‘Identity’ explores the fragile, often painful tension between who we truly are and who society wants us to be. It reflects how personal identity is shaped, challenged, and sometimes overwritten by external expectations—how idealistic notions of perfection push us to lose the raw, imperfect parts of ourselves in the quest to belong.
Drawing from glitch feminism’s core idea of understanding how systems of power shape our identities and creating space for transformation and liberation by disrupting the system, this work uses the glitch as a metaphor for moments of fracture and rewrite in identity. At its heart, this piece reveals the battle between authenticity and conformity—between embracing our real traits, like sensitivity, stubbornness, and restlessness, and adopting traits society praises, such as obedience, politeness, and ambition. This pressure slowly chips away at our sense of self, until the line between who we really are and who we pretend to be starts to blur.
In today’s session, we explored the fundamentals of VJing using Resolume Arena, focusing on how to integrate a MIDI controller for live visual performances. Key areas covered included clip triggering, layer management, and applying effects within Resolume, alongside mapping MIDI hardware to enable intuitive, real-time control.
We also learned how to customize the workspace to suit individual workflows, such as assigning keyboard keys to trigger specific clips. This foundational training provides essential skills that will support more advanced creative approaches in upcoming projects.
Project Progress:
Arpit was responsible for creating and editing the main glitch effect in After Effects. He carefully added all the necessary visual effects to achieve the desired glitch style, which is a central part of our project’s look. After completing the glitch sequences, he exported the video and sent the file to me.
Once I received the video, I imported it into Premiere Pro to continue the post-production process. There, I worked on color grading to enhance the overall mood and atmosphere of the footage. I also adjusted the timing and lengths of different clips to improve the pacing and flow. Finally, I applied sound that I had downloaded which was a copyright free music track that suits the theme on the final animation.
After completing these steps, I exported the finished video, ready for submission.
After receiving detailed feedback during the tutorial, I was able to clearly define the next steps and refine my thesis proposal effectively. One of my first actions was to rewrite the literature review, focusing on paraphrasing existing sources instead of using direct quotations. This helped reduce similarity concerns and allowed me to present the ideas more cohesively in my own words.
I also expanded my list of keywords related to digital identity, virtual environments, embodiment, and self-perception. Using these, I conducted a deeper search for academic articles and case studies to broaden the scope of my bibliography. This helped me situate my research within a wider academic context and strengthened the theoretical foundation of my work.
Revisiting the chapter structure was another key step. I reviewed and refined each chapter’s focus to ensure clearer alignment with the research question. This helped me create a more logical flow between chapters and sharpened the overall coherence of the proposal.
Following this, I completed a first draft of Chapter 1, “Identity in the Digital Age.” Writing this chapter gave me a solid base to build upon and helped translate my theoretical ideas into formal academic writing. The draft covers the evolution of identity, how digital technologies reshape it, and the emergence of fluid, multifaceted digital selves.
I am now identifying and reviewing more academic sources related to key themes such as digital embodiment, self-presentation on social media, and psychological impacts of virtual identities. This expanded reading will help frame my research within a wider academic context and provide stronger support for my arguments. Alongside this, I am refining my approach to thematic analysis to organize and critically assess the literature more effectively.
Additionally, I will develop a clearer and more detailed methodology section, outlining the theoretical and thematic analysis approaches that will guide my research. Throughout, I will ensure all claims and discussions are well-supported by academic evidence to avoid speculation and maintain a balanced argument.
The tutorial was very helpful in defining my next steps and refining my work. During the session, I received detailed and constructive feedback on my research project, which has helped me focus and improve it significantly.
Refining the Research Question Nigel pointed out that my original research question leaned too much into speculative territory by suggesting people may eventually identify exclusively with their digital selves. To keep my research grounded in evidence, I revised the question to focus more broadly on how immersion in virtual environments and digital technologies influences an individual’s construction and perception of identity. This refinement keeps the scope manageable and researchable without making unsupported predictions.
Chapter Structure and Content Adjustments The feedback advised me to remove speculative content from Chapter 6 and rename it to “Emerging Trends in Digital Identity and Selfhood,” which allows me to discuss current academic perspectives and observed developments without projecting too far into the future.
Improving Literature Review and Academic Context Nigel emphasized expanding my literature review to cover broader academic theories, including identity theory, digital embodiment, social media’s role in self-presentation, and mental health impacts. This expansion will strengthen the foundation of my research by situating it within a wider scholarly conversation.
