The Project

The project is a way of progressing my consideration and development of the concept of character identity. This will specifically focus on developing a character identity through the medium of a digital environment with the assistance of numerous sources, no matter how great or small. This will involve the evolution of both a character’s ever-growing personal identity, while also evolving and varying on one’s own personal identity. However, Phase 2 – the current phase – specifically is involved in preparing for this action which will take place in Phase 3.

The concept is to create the very basis of a character, ie. Name, Age, Looks and Profession - these are things which can establish the start of a character. Usually when creating a character, one thinks of their basic looks – which incorporates their age - what their name might be, and a profession. A profession is something that one can work with for further character development – considering positions and hierarchy in whatever profession they may be in, while also allowing the access to what sort of skills a character may have, views on life perhaps, and position in society – so to consider their position at a later point, consideration into the character’s profession is important. These aspects will eventually be built on to make the character's personality, thoughts, feelings, ambitions, history, and so on. However, I will not necessarily be developing these aspects myself.

The idea of the project is to use the new website vyou.com as a way in which to develop a character. Vyou is a questioning website, where people can ask you questions (either anonymously or not) and you reply via your webcam in the form of a video. People can then click on numerous past questions asked, and look at your video reply. I intend to use this program as a way in which to develop my character in a digital environment. People will ask me questions on the website and I - dressed and presenting myself as the character will reply as the character. (Ie. Someone asks: Who are you? I reply with: My name is <insert name here> and I'm a... blahblahblah...) In theory, as people ask more questions to me, I will be forced to make up more information and develop the character through the webcam replies. So, if for example, I am not asked a question about the character's history, then I do not think about it, and I have to try and work over the pros or cons of such a situation.

Phase 2 essentially consists of preparation for Phase 3. This will be by designing a character (as stated above) along with gathering equipment and materials needed to create costumes and props related to the character so that in the third phase I am able to dress myself and present myself as the character in question. However, with my knowledge involving cosplay and its relation to the digital environment of the internet, I am aware that people will be unlikely to get involved with the project unless I can create an interest in it. People online primarily pay less attention to work that focuses on an original source, whereas something based on an already known character  - whether from film, television, literature, etc. – takes far more interest to a person. It is also easier to locate online, (ie. Type in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and numerous sources will appear online), unlike a single source in one or two locations – which my project would technically be. Due to this fact, I am using this phase as a way in which to get my project known on the internet. I have access to numerous websites, such as; facebook, livejournal, deviantart, cosplayisland and so on. Access to such websites and sending out promotional work, such as photographs, on-going costume construction and so on will hopefully generate some interest with people which might cause them to get involved with the project when I start Phase 3. People are required for my project to work. There needs to be significant involvement with people asking questions about my character. If there are not people asking questions, then the character does not develop in the digital environment and the story will not progress. So this current phase is significant in that if it is unsuccessful it will perhaps be unlikely that I will get a suitable amount of people involved in the project for when I start my third phase of the project.

This current phase is essentially a preparation and promotion phase, in which to get things ready for phase 3, whether it be starting the base of the character, designing and creating the costume, while also advertising everything in which to encourage people to be involved in the latter phase of the project.