Welcome to the World of Microaggression Givers,
Where Social Justice Has Been Achieved
A Virtual Reality Installation by an Asian International Student Living in the U.S.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Embedded Files
Sumin Kim
Abstract
Abstract
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of Asian and Asian American communities has taken a toll from a bombardment of news broadcasts of attacks against Asian community members as well as an increase in dispersing information about historical racism. Furthermore, the experience of racism can be that much even more painful when we consider that the society where people experience racism is the same society that claims to promote social justice.
On top of that, the occurrence of microaggressions is just as harmful in how they oppress a community into a certain social position. In response, I used art-based auto-ethnographic research to create a virtual reality space for viewers to “feel” what it's like to be in this difficult position. I hope this work will raise awareness for those who don’t know about microaggressions and provide a space to talk about them, while validating the experiences of those who have suffered from them.
Resources Used
Unity, Zbrush, Keyshot, Procreate, Oculus Quest 2, and Mixed Media
“Like one paper cut, so it’s something small, but it hurts the person at the core of their identity level.
But it happens so often; you come home every day with like 15 paper cuts...and it really hurts” (Amenabar, 2016, p. 29)
What is Microaggression?
Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Implications for Clinical Practice by Sue et al. (2007) describes microaggressions under three forms: microassault, microinsult, and microinvalidation (p. 271). Sue explains racial microaggressions as brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.
Story Board
Microaggression Giver
Microaggression Giver
The Trauma
The Trauma
Mid-point Project Process
Documentation of Results
Project Timeline (Mildstones)
#1- Design office arrangement with Lego - 10/10
#2- Download office furniture asset - 10/13
#3 - Import furniture asset in Unity - 10/13
#4 - Design characters- officers - 10/13
#5 - 3D sculpt “Microaggression Giver” in Zbrush - 10/18
#6 - Render in Keyshot 10/19
#7 - Import the 3D characters in Unity- 10/19
#8- Add animation to the airplane and slogan
#9 - Basic environment design -11/17
#10 - 3D sculpt The Trauma figure in Zbrush - 11/27
#11 - Import The Trauma figure in Unity
#12 - Apply coding to The Trauma to make the figure track the user
#13 - Apply animation on characters in the hallway - 12/5
#14 - Apply texts of racial microaggression examples in Unity (google font text mesh in Unity) - 12/05
#15 - Record a video of Asian hate crime news and add the video clip to the laptop asset- 12/12
#16 - Design “I Love Diversity” poster using Microaggression giver characters (rendered in Keyshot)
#17 - Search social justice-based posters and import all posters into Unity- 12/14
#18 - Add smoke VFX and lights- 12/15
#19 - Export apk file and ready to present (final presentation) - 12/19
Mid-point VR Video Demonstration
Welcome to the World of Microaggression Givers
VR Video Demonstration
New Learnings & Closing Reflections
I found the use of character design and virtual reality space to be particularly effective for depicting the situation of everyday microaggressions and their negative mental health impacts.
Laurel (2013) explains that empathy in human-computer interaction is at it’s best when “we experience the characters’ emotions as if they were our own, but quite not” (p.145).
When I shared my work, I realized that the character designs in my VR were not only drawing viewers’ attention to the work but were also emphasizing the atmosphere of the themes of the artwork.
I found people relate to and experience microaggressions differently, and the level of pain they may experience varies as well.
I realized I experience grief when a microaggression occurs.
Once it happened, the relationship between myself and the person from whom the microaggression came would never be the same: it would either be stronger through fruitful conversation that followed or it would be lost as an intimate relationship.
As I shared my art, small communities began to form around me, and that experience was empowering.
My work broached a conversation regarding everyday racism. People related by sharing their experiences of microaggressions and how they felt when they were faced with them. It was validating and reassuring to see that I wasn't alone in my experiences and that I wasn't overreacting in my response.
Microaggressions could come from white progressives and people of color.
DiAngelo (2018) defines white progressives as, “white people who think they are not racist, or are less racist, or in the ‘choir,’ or already ‘gets it’” and in fact, DiAngelo believes white progressives cause the most daily damage to people of color (p. 5).
My research came to the conclusion that this world is built with microaggressions everywhere. This includes verbal statements based on racial stereotypes, behavioral responses correlated to specific racial groups, statues and public symbols of racism, and the lack of support and validation from organizations regarding racism.
The sense of humor was a new form of validation I got from viewers.
Constant experience of racism not only negatively impacts one's mental health but also physical health.
This research project has also taught and continues to teach me how to manage my emotional capacities and expectations for both of my mental and physical health.
Around late November, I tended to avoid working on Unity (VR builder) due to the feeling of discomfort that comes from the topic of the project as well as the complexity of building VR.
it was a shocking experience to realize how the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-Asian racism it generated made me focus exclusively on my identity as a person of color, despite there being many other important identities I have to consider.
There’s no such thing as one identity for myself or others, and our identities develop over time based on our experiences.
In order to process healthy identity development, it is critical that each individual feels a sense of control over that identity that it is celebrated, seen, recognized, and valued, while also acknowledging that identity can change over time at the discretion of the individual.
I came to the conclusion that antiracist training shouldn't just be to prevent racism, but it is also needed for people of color, especially for international students of color— to teach them about different types of racism, how they can report racist incidents, and where they can find support when they experience racism for healing from the racism trauma.
Moving forward, I would like to research more about how language and cultural barriers make it harder for people of color to find support and cope with racism, the role of validation in community healing, and identity development.
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