REFLECTION | Heal Through Time Journal
Speechless. Wow’d. Captioning beauty.
I cannot thank everyone enough for the hard work, dedication and support each person has given me throughout this period.
Of course, after each project, feedback is crucial for further exploration and improvement. I’ve received a lot of comments about this project, where the ride has been equally emotional as it was anticipated, leading to be ultimately rewarding. My professors, my peers, my friends and professional partners had all given tremendous support. I’m so honored to be able to write my reflection in the midst of warmth and care.
Heal Through Time Exhibition booth at Parsons Graduation Final Showcase. May 2023.
This reflection also incorporates the way I’ve observed guests coming into my booth during my graduation showcase, which I’m so thankful for each and every one who attended and gave me insightful comments.
Now to further break it down:
The initial reactions from most people can be categorized as “speechless”, “stunned”, “praise”, and sometimes, discomfort but acceptance. As a general take, most were wowed by the lightning scene, carried off with the disruptions and chaos depicted in the scene. It’s an intense, and emotional filled scene that carries off into the distance until the next moment comes.
“It’s difficult to describe what I feel like, but it’s very intense during the lightning [scene]. I felt goosebumps…”
“The lightning, that was really dramatic…very beautiful.”
To my accomplishment that the most intense scene, which was also highlighted in my mind, stood out the most. Under context, a cancer psychologist described the chaos as someone going through the initial stages/first few months of trying to figure out her life dealing with cancer.
The audio also had a play into the intensity and emotional build.
“[What] jumped out was ‘I don’t need but I want’ because I do think that could be a very common cancer experience. Because they want to live but they shouldn’t feel they need to be thin, or have hair…[it’s] great to acknowledge, [that] maybe you don’t need it to survive but you want it…definitely resonated with me.”
And just purely, “I like the voice”.
There were also feedback about having to cover herself from the spotlight:
“[it] looked like she was trying to protect herself…resonated with me.”
Of course, feedback isn’t without criticism, such as having two different interpretations to the last scene, one called it “heaven”, another called it “healing.
“[After the lightning scene] So when the girl was at the very last few minutes at the white background, I interpreted as this was when the healing started.”
Both interpretations exist and both could be expected. One calling it “heaven”, notes that it can come off and rub patients the wrong way. Another wanted the “healing” process to last longer as the first ‘dark’ intensity still lingered in her mind.
I greatly appreciated both responses and interpretations to the video, as much clarity was gained and so much more was fulfilled. Finally, subtitles were implemented as one commented that it’s important to include people with disability. This greatly resonated with me and allowed the enhancement for further development within.
All in all, it’s been a journey, but the journey has only begun, as there is still so much to accomplish within this realm.