Reducing Direct Quotes and Enhancing Paraphrasing One significant point was the high similarity score caused by too many direct quotations. Nigel recommended paraphrasing more to demonstrate critical understanding and provide more concise synthesis of sources. I will also focus on extracting key ideas rather than long quotations to keep the text flowing and original.
Clarifying Methodology Another important area is methodology. Nigel advised me to clearly articulate that my research will be theoretical and literature-based, using critical and thematic analysis methods to interpret the findings from secondary sources. This clarity will help in structuring my approach and ensuring academic rigor.
Next Steps Moving forward, I will:
Further refine and finalize my research question.
Expand and deepen my literature review with a wider range of academic sources.
Paraphrase existing literature more effectively to reduce similarity scores.
Rework Chapter 6 to focus on current trends rather than speculative futures.
Clearly define my research methodology in my proposal.
Add brief concluding sentences at the end of each chapter section to connect the content back to my research question.
This week’s lesson emphasized the importance of story and character in animation. A strong story isn’t just a series of events but involves conflict, a change catalyst, and pushing the protagonist out of their comfort zone. These elements drive character development and keep viewers engaged.
Character expression goes beyond dialogue—poses and gestures convey emotions and motivations instantly. Techniques like exaggeration and secondary actions (for example, stretched limbs or overshoot movements) enhance clarity and emotional impact, making scenes more dynamic and realistic.
We learned that having a character biography, even a brief one, is essential. It guides how a character moves and reacts based on their background and personality. Props can also add depth, making even abstract characters relatable by showing intentions through object interaction.
We also discussed the value of engaging with literature to gain multiple perspectives and deepen understanding. Constructive criticism helps improve ideas and artistic expression. Using quotations carefully supports precision, while descriptive writing can evoke the emotional atmosphere of a scene.
This week, we continued focusing on research methodologies, specifically the importance of maintaining a clear and logical connection—often called the “Golden Thread”—between the research aim, objectives, and goals. This alignment is key to ensuring the study is coherent and consistent.
The research aim is a broad statement explaining the overall purpose of the study. Research objectives break this down into specific, actionable steps that guide the methodology and analysis. These objectives should be focused, clear, and achievable within the scope of the project.
We also discussed the SMART framework for setting research goals, which means goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This helps keep the project practical and on track.
A useful tip shared was about note-taking: it’s important to clearly mark whether something is a direct quote or a paraphrase when gathering information. This helps prevent confusion later and ensures accurate referencing, avoiding accidental plagiarism.
In this week’s session, we revisited the basics of research methodology, focusing on the difference between primary (original) and secondary (existing) research. We were reminded about the importance of credibility and academic integrity when writing, especially the need to correctly cite all sources to avoid plagiarism or ethical issues.
We also learned key criteria for choosing sources: they should be accurate, relevant, consistent with the research focus, and neutral in tone. This helps keep the research clear, concise, and professional. Transparency is important too—for example, if surveys are used, details about participants and responses should be included for clarity.
The lesson also introduced the concept of “method” as the specific steps taken during research, such as data collection and analysis. We looked at different research approaches—quantitative and qualitative—and how each has its own philosophy and techniques. Understanding these helps in selecting the best method for a study.
An insightful video illustrated how frameworks (mental structures or perspectives) shape how we interpret information, using the example of a child identifying an animal based on previous experience. This showed how having the right frameworks is crucial to accurate understanding, both in research and everyday life.
Finally, we learned a practical way to find relevant frameworks for our research topics: start by identifying keywords, search for those combined with “framework,” then check academic sources to ensure validity. This approach helps find frameworks that are both easy to understand and academically credible.
The rig was fully prepared and ready for use, so Arpit and I divided the animation tasks between us. I focused on using mocap animation on the main character. To achieve this, I used mocap data from Rokoko and imported that in Maya.
The animations were not entirely like we wanted, so we added animation layers to edit the mocap data. Once completed, I baked the animations and exported them as Alembic caches, allowing for smooth import and further work in Blender.
Then I imported all the textured assets and animations into Blender. I then meticulously set up the entire scene, applying the textures and configuring the lighting to ensure the overall look matched the project’s vision. To enhance the lighting setup, I used Leomoon, a specialized lighting tool, alongside Blender’s native lights to achieve the desired atmosphere and realism.
I added the background texture Arpit had created for the scenes in the file. After finalizing the lighting arrangement, I carefully adjusted the render settings to optimize quality and performance, and proceeded to render the scene.
This week, we learned how to create 360° videos using Unreal Engine and the Off World Media Production Toolkit. I’ve always liked how 360° videos let viewers explore scenes from any angle, making the experience more immersive and interactive.
