Intercultural Design - Task 2: Data Collection

on
26/1/2022 - 11/2/2022 / Week 4 - Week 6
Lui Hsiao Hui (Tressa) / 0342003
Intercultural Design / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 2: Data Collection

LECTURES

Notes:
Data collection due date: 7/2 (Monday) 5pm

Submission:
  • Full slides
  • Summarised slides (if needed)
  • Presentation video (10 mins, below 100MB)
  • Include links in slides (if any)

Blog submission:
  • Progression
  • Slides & presentation video as usual
  • Feedback & reflection as usual

Conclusion:
  • Restatements: purpose, objectives & questions
  • Summary of results
  • Implications of results

INSTRUCTIONS



Task 2: Data Collection

Fig. 1.1 Final idea - Drag Weapon Skins

As mentioned in our proposal, our final idea is Drag Weapon Skins - the idea was to 'dragify' the traditional weapons of countries that have the death penalty for the LGBTQ+. In order to make our final outcome (3D-printed weapons) and achieve our research questions and objectives, we had to research the 3 weapons along with suppression and rebellion of drag, as well as homophobic persecution. 


1. Task delegation
Tasks were delegated to each member's strengths and abilities.

Research:
  • Qian Tong: Google Arts & Culture on the 3 weapons (Keris, Saintie & Jambiya)
  • Yi Yun: Suppression & rebellion of drag
  • Jia Sheng & Tressa: Homophobic persecution in the world
  • Athirah: 3 weapons (Keris, Saintie & Jambiya)
Other:
  • Jodiann & Jia Sheng: Interview questions
  • Tressa: Finding drag queens & requesting for interview
  • Jia Sheng: Islamic Arts Museum visit

2. Interview
Fig. 1.2 Google Form - online interview, Week 5 (29/1/2022)

To get a better understanding of drag queens' (& kings') perspectives, we decided to interview drag artists/performers of the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The questions were prepared by Jodiann and Jia Sheng with Google Forms and checked with me before messaging potential interviewees via Instagram direct message. All questions and prompts can be viewed in our presentation slides below.



Fig. 1.3 Interviewees list, Week 5 (30/1/2022)

Fig. 1.1 shows the list of interviewees we were planning to interview. These individuals were found by me through various searching of articles, YouTube videos and Instagram. I had trouble finding majority of people from the Middle East but that is understandable and as expected. 


Fig. 1.4 Interviewees reached out to (12), Week 5 (30/1/2022)

Messages were sent on Sunday (30/1/2022). Interviewees were unfortunately unresponsive - which again is expected and understandable. At least one drag queen followed me back tho ;-;


3. Research

Fig. 2.1 Homophobic persecution in the world - research document, Week 5 (3/2/2022)

Jia Sheng and I worked on researching homophobic persecution since there are a few countries and/or regions to cover. Fig. 2.1 is both of our research combined, with some key sentences in coloured texts. Some of these texts were further refined in our final data collection slides.

The countries I researched were:
  • Egypt
  • Yemen
  • Syria
  • Iraq
  • Afghanistan
  • Brunei
  • Indonesia

Some thoughts about the research findings:
Through the victims' accounts I've read, I've come to realised that power-hungry authorities/groups (police, security, armies, etc) are using their homophobia and religion as an excuse for torture. The methods of torture I found are vile and animalistic, for example, "glue up the anus" and "virginity tests". It's not explicitly stated, but it is very clear that the systematic tortures are an outlet for dysfunctional individuals to explore brutalities and have fun with their animalistic nature. With their authority titles and religion like crowns over their heads, they can't be criminalised. Might as well take advantage of that, right?


Miro board
Fig. 2.2 Miro board, Week 5 (5/2/2022)


This board was created by Jia Sheng, with additional visual research by me and Qian Tong.

