What is transformative anyway? – Change happens – transformative experiences in immersive media.

Check this amazing blog: https://blog.bfh.ch/transformative/2018/01/01/transformation-defined/

Or read below (if you are lazy ;-)):

Image: The use of the word “transformative” in the literature over the last century (data from Google).

The name of this blog and my MA-project imply that it is possible to create transformative experiences in virtual reality. But before the necessary conditions for such an experience can be investigated, it is important to be clear about the definition of the word “transformative”. The term has only recently been introduced into design disciplines, but has long been used in the social sciences and in paedagogy. The general meaning might be similar and adhere to the definition in the dictionary, (“transformative: causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something” (1)), but depending on context, there are some important differences which have to be clarified in order to avoid criticism on the use of the term in the context of designing a VR experience.

In the pedagogical context, the term transformative experience has been introduced in the early 2000’s by a research group of the Deweyan Ideas Group at Michigan State University “Transformative experiences have been defined as those experiences in which students actively use science concepts to see and experience their everyday world in meaningful, new ways” (2) . This perspective on education builds on the ideas of John Dewey (1859-1952) who highlights the role of individual’s interactions with the real world. Furthermore, it draws similarities to sociocultural and feminist perspectives on science education, which include the role of context, language and participation in learning. Transformative experiences are defined by an engagement of the students and a transfer of concepts into the real world. According to this definition, these experiences are not very common and their appearance is hard to predict. But Pugh insists that “Although it may not be immediately attainable for all students, we believe that transformative experiences for all is a worthwhile goal”.

In the broader field of social sciences, the philosopher Laurie Ann Paul introduced a different definition of the term in her book by the same name “transformative experience” in 2014 (3). Her theory drew huge attention as it implied broad consequences for the whole field of causation. In short: We cannot objectively decide whether a new experience is worth having or not as we lack the ability to imagine something that we haven’t experienced before, and any attempt to do so is doomed to fail. Her take is exemplified by a new approach to the thought experiment of Mary, who sees color for the first time in her life: “Once she has this knowledge, she is able to imagine and envision what it is like to see color, and to model her responses”.
Paul goes on to say, that this principle can be applied to all experiences, from the small and less important (like to eat a fruit we have never tasted before), to big and life-changing decisions (like the question if it is worth to have a child). The first example is described as an “epistemically transformative experience”, the latter as a “personally transformative experience”, which might even change „what it is like for you to be you“. Paul’s theory drew criticism from scholars who debated that it is possible to rely on the experiences of others for informed decision making (4), but the term itself is now used frequently in this definition in the social sciences.

Before entering the discussion of the term in the design field, it is important to draw the difference between the noun transformation and the adjective transformative. The noun is used much broader (transformation: A marked change in form, nature, or appearance (5)) and has been part of the english language for centuries. The adjective on the other hand, has only been used over the last three decades and is defined much narrower, as stated above. This distinction is important in order to separate transformative experiences from transformation design. The latter is a design discipline which first appeared in the early 2000’s and now has become much more prevalent in study programs and publications. Its general philosophy is to “turn away from the user-centred design approach (…) towards a society-centred attitude instead, explicitely focusing on the social dimensions and conditions of designing” (6). While clearly relevant, Transformation Design is not a focus of my project.

The definition I will adhere to in the following stages of my project stems from a publication by Andrea Gaggioli who defines a Transformative Experience Design framework: “experiences designed to facilitate an epistemic expansion through the (controlled) alteration of sensorial, perceptual, cognitive and affective processes”. This definition draws heavily from the work by L.A. Paul, but only includes “epistemically transformative experience” as it does not require to be life-changing, something that I will not aspire to elicit in my work. As the planned experience will mainly be used by students, it makes sense to include the main idea introduced by Pugh (a transfer of concepts into the real world) and hope that they can see the practical implications of the scientific background that is transmitted in the experience.

One final thought, which I might elaborate on later, is the following: For users who have never before been exposed to a virtual reality experience, the act itself may constitute an epistemically transformative experience. It might cause a need for accommodation not because of the content but because of the novelty of the medium. This aspect would make it that much harder to evaluate the extent to which the content generated for our experience is valuable or, according to Gaggioli’s definition, transformative.

(1) https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transformative
(2) Pugh, K. J., Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., Koskey, K. L. K., Stewart, V. C., & Manzey, C. (2009). Motivation, learning, and transformative experience: A study of deep engagement in science. Science Education, n/a-n/a. http://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20344
(3) Paul, L. A. (2014).Transformative Experience. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 16.(4) Dougherty, T., Horowitz, S., & Sliwa, P. (2015). Expecting the Unexpected Tom Dougherty, Sophie Horowitz and Paulina Sliwa 1, 1–23.
(5) https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/transformation
(6) Wolfgang Jonas, Sarah Zerwas, K. von A. (Ed.). (2016).Transformation Design. Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag AG, 9.
(7) Gaggioli, A. (2016). Transformative Experience Design. In I. V.-D. Andrea Gaggioli, Alois Ferscha, Giuseppe Riva, Stephen Dunne (Ed.),Human Computer Confluence Transforming Human Experience Through Symbiotic Technologies(pp. 97–121). De Gruyter.

The last one is my professor’s chapter!!!!! Check it here.

