Celebrity Crash

Project Abstract

What does the digital body mean to us? J. inquires in that problem with this unique interactive 3D environment. He puts his interest in social media, which was emerging in the recent decade, along with Web 2.0. Although the existence of the digital body is neglectable compare to human history, it deeply reshaped our living conditions. The identity of a person as ‘the whole’ becomes variable more than ever.

Thematic Discussion

Intended to be absurd, you can deconstruct celebrities’ identities with a mouse click as we did in daily life. Responding to the notion of ‘digital body,’ J. argues that we are living in a highly digitalized world, where deconstruction and reconstruction are continuously in process. We get to know someone through comments online through content people posted on social media. What we encounter is not ‘the person’ anymore, but the digital bodies presented to us. And, the same person’s digital body can be contrasting for different audiences.

Demonstraction of Process

Two storyboards

Although some parts changed in the following development, the core idea remains the same. After a celebrity been "eliminated", what's the legacy? This interactive 3D environment shows you that is nothing but pieces of digital information.( social media cubes)

Basic 3D modeling in Maya and exporting them into Unity3D

Getting familiar with basic FPS in Unity3D.

Using shader graphs to create a real-time water and combining it with terrain. Although I didn't use it in the final production (do not think it's very related to my environment, logically) , I'm glad to explore this powerful tool and have some fun with it.

Building up symbolic bodies for celebrities.

It is an interactive 3D environment rather than a typical video game. WHY?

I set up a boss in the final scene, and modified both the boss's and player's properties. Their health values are extremely high, therefore, at the end, what the player can do is just throwing mouse or being trapped within this environment. Unlike typical video games, it does not have an end.

Are we all like the player, deconstructing others' identities, meanwhile, being trapped in social media, no escape?

From concept to a play prototype, I developed my skills in Maya and Unity3D. Since the project is a little bit complex than I thought, I do encounter some problems during production. But I’m glad that I’m getting familiar with different systems in Unity3D, modeling workflows, C#, and so on.

Critical Feedback Response

Throughout these feedback sessions, two issues matter the most.

The first one is how an artist/designer showcases the artwork to the audience who barely has any preexisting knowledge. As the bride, creators depend on that to express their ideas to the public. However, the bridge often leads audiences to places where away from artists’/designers’ aims.

The second one is, as creator, how you manage your project and focus on the vital parts that can support your work. The lesson learned from feedbacks is that a working prototype is far more significant than details. Fresh and skins would be meaningless without backbones.

General Concluding Statement

Designers and artists may have ideas and develop their works based on these ideas. However, the audience does not have the responsibility to understand artists’ and designers’ ideas. It is designers/artists' job to express, provoke and try to build bridges between works and the people.

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