We started by installing the Off World plugin, which includes Sprout—a tool that links Unreal Engine with TouchDesigner for real-time interaction. This makes the workflow smoother and more connected.
The process involved setting up a 360° camera in Unreal, adjusting project settings, and using Blueprints and the Sequencer to animate the scene. After rendering, we did minor edits in Media Encoder. It was a great intro to a powerful way of storytelling that puts the viewer in control.
Project Progress:
Now that I had the textures, I moved on to finish the environment. The idea was to visually show the character falling through these distorted letters—each one representing external expectations or judgments. As the character drops deeper, it reflects the concept of falling from grace or being reshaped by outside forces.
Alongside working on the environment, I also set up the surrounding human figures in the scene. These figures represent the crowd around the central character and are crucial to the narrative, symbolizing societal expectations and pressures.
I textured the surrounding humans with metallic black to represent perfection and uniformity, contrasting with the colorful main character. I created the textures in Substance Painter and refined the metallic look in Blender using a detailed shader node setup to control reflections and highlights.
Simultaneously, I turned my attention to the main character mesh, which Arpit had rigged. For the character’s initial texturing, I wanted to move beyond static colors and create a dynamic, colorful gradient that constantly shifts. This choice was intentional to symbolize fluidity and transformation in the character’s identity, visually reinforcing the project’s thematic core. To achieve this effect, I exported the rigged character mesh to Blender, where I experimented with node-based shader setups. Blender’s flexible node editor allowed me to create a procedural gradient texture that smoothly changes across the mesh’s surface. This involved layering color ramps, noise textures, and gradient masks to produce a seamless and evolving gradient effect. The process required a detailed understanding of Blender’s shader system and careful tweaking to balance subtlety with vibrancy.
This experimental phase was essential because it introduced a visually striking element that adds complexity and depth to the character’s appearance, aligning with the narrative’s focus on identity as something mutable and multifaceted.
During weeks 5 and 6, we had the opportunity to experiment with MadMapper, a projection mapping tool that links animations to physical surfaces via a projector. I spent this time exploring how to use glitch effects within MadMapper, experimenting with how I could potentially showcase parts of my work through projection mapping.
While projection mapping isn’t central to my concept, I see a lot of creative potential in it as an additional element—either as part of this project’s submission or something I might explore further in the future. For example, I imagined projecting glitchy animations or coded words onto shapes like a human silhouette, which could add an interesting layer to the visual storytelling.
In MadMapper, we also worked with animation sequences, transitions, and dynamic presentations, which I found really engaging. After discussing with Arpit, we considered incorporating projection mapping into the environment by creating a “matrix-like” digital space, where coded words flow horizontally around a central figure in a crowd. This idea inspired us to adjust the environment design to better suit this aesthetic.
Overall, this session was a valuable experiment that broadened my toolkit and opened new possibilities, even if projection mapping isn’t the main focus of my project.
Project Progress:
This week marked a significant turning point in our project, as Arpit and I strategically divided the workload to focus on different aspects simultaneously, maximizing efficiency and creative development. While Arpit dedicated his efforts to rigging the character, I took responsibility for texturing the environment, a critical element for establishing the visual tone and narrative atmosphere.
After reflecting on the ideas from last week’s projection mapping session and our discussions, we decided to pivot the environment design toward a “matrix-inspired” aesthetic. This shift was motivated by the desire to visually represent the glitch effect not only through distorted animations but also through the presence of floating, coded words and dynamic color changes. The environment itself became a key storytelling tool, where the words and colors act as visual metaphors for the breakdown and transformation of identity under societal pressures.
I began by setting up the “matrix-like” environment in Maya, carefully designing the layout to accommodate the animated words that would float and interact within the scene. I then animated these words to convey movement and flow, enhancing the sense of a digital space filled with shifting information. After completing the animation, I exported the assets to Substance Painter for the texturing phase.
In Substance Painter, I experimented with a wide range of textures to find materials that aligned closely with the project’s themes. My goal was to achieve a texture that felt authentic to the concept of digital identity and glitching. After testing different surface finishes, I focused on emissive textures that emit light, which added depth and vibrancy to the environment. These glowing textures visually emphasize the idea of digital code and energy permeating the space, making the environment feel alive and immersive.
Once I finalized the textures, I reassembled the scene in Maya and produced several mock renders. These test renders were crucial for evaluating how the emissive materials and animated words interacted within the environment’s lighting setup. The early results confirmed that the approach effectively conveyed the intended atmosphere and narrative.
