6 February 2025
Dissertation -- 24/25 Research ProjectsUnraveling Colonial Threads in China's Fashion Landscape:
Orientalism, Globalisation, and Cultural Identity
Abstract
This dissertation examines the complex cultural dynamics and post-colonial influences shaping theChinese fashion industry in an era of globalisation. By analysing key examples from Chineseindustries, the research investigates how Orientalism and neocolonial tendencies continue to informChinese aesthetics and narratives, especially through the lens of fashion and visual culture.
Using a qualitative approach, this dissertation draws from case studies, visual analysis, and secondarydata sources, including social media trends, industry reports, journal articles, books, and otherrelevant texts. Also, this dissertation incorporates an analysis of selected films and documentary,including American Psycho (2000), Blade Runner (1982) and American Factory (2019), alongside theworks of Chinese photographer Leslie Zhang Jia Cheng.
The dissertation explores how Orientalism has influenced the aesthetics of the Chinese fashionindustry and highlights photography as a central medium for visually storytelling cultural translationsand deeper narratives shaped by Western perspectives. Emphasis is on the ongoing process of culturaltranslation, where the intersection of Western, East Asian and Chinese cultures creates a dynamic andcontinuous reinterpretation of meanings. The translation is framed as process, and result fortransferring symbols and cultural meanings, a process that evolves, and a result that inherently resistscomplete equivalence, reflecting the complexities of cultural exchange.
This discussion connects to Post-Colonialism, where the reinterpretation of cultural symbols reflectsbroader social transformations. Additionally, the essay introduces the concepts of Techno-Orientalismand Sinofuturism to analyse how technology integrates into current aesthetics in Chinese fashionphotography. It raises concerns about whether the Chinese fashion industry unconsciously adoptsWestern narratives of Orientalism in an era of globalisation, highlighting the broader culturalimplications of this phenomenon.
Abstract
This essay investigates the evolving relationship between humans and machines through the lens of contemporary art and theoretical discourse. Drawing on concepts of the mechanical and machinic, it explores how interactions with machines have shifted from simple extensions of human capability to complex systems that influence behaviour, perception, and social structures. Central to the discussion are immersive digital artworks by the Japanese art collective teamLab, as well as works by artists Pierre Huyghe and Olafur Eliasson, which challenge traditional boundaries between humans, machines, and the environment.
The essay examines the transformation of human-machine relationships through the theoretical frameworks of Gilbert Simondon and Bruno Latour, highlighting the dynamic and reciprocal interactions between humans and technology. Using examples from teamLab’s Borderless Shanghai exhibition, the research illustrates how immersive digital installations foster collaboration between audiences and machines, creating fluid ecological systems where art evolves through interaction.
By analyzing the intersections of technology, culture, and identity, the essay argues for a shift toward a more integrated and coexistent relationship between humans and machines in the digital age. This exploration contributes to a deeper understanding of how contemporary art reflects—and actively shapes—the changing role of technology in society.
24 May 2024
Essay -- 23/24 Cultural Machines
Using the Notions
of the Mechanical or the Machinic to
Explore 'Our' Relationship with Machines
of the Mechanical or the Machinic to
Explore 'Our' Relationship with Machines
24 January 2024
Essay -- 23/24 Thinking EcologiesEcologies of Computational Images: Analyse the Connection Between Your Interpretation of Ecology and Photographic Images in the Context of Their Current Online Circulation and Ability to Be Networked
Abstract
This essay explores the intricate relationship between photographic images and the concept of ecology within the context of their online circulation, focusing on Amazon’s expansive digital ecosystem. It examines how digital images, once a medium for human expression, have transformed into data points processed by algorithms and machine learning systems.
By analyzing Amazon’s use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its influence on user behavior through devices like Alexa and platforms such as AWS IoT, the essay argues that photographic media has become a central tool in surveillance capitalism. The discussion extends to how Amazon’s ecosystem leverages user data for predictive modeling and behavioral manipulation, thus shaping consumer habits and infringing on personal autonomy.
The essay concludes by highlighting the urgent need for critical reflection on the balance between technological convenience and privacy in this era of pervasive digital surveillance.
Abstract
This essay critically examines the concept of ‘mistranslation’ in visual culture through the case study of Dior’s controversial 2021 advertising campaign in Shanghai, China. It explores how cultural misinterpretations, rooted in historical stereotypes and Western orientalism, fueled accusations of racism and ignited widespread backlash on Chinese social media.
Using visual semiotics, the essay dissects the imagery’s connotations—such as long nails, dark skin, and feline eyes—which unintentionally evoked historical prejudices against East Asians. The analysis extends to the legacy of orientalism and techno-orientalism, tracing the deep-seated fears and biases embedded in Western representations of Chinese identity.
Furthermore, it reflects on the economic implications of such cultural missteps in a market where China holds significant power as a luxury consumer base. Ultimately, the essay highlights the need for greater cultural sensitivity in global marketing practices and offers insights into how misrepresentations in visual culture can reinforce harmful stereotypes.
24 May 2023
Essay -- 22/23 Ideas in Practice
Essay -- 22/23 Ideas in Practice
Highlight an Example of ‘Mistranslation’
in Visual Culture That Has Had Unforeseen Consequences
in Visual Culture That Has Had Unforeseen Consequences