User:Michel W/Thesis outline

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Introduction

I want to examine the connection between cyberfeminism, the aesthetics of cyborg, and Taiwan/Asian queer communities. Within the cyborg concept, there’s a focus on non-binary opposition and the ambiguity of identity and boundaries. Queer and non-binary people, liberate gender, break free from binary-centered opposition, and actively embrace a future of diversity, heterogeneity, and hybrid identities. Moreover, I am interested in exploring cyberfeminism within an Asian context. Modern queer and gender spectrums have already broken down the traditional binary concept of gender; could there be even more possibilities? Do we still need this or similar myths and metaphors?

❣ Chapter I. Cyborg Aesthetics and Queer Identity

In this chapter I want to explore how cyborg,cyberfeminsim aesthetic enhance the understanding of queer and non-binary identites, particularly in Asia contexts.

1.1 Artistic Representations of the Queer-Cyborg

Key Question: How do artistic representations (e.g., fashion, wearable tech, performance art) visualize and express queer experiences through the cyborg?

Content:

• Explore the mediums (fashion, performance, digital art) that artists use to embody the cyborg aesthetic.

• Analyze how these mediums address themes of non-binary and fluid identities, resistance to categorization, and queer empowerment.

• Discuss examples like wearable tech as extensions of the body or performance art that incorporates hybrid identities.

Connection: Sets the groundwork by showcasing how artistic practices engage with the cyborg concept and its relevance to queer expression.

1.2 Materials and Regeneration: Crafting the Cyborg Body

Key Question: Could certain materials (e.g., metal, fabric, recycled objects) or digital elements connect to the regeneration and self-healing aspects of the cyborg concept?

Content:

• Delve into material choices and their symbolic meanings.

• Recycled Materials: How they reflect repair, sustainability, and resilience—echoing the cyborg's adaptability and healing processes.

• Digital Elements: How interactive or augmented technologies visualize fluidity and transformation.

• Highlight how the act of creating (sewing, welding, programming) mirrors self-healing and identity reconstruction for queer individuals.

Connection: Deepens the discussion by tying physical and digital materials to themes of regeneration and resilience within the cyborg and queer frameworks.

1.3 Asian Queer Artists and Localized Cyborg Narratives

Key Question: How have cyborg aesthetics been interpreted in the works of Asian queer artists (e.g., Betty Apple, Shu Lea Cheang)? How do they transform cyberfeminism and cyborgs to reflect local cultural narratives (e.g., myths, folklore, or traditional symbols)?

Content:

• Discuss specific works by Asian queer artists (e.g., Betty Apple’s cyber mermaids or Shu Lea Cheang’s speculative cyberfeminist films).

• Analyze how these artists reinterpret the cyborg aesthetic to engage with cultural narratives such as:

Folklore and Myth: How cyborg themes align with or challenge traditional storytelling.

Asian Philosophies: Ideas of interconnectedness, duality, and transformation within local contexts.

• Explore how Asian queer artists add unique perspectives to cyberfeminism and global queer discourses.

Connection: Grounds the theoretical and aesthetic discussions in real-world, culturally specific practices, bridging the global cyborg framework with Taiwanese and Asian contexts.

❣ Chapter II. Stories from the Asian queer communities

I want to collect stories from others within these communities to build a broader understanding.

• What are the unique perspectives, experiences, and challenges faced by non-binary Asians living in the Western?

• What are the parallels between feminist and queer struggles against systems of control (e.g., patriarchy, capitalism, and heteronormativity) within the Taiwanese or Asian context?

❣ Chapter III. Reflection

I aim to explore the relationships between my research and practice, linking to the projects. My focus is on integrating the aesthetics of Taiwan and queerness with cyberfeminism to create the cyborg and the imagined world. Additionally, find the connection of cyberfeminism to sustainability through practices like repair, modification and mending, emphasizing themes of regeneration and self-healing.

Mode of address

In this thesis, I will use a first-person narration to share my personal experience and perspectives as a non-binary queer person. This mode of address also create a sense of intimacy and authenticity, inviting readers to engage with the research on a personal level. It aligns with ethos of storytelling and self-representation central to these communities.

Reference and Bibliography

❥ Haraway, D. (1985). A cyborg manifesto. Victoria, British Columbia: Camas Books.

❥ 謝宜安,陳彥伃,巴代,洪郁如,吳佩珍,蔡蕙頻,張志樺,王鈺婷,黃儀冠,李淑君,高鈺昌,曾秀萍,張俐璇,李癸雲,紀大偉,李欣倫,謝欣芩,楊佳嫻,翁智琦,鄭芳婷,葉佳怡 (2021). 性別島讀：臺灣性別文學的跨世紀革命暗語 Reading Sexualities: The Many Faces of Gendered Literature in Taiwan. 聯經出版公司.