Stump Speech
Tools: Arduino, After Effects, Premiere Pro
What is manipulating our right to vote?
Why are we polarized?
Stump Speech is a video installation artwork that questions the rationality of duality. It is a design fiction piece that reflects on the influence of media manipulation on people's decision making and media literacy.
Why are we polarized?
Stump Speech is a video installation artwork that questions the rationality of duality. It is a design fiction piece that reflects on the influence of media manipulation on people's decision making and media literacy.
Overview
As an individual speculative design peoject, I used an "info virus" to depict a future data epidemic. The installation comprises six types of media that represent different perspectives. The story unfolds through a debate between countries A and C, the audience has the opportunity to vote for a trustworthy authority. The discredited platform will be muted. The various perspectives are presented through two news platforms defending countries A and C, a reality TV show from country B, a vlog uploaded by a citizen of country C, and an article published by an independent news institution. To help the audience navigate this complex information and make informed decisions, Stump Speech provides private spaces and a looped experience.
Process
01
03
03
Research
Data of Trust
Newscast Analysis
Filming
Intro Animation
ADD News
DDTV
Globalhits
Bitube
Finley Show
Data of Trust
Newscast Analysis
Filming
Intro Animation
ADD News
DDTV
Globalhits
Bitube
Finley Show
02
04
04
Concept
Scripts
Construction
Display
Circuit & Sensor
Scripts
Construction
Display
Circuit & Sensor
Identify the Context
What caught the attention of people in China during the
What caught the attention of people in China during the
COVID-19 pandemic?
Insights
Why do poignant punchlines get so much attention?
Where will nationalism lead us?
Living in an echo chamber of Chinese social media, it is easy to sense the anger of nationalism during the pandemic. This anger has brought people together to fight against the Chinese hatred from Western press. But does this lead us to the truth? Are we being manipulated?
The power of the people is a double-edged sword.
Where will nationalism lead us?
Living in an echo chamber of Chinese social media, it is easy to sense the anger of nationalism during the pandemic. This anger has brought people together to fight against the Chinese hatred from Western press. But does this lead us to the truth? Are we being manipulated?
The power of the people is a double-edged sword.
Why is it important?
What impact has COVID-19 had on the trust crisis?
Insights
- Generally, governments that experience fewer domestic partisan conflicts tend to have a higher range of trust;
- Regarding the scripts, I will present to my audience the media platforms that speak for hidden authorities based on a simple correlation between the trust level for media platforms and that of governments;
- Does a high trust level imply that these institutions are closer to the truth?
- To reiterate the question, is it possible that the trust level data is manipulated?
- Regarding the scripts, I will present to my audience the media platforms that speak for hidden authorities based on a simple correlation between the trust level for media platforms and that of governments;
- Does a high trust level imply that these institutions are closer to the truth?
- To reiterate the question, is it possible that the trust level data is manipulated?
Perception on Manipulation
How does the news on social media influence our worldviews?
Insights
- Algorithms play a huge role in shaping what we see and hear;
- Is there a way for us to opt out of that bubble?
- Is there a way for us to opt out of that bubble?
World Building
How to report like a professional news institution?
Insights
- A simplified methodology of news phrasing:
Quotation + Fussy Information + Severe Consequence
- This is an experience of chaos, presenting chaotic combat to the audience.
Quotation + Fussy Information + Severe Consequence
- This is an experience of chaos, presenting chaotic combat to the audience.
Concept
There is no such thing as pure information.
Media literacy, national sentiments, and political tendencies all shape our interpretation of the truth. With this project, I aim to destabilize the information monopoly held by those in power. Using fiction, I created a series of platforms that reveal manipulated information in a dramatic way to the audience. In a dense and immersive debating space, the audience takes the risk of being infected by the "info virus" to uncover the truth behind the manipulations.
The audience is empowered to mute the least trust worthy media platform between A and C.
Media literacy, national sentiments, and political tendencies all shape our interpretation of the truth. With this project, I aim to destabilize the information monopoly held by those in power. Using fiction, I created a series of platforms that reveal manipulated information in a dramatic way to the audience. In a dense and immersive debating space, the audience takes the risk of being infected by the "info virus" to uncover the truth behind the manipulations.
The audience is empowered to mute the least trust worthy media platform between A and C.
The Media
How did I direct a continuity of scenes with screens?
How did I direct a continuity of scenes with screens?
Info Virus
This frame animation serves as an intro to the story and creates a tense vibe as the virus outbreak occurs.
