring the project to life.
Preliminary Intervention Plan and Expert Collaboration:
- Armed with my newfound knowledge, I crafted a detailed intervention plan. This involved outlining how the activity would proceed, what data would be collected, and how the AI tool would be integrated.
- I shared this plan with the psychotherapist Sunny, who not only provided valuable insights but also agreed to participate. As a stakeholder, her involvement was significant in adding credibility and depth to the project. The day before the intervention, she remotely participated, and a personalized cultural map was created for her using AI, which served as a practical test of our approach. (The feedback from expert: https://koalaland.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2023/11/10/unit4-8-expert-stakeholders-feedback-and-suggestions-2/.)
Proposal: Mapping your cultural identity
Background: In our global age, many immigrants and international students cross borders and engage with new cultures. Finding and affirming one's cultural identity is a common challenge they face. This activity, "Mapping Your Cultural Identity," aims to use a mix of art and technology to help participants explore and express their unique cultural identities. The creative identity maps produced will be shared and interacted with the public, promoting understanding and exchange between different cultural identities.
Purpose：
1. To encourage participants to explore their own cultural identities;
2. To increase public understanding of diverse cultural identities through public participant;
3. To create a platform for conversation between people of various backgrounds.
Process:
1. Registration: Participants sign up by scanning a code or filling out a form with preliminary questions and submitting personal information.
The survey form: https://forms.gle/nBVEMvbXF8hCkuYQ7
2. Map Creation: Using Midjourney AI drawing tool, uses the information to create a personal identity map for the participant, which can. Be refined 2-3 times;
3. Map Display: With the participant’s permission, their map is displayed at the event site and on the event’s online Instagram Account.
4. Interaction: The public is invited to guess the cultural identity of the map’s creator using keywords. They can leave comments on-site or online and place their guesses in envelopes corresponding to different maps.
Execution in Varied Locations:
The intervention was conducted over two days – Thursday and Friday. I chose three distinct locations to ensure a diverse range of participants and richer data collection:
a. CSM’s Open Area: Primarily art students from various cultural backgrounds. This was the first trial of our intervention, so a familiar and comfortable setting was essential.
b. iQ Student Accommodation’s Hub: The residents here were from varied academic and cultural backgrounds, providing a different perspective compared to the art-centric CSM crowd.
c. Near the London Eye: An iconic tourist spot in London. This location was chosen to reach beyond students to a broader audience, including tourists from diverse cultural backgrounds.
On-site Interaction and AI Integration:
- At each location, I invited participants to share basic information about their cultural identity. This data was then fed into the AI tool to generate personal cultural maps on the spot.
- Participants were also encouraged to view and interpret others’ maps, guessing the cultural identities depicted. This created a lively, interactive atmosphere.
- While waiting for their maps, participants engaged in discussions about the complexities of cultural identity, sharing their perspectives and experiences. This not only enriched the intervention but also provided deeper insights into their thoughts on the AI-generated maps.
https://youtu.be/p24Eg2_Yl3s?si=tle3YK3VHYV_pKUM
Digital Expansion and Engagement:
- Alongside the physical intervention, I established an Instagram account. Here, the generated maps were posted, inviting participants and a wider online audience to engage with the content.
- The digital platform served as an extension of the physical intervention, allowing for ongoing interaction and exploration of cultural identities beyond the immediate event.