Our Miro board contains a compilation of our visual research and photos from our field study - Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. We will be referring to this board as our design inspiration when creating our final 3D-printed weapons. The close-up photos would be our reference for painting similar details onto our 3D-printed weapons, as well as decorating the hilts in a similar fashion. We plan on keeping it as close to the characteristics of these weapons, as it is our intention to not make these weapons unrecognisable.


Exploration in Google Arts & Culture

Fig. 2.3 Google Arts & Culture search - Jambiya

Most of the Jambiyas I found on Google Arts & Culture were from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The photos of the Jambiyas are a great source of inspiration because the details of the weapon design are very clear which would help our designing stage. However, they weren't specific about the cultural background/stories about each weapon. 



Fig. 2.4 & 2.5 Keris (Indonesia)

Keris on display in Museum Nasional Indonesia.

Google Arts & Culture was a great alternative to explore museums online. Though it would've been great if the photos were clearer for me to be able to read the information on the museum boards.



Fig. 2.6 & 2.7 Sainties (India)

Sainties on display in National Museum in New Delhi, India.

Sainties took a while to find on Google Arts & Culture because there were no results when I searched "Saintie". The most visually similar was called a "Mace" (see Fig. 2.8-2.10 below). I think the Sainties differ more with their designs (especially the spear head and some having ) as compared to the Keris and Jambiya, whereby their forms are always consistent.




Fig. 2.8-2.10 Mace

*All weapons and artifacts from Google Arts & Culture are linked in Miro. 


4. Compilation of data

Fig. 3.1 Task 2: Data Collection - document (original submission), Week 6 (6/2/2022)

All of our research in one document.


Fig. 3.2 Final Task 2: Data Collection - summarised slides (original submission), Week 6 (6/2/2022)


 Fig. 3.3 Task 2: Data Collection - full slides (original submission), Week 6 (6/2/2022)


 Fig. 3.4 Final Task 2: Data Collection - presentation, Week 6 (7/2/2022)



Amended Final Task 2: Data Collection

Amendment: Missing conclusion

 
 Fig. 4.1 Final Task 2: Data Collection - document, Week 6 (11/2/2022)


Fig. 4.2 Final Task 2: Data Collection - summarised slides, Week 6 (11/2/2022)


 
 Fig. 4.3 Final Task 2: Data Collection - full slides, Week 6 (11/2/2022)

FEEDBACKS

Week 5
Specific Feedback: Demonstrates excellent observational and research skills, evident in an abundant collection of various materials, using appropriate tools. Documentation of collected materials is written clearly with effective written communication skills, clearly reviewing the contents of the sources. I am happy to see the RQ-RO in the beginning, well done there. It would also be good to mention in the conclusion how the data collected answered the RQ and fulfilled the RO and what will be the implications of the knowledge gained in your design output. 

REFLECTION

Experience
I'd say I probably was the angriest while doing my delegated task. The research alone left me fuming - reading about absurd ideologies and sexual punishments with Chinese New Year fireworks in the sky was not a vibe. The content was also quite triggering sometimes, especially when it came to the topic of religion and its homophobia because I'm not religious, I disagreed with most religious beliefs and found them absurd. All in all, research wasn't really that complicated since there were many resources available online about homophobic persecution. It has also extended more of my knowledge in this area and allowed me to develop my research skill.

Observations
I observed that the majority of the blades (Keris and Jambiya) have carved inscriptions. In some of the photos from our field study, these inscriptions can be seen and they almost look like runes which are very fascinating. An idea from this observation is that we could include a rebellion message painted on the 3D-printed blades (but in a different language or even symbols maybe). The Saintie was a confusing one because its design differs a lot, and it sometimes didn’t even look like a spear but more like a decorative short staff. I also didn't know it was called a Mace until exploring Google Arts and Culture.

Findings
I learned that both the Jambiya and Keris were used for traditional purposes (formal dress etc) and as a sign of social status. The materials also deem their worth, from materials sourced from animals to metal and woodwork. As for homophobic persecution, I found that religion and government control plays a huge part in spreading the ideology of anti-LGBTQ+. 

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