1.
I feel the research progress has reached my initial expectations for the semester. The original goal was multisensory documentation, but I have now found a more profound and specific theoretical anchor.
The milestone I’m most proud of is discovering Arjun Appadurai’s theory of “The Social Life of Things” and subsequently developing my own methodology.
I no longer view supermarket receipts, museum brochures, etc merely as personal items but as archaeological sites for understanding cultural integration in Philadelphia. By comparing and analyzing shopping lists from different communities(it’s the plan), I can interpret the stories of cultural adaptation behind consumption habits. This makes me feel that abstract theory is finally firmly connected to concrete creative practice.
2.
The project visualization is moving towards the John Wilson style I aspired to, finding depth and humor in the mundane. I have concretized this into a visual style I call “Forensic Lyricism”, using macro lenses to observe objects with the meticulousness of a forensic expert. I hope ultimately to present the findings poetically.
3.
My paper will clearly articulate how the project stands on the academic shoulders of Non-Representational Theory and Material Culture Studies.
I will detail my creative choices in the paper. For instance, a prolonged shot aims to visually represent theoretical concepts like the social life of things and negotiation of cultural identity.
The final work itself can be a practice of theory, while the paper serves to clearly elucidate the thinking, process, and academic context behind this practice, fully meeting the requirement of a theoretically informed formal paper.
4.
I am most looking forward to starting the “Things Ethnography” phase, which involves mustering the courage to approach strangers in local markets and inviting them to share their shopping receipts or lists. I believe this will expand the project from a personal diary to a community dialogue.
I am particularly curious to discover if there are Cultural Translator Objects (e.g., a specific sauce or snack) that appear across different cultural communities, potentially acting as subtle connectors between disparate worlds.
Also, I hope to refine the collection of sensory, systematically recording the unique sounds, smells, and textures of each consumption environment. This will ensure the final work offers not only rational analysis but also an immersive sensory experience.
Lastly, well I haven’t received the feedback of my Project Treatment and Initial Media yet. The status is still submitted not graded.