what-why-how-what-if
Project 5 - WHAT-WHY-HOW-WHAT-IF
To preface, my project explores the intersection of emotions in parallel universes in relation to self-identity. My research question proposes, “How can conscious awareness of alternate universes enable us to explore self-positionality?”
This concept formed over personal experiences over the past years. I personally feel that much of society does not acknowledge our emotions the way that we should. This project is being designed to break that universal experience. I believe that our emotions provide answers to self-positionality. Not just emotions that we are feeling in the present, but from our past and future.
Being consciously aware that our thoughts are coming from alternate universes enables the stakeholder to have a higher awareness of their emotions. For example, if an alcoholic is yearning for the day he is sober, the version of himself being sober already exists. It is a matter of detaching from environmental and psychological constraints and putting oneself in the shoes of the sober self, rather than letting past thoughts of desire dictate the present.
To showcase this, the key points I am focusing my research on are alternate universes, self-positionality, and fashion.
Fashion has been a powerful resource for myself to explore self-positionality. Styling has allowed me to experience multiple versions of myself; some that my energy resonates with, and some that it does not.
Although I am still exploring the direction I would like to take my intervention, certain creative works have inspired areas I would like to explore in terms of my intervention research. For example, the Balenciaga Fall 2021 Campaign is an excellent representation of identity exploration within alternate universes. The character faces a journey of self-discovery through fashion presented in the future which provokes strong emotions and curiosity of self. Another example, Intersellar by Christopher Nolan does an incredible job showcasing a three dimensional space in a five dimensional reality, portraying that force can be exerted across spacetime. In the same way, I want to create a space where my participating audience is able to detach from environmental and psychological illusions to explore any realm of existence chosen.
I am using primary and secondary research with a focus on qualitative data to set a stronger foundation for my project. With primary research, I plan to use expert analysis and stakeholder interaction to understand connections or exploitations that may exist in my planning. I am also breaking down my question through secondary research; using films, articles, social media, art exhibits, scholarly sources, and more to develop clarity on the application of my key terms.
Although long term impact is still a work in progress, my goal is to focus on reaching people who feel stuck in certain moments of their life. I want people to understand that ANYTHING you put your mind to is possible. We have grown up in systematic illusions making us believe otherwise. I hope this form of persuasion will be a pivotal moment in someone’s life, embarking on the realization that we can detach from our environment and exist in the reality of our manifestations.
Resources
Balenciaga (2020) Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL_eZZp6U5g&t=4s
Nolan, C. (Director) (2014) Interstellar [Film]. USA: Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures.
