Month: October 2023

Week 7

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Methodology - Methods Training & Research

I do imagine that my Futures Project will take a qualitative approach and use discourse analysis. I also plan to potentially use an intersectional approach or look at texts through an intersectional lens.

During my undergraduate degree, when doing research for my dissertation, I did delve into phenomenology a little, due to reading a lot of academic papers about embodiment and ideas about mind-body dualism in relation to Descartes when exploring cyborgs, AI, and the metaverse (technology & the body). It was, however, an approach/topic that was quite complex and a large undertaking for me at the time, and I focused on other things in the end. So I could potentially explore it in my Futures Project.

Next, I plan to research more into my topic area (Afro-futurism, Indigenous futurism, combinations of technology and the body) and find more new areas and academic texts within it to explore, as well as find and read literature which I might want to explore. I might also search for more artworks in this area and research them — as I may use visual analysis in my final futures project — because I am interested in multimedia and the intersection of image and text. This may mean that I will also utilise art historical methodologies in my futures project such as iconographic and formalist methodologies, although I am most likely to take a majoritively biographical/contextual approach, looking at identity and history. Also, I may ask certain lecturers if they have any recommendations for where I should look for sources.

Overall, everything I am doing in my modules feeds into my learning and my approach for my futures project.

 

Week 6

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Gamifying Historical Narratives

Gamifying historical narratives was an extremely interesting module to undergo. It really developed my knowledge of different gaming forms and gaming, particularly all the details of game development, which was something I had little knowledge of previously. It was extremely valuable to get a glimpse of the gaming industry from insiders.

The questions game developers and historians ask in the development of games and investigation and handling of history was a central part of this module. I think these questions will inform the questions I ask myself in the development of my futures project and the academia was extremely important and interesting.

For the assignment we formed groups and designed games before writing a reflection. Our group decided on an RPG which combined the French Revolution and cyberpunk. This meant that I could really draw on and refresh my knowledge of cyberpunk, which I focused on largely in my undergraduate dissertation. I will definitely bring elements of this into my final project.

Week 5

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Refining my provisional project topic

My current idea is to build on my research from my undergraduate degree, in which I wrote a dissertation called ‘Keith Piper and Speculative Narratives: How Visions of the Body and Technology Influence Speculative Futures’. This dissertation focused on the artist Keith Piper and his work, particularly his exhibition ‘Jet Black Futures’ (2022), discussing how his work explores the complex questions surrounding technology and the body, its science fiction influences, and how it creates speculative narratives.

Influenced by the electives so far (Text Remix, Interdisciplinary Futures, World of Story, and Creating Visual Narratives), I have found new texts and areas to explore (for example, the work of the Author Ursula Le Guin) and reconnected creatively, producing works of visual and written narrative that I didn’t know I was capable of. I also learned about many new tools and ways of creating these narratives, including using AI.

Initially, I thought that I might just write an essay, focusing on the texts and works which interested me, however, now I am considering doing a blended project, consisting of both essay and of my own creations (possibly a written or visual narrative which exemplifies my ideas about speculative futures).

At the moment, my developing idea for my project is to explore diverse speculative narratives, focusing on technology and the body, and potentially blend in some of my own creative work as well (creative writing or a visual narrative). I would like to explore this in a interdisciplinary/cross-disciplinary way. Additionally, I would like to go more in depth, explore intersectionality, and explore texts and areas that I did not get to explore before or have discovered since.

Some of the new influences I would like to explore include, Ursula Le Guin, Janelle Monet’s work (specifically the book ‘The Memory Librarian’), Alberta Whittle, Rashaad Newsome, and Solomon Enos.

 

    

 

   Alberta Whittle, 'Celestial Meditations' (2018), http://www.tyburngallery.com/artist/alberta-whittle/#lg=1&slide=2

 

 

Week 4

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Creating Visual Narratives

The creating visual narratives module was seriously developmental in terms of influences and ideas for my futures project. Not only did I re-familarise myself with the work of some of my favourite artists, particularly Afrofuturist artists, but I also discovered some new key artists and terminology which may feed into my futures project. For example, we were given an amazing talk by the artist Solomon Enos whose work focuses largely on indigenous futurism and speculative futures. In particular, his art often imagines future worlds and landscapes which provide imaginative solutions to global issues, centering the indigenous perspective and utilises the combination of human and organic technology (the blending of humans and nature). This seems particularly relevant due to my interest in the cyborg, an idea also integrated into his art, and  His work has been a key influence for me since, especially in my creating visual narratives project, as they focus on nature and discuss issues such as climate change.

Additionally, a central discussion during the intensive days of this module was the issue of speculative futures and dystopias vs utopias, what these two opposing concepts mean, and how they are applicable to the real world and our issues. These ideas and questions are definitely something that I want to tackle in my futures project. I therefore think that my futures project will focus on cyborgs, dichotomies, and Afrofuturist and indigenous futurist visions of speculative futures.

My final portfolio investigations and art piece for this module investigated these ideas by creating a landscape for both a utopian and dystopian future and melding them together. I found this extremely rewarding and would love to build on these ideas and my investigation of them in my final futures project, including implementing my own creative work. For example, in this final piece, I included a poem I created through a combination of my own writing and using black out poetry. This was also inspired by ergodic literature.