I suggest to keep an eye on this blog!

“WONDER” Movie: The Story of the Year..

Today, I am not going to talk you about an emotion or about an emotion family. I wish to share with you just my recent personal experience.

I have studied a way to capture, reproduce and design the “sparkle” of a transformative experience for two years, but there has always been a problem. I see it now.

I have experienced transformations in my life but I’ve just undergone them…not really understand them.

The first work my professor suggested me to study what transformative experiences are, was by L.A. Paul (2015) and concerns the distinction between “epistemically transformative experiences” and “personally transformative experiences”. In the first case, as the root of the word suggests, your knowledge expands: you come to know, to acquire a “new” something you ignored before. It is the only way to achieve such abilities/knowledge. But, the personally transformative experiences makes you really change, makes such “new” seep through you to an extent to radically change you.

Epistemic expansion is like a seed with an enormous potential. Personal change happens when this seed sprouts up, when it fulfills. Transformative change happens when you acquire “new” knowledge/abilities, which expand your actual repertories, and when such “new” modifies all of you; it is not a juxtaposition. It is a “disruptive integration“.

To live this experience makes you aware of its subjective values, that is, the “experientially grounded values attaching to lived experiences”. Subjective value is that you attribute to an experience, and you come to know it only after having lived that experience. It is what guides you across existence by allowing for rational choices. However, we do not always know the subjective value of the outcome of a decision that we need to take.

Therefore, we live as blind men, looking for the sparkle. Rarely we see it. More often, we need to remember it and let the memory of it lead the desire of it.

Well, what’s the point now?

Please, go and watch this movie at the cinema: “Wonder” (“nomen omen“)

The story of a change, but here, it is not HIS (of the main character August) change that matters. It is yours. The real epistemic expansion dwells in seeing life through the eyes of August, his relatives, as well as of his friends and enemies. The personal change….well it is up to all of you!

Another possibility…read the book!

English

 

 

PER GLI ITALIANI!!

Non ho intenzione di parlarvi di un’emozione o di una famiglia specifica di emozioni oggi. Vorrei solo condividere con voi una mia esperienza molto recente. Qualcosa che è caldo e mi è successo davvero da pochissimo.

Sono due anni che cerco di comprendere come catturare, riprodurre e progettare esperienze “trasformative” usando musica, realtà virtuale, modelli recenti sulle emozioni e tecniche avanzate di design. Tuttavia, mi è sempre mancato qualcosa e ora so cosa.

 

Il primo lavoro che mi è stato suggerito dal mio supervisore per comprendere cosa fossero le esperienze trasformative, è stato quello di L.A. Paul (2015) riguardante la distinzione tra esperienze “epistemicamente trasformative” ed esperienze “personalmente trasformative”. Nel primo caso, così come suggerito dall’etimologia del termine “epistemico” stesso, si realizza un’espansione dei nostri repertori di conoscenza, di abilità, di capacità. Ovvero, giungiamo a conoscere qualcosa di realmente “nuovo” che ignoravamo prima di tale esperienza e che senza di essa non avremmo mai potuto acquisire. Tuttavia, sono le esperienze personalmente trasformative a fare la differenza, permettendo alle persone di cambiare in modo radicale. Le esperienze personalmente trasformative aiutano le esperienze espistemicamente trasformative a penetrarci nel profondo e a lasciare un segno duraturo in noi.

Per usare una metafora, è come se le esperienze di espansione epistemica consistessero in una serie di semi con un grande potenziale. Il cambiamento personale si verificherebbe al germogliare di questo seme, quindi all’improvviso: qualcosa deve morire per lasciare posto al nuovo che pur deriva dal vecchio ma non è più il vecchio. Il cambiamento trasformativo si verificherebbe in seguito alla convergenza tra un cambiamento espistemico ed uno personale. Non si tratterebbe di giustapporre nuove conoscenze a quelle pregresse, ma di modificare radicalmente queste ultime in relazione alle prime, permettendone un’evoluzione in grado di creare un nuovo sistema di conoscenze, un nuovo “Sé”,  diverso dal passato, con una nuova identità, pur radicata in quella passata.

Perchè è così importante l’espansione epistemica allora? Perchè ci permette di capire che valore ha un’esperienza per noi, quale sarebbe il suo peso nella nostra vita. Questo ci aiuterebbe a compiere scelte assennate. Tuttavia, spesso, dobbiamo scegliere senza sapere davvero quale sarà il valore soggettivo dei risultati di alcune scelte che faremo.

 

Viviamo tutti come viandanti ciechi che narrano di una luce. In pochi momenti della vita la vediamo e non la scordiamo, ma quando non c’è, la dobbiamo immaginare e farci guidare dal suo ricordo o dal suo desiderio.

Quindi, qual è il punto ora?

Fatevi un regalo. Andate a vedere questo film al cinema: “Wonder“…quando si dice nomen omen..

Si tratta della storia di un cambiamento continuo. Tuttavia, qui non è tanto il protagonista a cambiare (August) o gli altri attori, quanto voi.

Vivrete una vera espansione epistemica attraverso gli occhi di August, dei suoi famigliari, dei suoi amici e nemini. Il cambiamento personale, tuttavia, dipende sempre da voi.

 

Andate, non deludetevi!

In alternativa, leggete il libro!

Italian