The Info Virus, also known by many names, could refer to ideas that deviate from the mainstream, fake news, or gimmicks. Its interpretation is left to the audience.
This frame animation serves as an intro to the story and creates a tense vibe as the virus outbreak occurs.
The Info Virus, also known by many names, could refer to ideas that deviate from the mainstream, fake news, or gimmicks. Its interpretation is left to the audience.
ADD News
As one of the protagonists in the story, ADD News is attempting to gain more audience support in order to win the "Truth War” for Country A.
As one of the protagonists in the story, ADD News is attempting to gain more audience support in order to win the "Truth War” for Country A.
DDTV
As the official news platform of Country C, DDTV aims to gain more audience support in the ongoing "Truth War." We anticipate competition and disclosure between ADD News and DDTV.
As the official news platform of Country C, DDTV aims to gain more audience support in the ongoing "Truth War." We anticipate competition and disclosure between ADD News and DDTV.
Globalhits
This NGO news platform is designed to provide a different perspective in the endless debate. However, it is written in a conspiratorial way.
This NGO news platform is designed to provide a different perspective in the endless debate. However, it is written in a conspiratorial way.
Bitube
A Bituber, a survivor from Country C, will provide you with his perspective on the Info Virus. Do you trust information more when it comes from someone similar to yourself?
A Bituber, a survivor from Country C, will provide you with his perspective on the Info Virus. Do you trust information more when it comes from someone similar to yourself?
Finley Show
A talk show from Country B comments on news from around the world. For a special edition, the host, Finely, invited two famous critics from Country B to help uncover any manipulations in reports from Country A and Country C. Pierce Garcia, whose video was quoted by DDTV, provided his poignant thoughts.
A talk show from Country B comments on news from around the world. For a special edition, the host, Finely, invited two famous critics from Country B to help uncover any manipulations in reports from Country A and Country C. Pierce Garcia, whose video was quoted by DDTV, provided his poignant thoughts.
The Installation
How did I develop a spatial experience?
1. Ballot tickets pick-up area, Intro Animation, ADD News & DDTV
2. Globalhits, Finley Show & Bitube
3. Mute it! The ballot box
As the traffic flow is designed to encompass the screens, the audience has the right to opt out of the drama at any time, or keep listening to the debate over and over again until they can vote for the better option.
Rather than being surrounded by screens infused with information, the audience is guided by a round traffic flow. Walking around the installation can now be seen as an action of breaking the echo chamber. The circular traffic flow also allows for more audience to participate in the experience.
2. Globalhits, Finley Show & Bitube
3. Mute it! The ballot box
As the traffic flow is designed to encompass the screens, the audience has the right to opt out of the drama at any time, or keep listening to the debate over and over again until they can vote for the better option.
Rather than being surrounded by screens infused with information, the audience is guided by a round traffic flow. Walking around the installation can now be seen as an action of breaking the echo chamber. The circular traffic flow also allows for more audience to participate in the experience.
Prototyping in C4D
Mute it! The Ballot Box
During the vote to determine the trustworthy news platform between ADD News and DDTV, the ballot box calculates the weight of the ballot tickets and reduces the volume of the losing platform.
Using Arduino, I coded my own ballot ticket weighing system. By tracking the rising approval rate, the volume of the opposition will decrease.
During the vote to determine the trustworthy news platform between ADD News and DDTV, the ballot box calculates the weight of the ballot tickets and reduces the volume of the losing platform.
Using Arduino, I coded my own ballot ticket weighing system. By tracking the rising approval rate, the volume of the opposition will decrease.
Data Flow
Mechanism of the Pedestal
The Takeaways...
This project is directed by a stream of my consciousness, without a strict constraint or clear plan. My ideas went wild and it became extremely painful to solidify each of them. Free creativity is a double-edged sword, especially when working alone. For my next design fiction project, I hope to focus on fewer ideas but push them further and deeper;
The installation structure requires a significant upgrade. Without a diagonal structure to maintain stability, installing screens on the aluminum alloy frame was a risky endeavor;
My next step is to introduce a larger audience to the experience. I'm curious to see which side will win the debate with more participants involved;
To simplify the story and make the concept of Info Virus more approachable to the audience, I am interested in collaborating with designers and artists from various areas of interest. We could work together to design the costume and prototype the devices that people may use in that speculative world;
Finally, more actors are needed.
Click here to explore the videos I produced for each screen!
1–09–2020