My final piece is the featured image of this post, and is acrylic on paper (A1).

Week 3

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Interdisciplinary Futures

In Interdisciplinary Futures, we have done some group work and gotten to know people from other disciplines. Through the work in this module, especially in the group tasks, I have learned more about how to use Miro and how to collaborate on various systems (e.g. Miro, Microsoft Teams). I have also reflected a lot in the process of making my intellectual autobiography which was also quite enjoyable to do, as we had the chance to creatively express our academic interests, history, and professional experience. So far, there have been lots of benefits to this course such as meeting new people, working across and learning about other’s disciplines, working to our various strengths in group tasks, and practicing presentation skills. Integrally, doing this course has highlighted to me the importance of working in an interdisciplinary way and the ways in which breaking down these borders is the only effective way for us to tackle challenges (including big world issues such as climate change) in a united, unified way and therefore solve them, rather than struggling separately. Therefore, this has made me think about how this applies in my futures project, and crucially, I think I would like to work in an interdisciplinary way, combining aspects of different disciplines in both my content and my form, instead of limiting myself to certain boundaries. This way, I can also show the different skills I have developed over the year

Week 2

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Initial Ideas & World of Story reflection

My first idea is to write an essay – based on my undergraduate dissertation – about speculative narratives, looking at particular works/ a particular work (art, literature, etc) and analysing how it explores hopeful visions of the future. Possibly focusing on embodiment, technology, Afro-futurism, and the blurring of boundaries (e.g. cyborgs) which I explored before. These are topics which I am really interested in and so would like to explore further, with more depth, and perhaps in a new way. Donna Haraway’s ‘A Cyborg Manifesto’ (and other similar texts) were key to this and align with my beliefs and passions.

Another idea I think it would be interesting to explore is the phenomenon of stories depicting multiverses (multiple worlds/branching universes/diverging alternate realities) which I think may be a current zeitgeisty trend/ moment or a response to the current zeitgeist (current politics, climate grief, etc). There is a boom/growth/increased popularity of these stories which I think must be reflection of our time in some way- link to technology and metaverse. What does this obsession say about us and about art? Perhaps that we are fed up of existing structures and our current society and operations – that we want to explore alternate universes/ break it apart- break these structures. Or is it some kind of escapist obsession- escapist fantasy? Esp due to increasing climate grief. I think it would be really interesting to research and unpack why we are currently drawn to these sorts of stories and worlds. For example the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Spiderverse, Stranger Things, the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, and a personal favorite of mine: Dimension 20’s Neverafter. People seem to have really latched on to these narratives (specifically where the multiverse is the subject/ key to the themes of the piece and not just the setting). I think it explores the ideas of power, freedom, control, and autonomy and allows us to explore/live in/imagine/escape to worlds different to our own where potentially we are better off – e.g. in relation to climate change. Or potentially it allows us to feel that our decisions and our world are not that important on the grand scale of things, exploring the ideas of free will vs predestination, and potentially relieving our guilt. Perhaps, identifying ourselves with the main characters of these narratives – who often unlock/discover the truth of the universe (that it is one of many) and often gain the power to travel between, influence, and even save different universes. These narratives give us this specific kind of power, perhaps responding to the nihilistic, powerless feeling we all experience in face of the world’s current challenges which feel so unsolvable and so much bigger than any of us. (The idea of a metaverse as an escape/back up world I think also links to this).

Following the World of Story course, I feel that there are more ideas to explore than ever, and have been introduced to new inspirations and influences such as Indigenous Futurism and the artist Solomon Enos, which I would love to explore more. I feel that there are more creative options open to me which I hadn’t fully considered before, such as featuring my own writing in my Futures Project. It was really great to get a crash course in play writing and to reconnect to my practical creative skills, getting to draw again. It really got my creative juices flowing. I think, in response to this, it would be great to incorporate indigenous futurism and my own creative work in my Futures project somehow.

 

Week 1!

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Hopes and Aims

On the Narrative Futures programme, I really hope to develop myself and grow as a person in many ways. Firstly, I aim to grow professionally and gain experience through a masters qualification, which will hopefully lead to opening up more pathways. I am really looking forward to learning again and expanding my knowledge of AI, coding, narrative, and much more. I hope to meet new people and forge meaningful, valuable connections with others on my programme and in the wider EFI community. Also, I hope to learn more about potential careers and possibly find my path and where I want to direct my career more specifically.

I hope to develop my current skills, such as writing, communication, organisation, group work, presentation, and critical thinking skills. Additionally, I hope to learn and build many new skills, including coding, creative writing, industry specific skills, and working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary way. Furthermore, I aim to develop creatively and potentially find my own voice, both academically and personally, and expand my horizons.

I am extremely interested in exploring the themes of technology and the future in narratives and art, as well as how these themes integrate into our lives not only creatively, but also practically, through current issues such as climate change and AI. I also hope to really enjoy this programme, connect creatively, and become more confident in my direction and defining my skill set.

Finally, I hope that this programme will challenge me, develop my skills, and offer me experiences and opportunities that I wouldn’t get anywhere else.