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21 sep '23

1. Start with the 'Why': Begin your thesis by clearly articulating why you want to undertake this project. Emphasize the integrity and motivation behind your work. Make it explicit that your motivation precedes your objectives.
2. Autobiographical Element: Explore how your personal experiences and interests have led you to this project. Investigate the influence of your own experiences on your work, and make sure to convey this connection to the reader.
3. Specific Communities: Delve into the communities that resonate with your interests and project. Discuss the challenges of narrowing your focus to a specific group and how this can lead to a more meaningful engagement with your audience.
4. Negotiating with Aesthetics: Clearly explain the artistic aspect of your project and how you intend to negotiate with aesthetics. Discuss the origin of your aesthetic choices and how they connect to your larger goals.
5. Comfort in Communities: Elaborate on your comfort within these communities and how it informs your work. Explain how you plan to work with your focus group, considering your own comfort and their needs.
6. Incorporate Previous Practice: Provide a practical description of your previous work and how it relates to your current project. Include examples, images, and details of how your past creations align with your current artistic goals.
7. Online vs. Real-Life Interaction: Clarify whether your project will remain solely online or if it will involve real-life components, such as physical meetings or events. Discuss the significance of physical interaction in your work.
8. Path and Themes: Define the thematic path you intend to take in your thesis. Unpack the concepts of healing, caring, and esotericism, and explain if you plan to explore all of them or focus on one in particular.
9. Liberate Language with Esoteric Practice: Describe how you aim to use esoteric practices to liberate language. Outline your strategy for making these practices a tangible part of your project.
10. Structured Approach: Create a structured plan for your thesis. Divide it into sections or points, such as 'How,' 'Specifics,' and 'Currently Speculative but More Specific.' Clearly define specific outcomes for each of these sections.
11. Engaging Presentation: Incorporate an engaging and fun element in your thesis, as suggested by Steve. Consider innovative ways to present your ideas and findings that resonate with your audience.
12. Diverse Modes of Address: Experiment with different modes of addressing your audience. Differentiate between a direct mode of address and a more personal one to keep the reader engaged.
13. Inner Voice Dialogue: Integrate your inner voice into the thesis. Acknowledge the interruptions and engage in a meaningful dialogue between your academic voice and your personal reflections. Highlight the strength in this approach.

specific communities maybe? there is an autobiographical element to it. previous part, interest in fictious spaces for people to create with. talk to people who are like her and not the whole universe. makes it harder for the focus group. artistic project of negotiating with aestethics. it first starts with her and where it comes from. need to keep it open because you don't know what will come. i speak it very well when relating to bigger context. it feels very well explained and it comes from caring, which is the most human things. reading through i thought there was a bit of the why do you want to make it is has integrity, it's very nicely written. the motivation preceeds what you want to do. let's say we rearrange it: why comes first and then paragraph 2 would become 1. specificlly etc comes after. if possible, i'd make it more explicit how the outcome would be. the part in which i explain the comofort in these communities gives a start on how to work with the focus group. i wonder how it is a project about herself, what kind of energy comes from her, does her bigger experience influence or is she interested in gathering and collecting. she feels more comfortable gathering but also has something to say from herself about that. relation to previous practice more like exactly what you made. practical description of what i made before, how do you use things, what would you do with it, pictures too!

this is online community, is there going to be real-life parts too? people who meet physically? thinking of the worms, being interested in interaction and communicating with other people in real life.

it's not very clear if there is going to be a path that i'm going to take, i wonder if that's the same path of talking about healing and caring and esotericism. unpack that more. am i going to approach all of that or only one? liberate language by using esoteric practice. how do i plan to make it points? 1 = how, 2 = specific, 3 = currently speculative but more specific, specific outcomes for each of these things.

thumbs up for number 10 for having fun with it from steve.

try to combine both, distinciton of mode of address apparent and play with it. mode of address that is direct and one that is personal.

ariella, interrupt the thesis with her inner voice. she felt free to do that, it's not even a narration. akwnoledge it and have a dialogue between them. can be strenght in my thesis.

20 sep '23

concepts to be made sensitive:

𖦹 online communities + digital intimacy + network theory

𖦹 group dynamics + mutual aid + social support

𖦹 user-centred design + death of social media (rip)

𖦹 inner work as redefinition of "self-help" in relation to spiritual, social and mental well being

questions i have so far:

𖦹 how did people (other than me) experience growing up on online communities on social media?

𖦹 how did they experience these communities, what kind of dynamics affected them in that context?

𖦹 how was their own inner work of spiritual, social and mental well being affected by their belonging in these communities?

𖦹 how was their identity formation influenced by being a part of these groups?

💡🙌👽 focus-group guide

(paper to write down notes for them, candles, cozy vibes, little desserts& snacks, coffee and tea)

• start by introducing myself and thanking them for coming.
• then I tell them the purpose of the focus group: to explore experiences of belonging to online communities.
• describe what is going to happen: i will ask some questions, if you don't understand feel free to ask for clarification.
• this is not meant to be formal, please interrupt, go off-topic and especially try to talk to each other. just remember to be kind.

2. Icebreaker (5 minutes)

• to start out i'd like to ask you to please share one memorable internet-related experience. depending on the group i might share one.

** Segment 1: Early Internet Experiences (15 minutes) **

3. Online Beginnings

• try to remember your earliest internet experiences. What platforms or websites did you first engage with?
• How did you navigate the online world as children or teenagers?
• follow up on any answers.

4. Role of the Internet in Development

• Explore how the internet influenced their personal growth and development during adolescence.
• How did the internet factor in to your interests, skills, or perspectives growing up?
• Were there any specific online communities or people that played a role in their development?

**Segment 2: Social Media and Community (20 minutes)**

5. Social Media Adoption

• what about social media specifically? when and how did you start using it? try to recall what feelings it used to bring up.

• what drew you to these platforms, and how did you perceive their role in relation to connections and community?

6. Community Building

• did you have any experiences of building or participating in online communities through social media?

• what types of communities have you been a part of, and what motivated them to join?

• have you encountered any challenges or negative aspects related to online communities?

**Closing (5 minutes)**

11. Thank You and Next Steps

• thank you for your time and insight. I will use this information as part of my graduation project. your names, unless you wish for it, will not be shared but your experiences might be. please come to me before leaving if there is anything that you wouldn't like to see printed or if you'd like to be credited.