Reflection for my project Memory vs. History
What did you learn?
I learned the process of historical revisionism and how it is impacted by societal systems such as economic, cultural, and political, and the criteria of what makes a historical narrative different than a memory/story/journal entry.
What feedback did you receive? Any reflections on the critique itself?
I received feedback to have led with the form and flip the order of my presentation to allow for more direct engagement with the project form, as well as provide more clarity in the intention of the work.
What might you do differently in terms of process or content?
I would have further fleshed out how the journal could be used as a larger institutional initiative and parameters around how outreach and timeline would be managed to ensure diverse populations and communities are included and that the timeline for how long they should journal/document their experiences.
Revisit the assignment prompts: how did your project relate to the original prompts in terms of critical lens, audience, tone, etc…
I had followed the project prompts to set up my presentation on process and research to ensure my presentation was concise and incorporated the necessary project information. I believe if I flipped the order of presentation per the feedback, it would’ve given more opportunity to discuss the critical lens via walking through the work itself.
How did you balance research and experimentation? Which is easier for you? How can you focus more on the areas that you shy away from?
I believe I balanced both research and experimentation. I really dove into the Janky Prototype exercises, creating prototypes with cardboard. While I shied away from executing the prototypes and sketches created in those exercises, the ideation process led to the lower-tech guided journal, which informed the research not only on the topic but how similar guided/prompt-type forms were set up, and what was most effective.
What did you find inspiring?
Working through the publics/counter publics and IAE exercises felt like a cross between social justice design thinking. I enjoyed the process of identifying these groups and how they intertwine with each other. Additionally, when I decided to shift to a guided journal, I found that to be an empowering stance, giving authorship to the user both from their personal narratives but also the power to revise so it would be considered s historical account that would be legitimized and catalogued through a library or historical society.