Objectives + Audience + Deliverables

Goals & Parameters

                  The goal of this project is actually really selfish on my part. I want to further investigate a connection I made as a youth in my grandmother’s home. I knew that my grandfather used to be Buddhist and still have some extended family that are still practicing Buddhists. I have noticed so many similarities and wanted to further explore this connection. Also, growing up I also was able to witness religion in the Hispanic community and took note of how their own culture has a big influence on their religion. Essentially, the goal is to explore the merging of culture and religion in a way that gives ownership to the participant. There will be an emphasis on the Vietnamese and American culture with Catholicism.

Responses expected

                  I’m hoping to gain some sort of new insight into religion. Perhaps draw closer to my own personal faith or maybe take a step back in questioning. I’m not quite sure what to really expect but the end goal is for me to make connections and really delve into a deep thought process. I’m hoping to prompt the same response from people viewing this. If they are unfamiliar with both my culture and religion then perhaps this initiates an internal dialogue on what culture and/or religion is to themselves.

Plan to accomplish this response

                  I would like to accomplish this through some sort of personal interviews with perhaps only written descriptions. I may take into account inquiring about personal stories of religion and culture. Looking at the video posted on the 470 blog, I liked how they asked one question and they got such a huge varying response. I could perhaps explore the question, “What does a Mother of a God look like to you?” I could perhaps aim this to varying ethnic groups. I really want to explore the apparition of Our Lady of La Vang. I wanted to explore this connection of religion with culture and ownership.

Identify audience & Data collection

My primary interactive audience is the religious Vietnamese community when it comes to data collection. As far as presentation, this would be opened to all those that find this intriguing. I’m not fully concerned with teaching anything to anyone but rather questioning. I want people to feel how I felt when I say, “My whole life I have seen nothing but “White” religious figures in imagery and what are views on cultures making these religious imagery their own.

How to incorporate audience

To incorporate the audience, I want to gather what these religious figures look like to the participant. My struggle is how interactive I want this to be. Am I to compile all these thoughts from everyone to formulate one image from what these people? Or do I use the input from each participant to see if it will influence what I have envisioned myself?

List of deliverables

                  Originally, I would like to replicate items found in a religious gift shop, specifically at Catholic institutions, as I know gift shop items varies across varying denominations and apply imagery of Our Lady of La Vang. The emphasis will be print based onto the items that are applied. Time permitted, I would like to explore 3D renditions in references the prevalence of religious statues in Catholicism.