Othering for Belonging
Ye Zhao
In the year since scientists have mapped the human genome, we’ve come to understand that despite appearances, there is very little that biologically separates one group from another. However, we continue to cling to skin-deep attributes to “other”, to transform a difference into something to distrust, avoid, and fear each other. As designers who use simplifying and categorizing as our practice, we have to be more mindful of the negative effect of othering. In this thesis, I argue that othering ourselves is one way to combat this problem and gain a broader perspective on identity as a whole.
QUARANTINED -the game-
Pixelated visuals of my quarantine life as if it was made into a game. Although every aspect of the game was mundane and something I did everyday, when it was put into the game format it looked more exciting and interesting. Even though the situation was the same, by othering my own identity and looking from literally a third person perspective, it offered me a new perspective.
About Humans: Research record of human species
A research record of humans as a species from an alien perspective. To add a playful aspect in othering our own identities, I used an alien theme to look at humans as a collective in an objective light.
UCO: United Cosmic Organization
An organization that aims to unite us around our differences. All the members of the organization are referred to as aliens. People were able to make their own avatar through the website. http://alienator.nugob.org/
UCO: Alien research about human species
I asked a few of the Alien members from UCO to conduct research on human beings. The participants were asked to find something peculiar about humans, forcing them to look at their own identity from a third person perspective.UCO: Alien discussion about human species
A meeting with the alien participants to discuss the human race. I made filters for each alien and gave them the ability to change voices to make the experience more immersive. As a result, many of the participants said being assigned a different identity, even fictional, was enough to make them shift perspective on certain topics. Some mentioned that it was liberating to fully critique the human race because they don’t get to do that as a part of the human race.CAPSTONE: D.O.T., A Secret Alien Spy Organization
I created new outer-dimension organisms, collectively called D.O.T. D.O.T. organisms are identical across their entire species and they are all capable of self-reproduction. They have been sending secret agents to earth disguised as humans to conduct insightful research on human species especially about identity and categorization since many of the group-based identities do not exist in D.O.T.
D.O.T.: Initiation Card
The process starts with a participant finding a card in random places that say “WELCOME BACK” with the QR code.
D.O.T.: Initiation Website1
The QR code leads to a mobile initiation website where it asks few questions such as “Do you sometimes feel out of place?” or “Are you looking for a sign?” If answered in the affirmative, the users will pass into the next part of their experience. https://d-o-t.visual-communication.design/ (mobile access only.)
D.O.T.: Initiation Website2
The black screen fades away, revealing the participants “true identity”, a giant D.O.T. This D.O.T. mirrors the participant’s movements using their phone’s camera. Then, the participant will receive a “phone call” over the website. If they tap the icon to answer the call, another D.O.T. shows up on the screen and starts talking to the participant, explaining the spy practice they have been conducting. After the explanation, the participants are told to scroll down on the screen. There, they find a series of seven flashing orders.