INTERCULTURAL DESIGN // PROJECT 01

  

04.01.2022 -20.01.2022/ Week 01- 02

Rebecca Thoo Hui Ying / 0350359
Bachelor of Designs (Hons) in Creative Media

Intercultural Design: Project 1

LECTURES

Week 01:

✧ We were briefed by Mr Asrizal as well as 3 other lecturers (Dr Jinchi, Mr Vinod & Ms Anis) on what we are expected to complete for this semester. Because this module requires researches, we are required to use the APA Harvard Referencing method of citation.  

✧ Mr Vinod & Dr Jinchi cleared the air of what "Culture" means. It is a lifestyle and a way of living of a group of people, it does not confine to ethnicity and traditional practices. It is how people have a certain set of language of communication. It could also be a subculture, the example Dr Jinchi gave was the subculture - Punk. Culture is always changing and dynamic.

✧ Dr Charles stepped in & gave us a lecturer on Netnography.

Lecture 01: Netnography

Netnography is a systematic approach that allows us to organise information to learn how to systematically arrange information so it could support hypotheses, assumptions. Once we have discovered information, we illustration the outcome. 

Ethnography

✧ Ethnography study from the internet, it requires us to make observations online, it is different from what we would observe in real life. using technologies = social media, forums, internet.

✧ Traditionally ethnography was coined in the late 1900s, the research of the need to understand culture. For example, Malaysia is multicultural, until today every culture sees things differently, from subculture, it continues to spawn into more subcultures. 

✧ Ethnography study normally needs the researcher to stay with the community, to communicate, interview the locals on their ways of living. It is important to note down the points to collect data. 

Fig 1.1 Ethnography Key Points

Nethnography

✧ Netnography is combining the internet with Ethnography. Very dependant from what information we can get from the net.  

Fig 1.2 Research & Outcome

✧ In a nutshell, we will conduct a Netnography study based on the assumption or theory that we currently have, ultimate outcome is an intercultural design, creating something that representation of our findings that validates our theory.  

Fig 1.3 Netnographic approach

Fig 1.4 Example of inductive & deductive approach

✧ Inductive: Collecting information to prove your point

✧ Deductive: Gathering data about things you are unsure of, from there on you form a thesis statement based on the information collected

Fig 1.5 Types of Data Collection

Fig 1.6 Data Analysis

Fig 1.7 Example of analysing responses

Advantages of Nethnography

 ✧       High scope of potential valuable data

 ✧       Overcome geographical limitations

 ✧       Data is naturally-occuring (eg: real life, twitter & facebook)

 ✧       Opportunity to discover unexpected findings

 ✧       Data may be available online that wouldn't be unearthed in a face-to-face context

 ✧       Contemporary (Now)

Disadvantages of Nethnography

✧        Largely empirical and not contextual (not much experience)

✧        Researchers may not be familiar with online platforms or choose irrelevant online                        platforms (some may not be good at it)

✧        Data collection and analysis may be time-consuming or may have invalid data 

Lecture 02: Culture & Us

Fig 2.1 Italian painting of "Narcissus" by Caravaggio & "Echo and Narcissus" by John William Waterhouse presented by Ms JinChi

Fig 2.2 The flower "Narcissus"

Backstory: 

Narcissus is a Greek Mythology figure who was distinguished by his beauty. He fell in love with his own reflection reflected by the water. It is said he pined away or simply killed himself just to admire his beautiful self. The flower "Narcisuss" was said to have sprung in places where he died.

 

Common theme of these paintings & image

✧ NARCISSISTIC✧ 

"Having or showing an excessive interest in or admiration of oneself & one's physical appearance." (Oxford Languages, 2022) 

✧ We may not understand and recognise these images if we are not exposed to the Greek Mythology 

Conclusion

The words that we use in a certain context come with meaning & could be tied to a particular culture.

Fig 2.3 Iceberg metaphor of how Culture is BIG #1

Fig 2.4 Iceberg metaphor of how Culture is BIG #2

✧ According to Edward T. Hall (1976), if a culture of a society was the iceberg then there are some aspects visible above the water but there is a larger portion hidden beneath the surface.

What is CULTURE?

Fig 2.5 The signs that govern the culture

✧ Refers to the cumulative deposit of the listed below & possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual & group striving

✧ Cumulative deposit stated by Ms JinChi

        knowledge                               meanings

        experience                               hierarchies

        beliefs                                       religion

        values                                        notions of time

        attitudes                                    roles

        concepts of the universe        material objects 

✧ Culture is a way of life of a group by their behaviors, beliefs, values & symbols that they've accepted & are passed along through generations by communication & imitation

✧ Culture is symbolic communication that includes a group's skills, knowledge, attitudes, values & motives. Symbols are taught & deliberately perpetuated in society through its institutions 

 

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INSTRUCTIONS

EXERCISE

✧ Group Members: Rebecca Thoo 

                                 : Loke Yeanne Tung

                                 : Tee Yi Qing

                                 : Zetie

                                 : Loh Shu Huan (Valeria) 

                                 : Wanda Heng

Fig 1.1 & 1.2 Using Padlet as a hub for Idea & Research 

FIRST ATTEMPT PPT (12.01.2022) 

First Meeting Notes (12.01.2022) 

Second PPT Attempt (19.01.2022) 

Second Meeting Notes (19.01.2022) 

Final PPT (20.01.2022) 

Final recorded presentation submission (21.01.2022) 

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FEEDBACK

Fig 1.1 Feedback after submission, Week 04

✧ Earlier feedback are recorded in the meeting notes above

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REFLECTIONS

Prior to this class I have no idea what "Netnography" is and am grateful to be able to learn about this topic and how we are all literally doing it every day. I really enjoyed Ms JinChi's lesson, especially the part with Greek Mythology involved. While researching for cultures, I came across a few interesting cultures. The final culture we've chosen as a group was a good one! The Day of the Dead is a joyful and colourful culture and celebration, I can't wait to see how we got to explore this culture and create the designs! Ms JinChi was really patient and gave clear guidelines that our group was able to progress efficiently.