Group+4 Report


 * GROUP 4 REPORT **
 * by Manal and Nojoud **

Visual methods are academic ways that enable people to understand their culture and self expression through various visual representations. Further, there is not a single way of interpreting, but rather multiple ways such diverse approaches as semi logy, psychoanalysis, discourse analysis, and content analysis. This project is conducted, with particular references in order to focus on student’s concerns and social life aspects by using visual methods. This report will discuss the project’s purpose; type of methodology used and will analyze the identity boxes comparing similarity and differences. (1)
 * Abstract**

The project’s purpose is to investigate student’s visualization of their own identities and social worlds. (2)
 * Project purpose**

The project’s sample consists of two men aged above 20 from different Arabic countries, of Masters and PHD degree. (2)
 * Project sample**

To gather our data regarding student’s identities, students were asked to create identity boxes using pictures or videos. This type of metaphors was used in order to reflect student’s identity in depth and facilitate the analyzing, comparison and reporting results procedures. (2)
 * Methodology**


 * [|Link to Identity Box 1]**

Identity box analysis and interpretation:

The identity box was displayed in a video that shows a tree carrying some pictures.Using a tree as a basic of these pictures reflects that all these things are linked and connected to each other as the tree branches.

This picture reflects the childhood phase, which is the most significant stage in every person’s life, because it is the standard of the whole life. Using balls rather than any other item means that the meant person like football and it is an important activity especially during his childhood. The different sizes, colors and shapes of balls means that the meant person met a lot of people, had many experiences, perform several activities and had various adventures. It seems that the meant person’s childhood was vibrant and vital.
 * Picture (1): (Different balls):**

This picture means the meant person’s family, who provide him with support and guidance. The tree always provides people guidance from the hot sun and the cold rain as well. And the road people walk on always shows the right direction to the walker. The meant person’s family does the same as the tree and the road jobs. It guides him from life difficulties in all his life stages and also shows him the right way that he needs to follow during life. It seems significantly that the meant person’s family is his life shelter as most families are.
 * Picture (2): (Tree and way):**

This picture is the first thing that the meant person believe in. Sun rise means optimism. Sun rise always seems to people the smiling person. It is also the beginning of a new day that might be better than yesterday. This insures that the meant person is always contemplating better for the future even if challenges and problems were attacking from each and every side. Secondly, the bridge, which means communicating with people. As the bridge is always the link between one region and another, where you are not able to reach your aimed place without crossing this bridge. This seems similar in connecting to people, as you will not be able to achieve your goals without people in your life. It is evidence that the meant person is a social person who has several relationships with others since his childhood where he met variety of people. The third thing, water’s purity. The meant person believes that everyone should be clean from inside like the water. The clean person is the person who always wishes good things to other as he does with his self.
 * Picture (3): (Sun, Bridge and River):**

A castle is one of the significant Milestones of the meant person’s country (Oman). His country means to him Glory, Freedom and Loyalty. This appears that the meant person is quite loyal to his nation. Further, his state is always a cause of pride to him.
 * Picture (4): (A castle):**

The last picture shows a balance that reflects his major (Law Firm). For the meant person, justice is a part of his job and social life as well, and this might be one of the reasons to select this specialty.
 * Picture (5): (A balance):**


 * Identity Box 2**



Sample B represents his Identity box as a theme of turtle. There are three factors interfered with his theme: he protects himself by an umbrella, all the pictures meanings are going to be with him all life and generally he is cautious with slow motion. In details, the tree was used to express the family, which is linked together with strong roots and branches. The journey of diet and losing weight was displayed by a green apple. The memories occupies the metaphors in many ways: sad memory like the close relative death as a dead flower in white and black colors, the huge memories each positive or negative as a sea and finally the childhood as a swing. The meaning of ladder is the achieving goals and dreams. The Lego was inspired the sample B in the childhood to become an engineer. He studies engineering and was represented by the Gear. The glasses show the hard work studying to success. In personality view, communication and team work are important issues in his life, which is the hand and ants pictures, respectively. Moreover, the bird means the peaceful and love personality. Relating to the metaphors arrangement, the choice of the tree (family) as a head of turtle describes the significant importance of the family in his life, like his vision. On the other hands, the green apple (diet) and glasses (studying) as the legs of turtle which made him stand up again after many failures. The memories were up of the shell, which occupy the most of his thinking while his work and creativity as a base of his life (base of turtle). The central position of the theme was the core of communication and peaceful principles he believes. (2)

The analysis above shows that both samples represent similar factors which affect their lives. First, they portray the family as a tree that has linked branches, which means a quite important thing in their lives. Moving to the second similarity, childhood, an excited and enjoyable stage. Thirdly, communication, which plays a significant role in their social life. Forth, they describe the work and study life equally in attention and concerns. However, the samples hire the sun in different functions sample (A) involves sun as optimism, while sample (B) hired it as future ambitions and aspirations. It is remarkable significantly that both samples are different in respect of positive feelings toward the sun. In terms of personality, sample (A) focused on being pure and clean from inside. In similar manner, sample (B) appears to be peace and lovely. (2)
 * Comparison of findings:**

The research found that the concept of identity was accepted by participants. They were able to portray themselves through the identity boxes. Each sample was represented himself individually; however, the similarities were shown in many aspects. Visual method produces interaction and complexity. It is obvious that the process of collage and creation of identity box was challenging and exciting. The media was playing an important role which is a resource used to formulate the sense of self and for identity collage. (3)
 * Conclusion:**

www.artlab.org.uk/Vs-interview-2ps.pdf (1) Personal efforts (2) Fatimah Awan, Young People, Identity and the Media: A Study of Conceptions of Self-Identity among Youth in Southern England, 2008. The text is part of the full PhD thesis www.artlab.org.uk/fatimah-awan-phd.htm. (3)
 * References:**