MediaArtTutorials

CMST 2ZP3

Cyborg Storytelling using Augmented Reality

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W8: Conduct Individual Research

Research-Creation Project · Cyborg Storytelling using Augmented Reality

Groups of 3–4 students

Objective

Students will conduct independent critical research to establish the conceptual foundation for their group’s Cyborg Storytelling using Augmented Reality project.

Cyborg Storytelling refers to speculative, hybrid narratives that explore the intersection of humans and technology—blending analogue and digital elements to reimagine identity, embodiment, and future worlds.

Each student will explore one of four key themes:

• Cyborg Theory
• Retro-futurism
• BIPOC Futurism
• Technological Influence on Culture

They will define a specific research angle, select and annotate relevant sources, and draft guiding research questions.

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Materials Required

• Digital or physical notebook for organizing citations and ideas
• Laptop or device for research

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Activities

Complete the following in order. Ask your professor or TA for help as needed.

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[5 minutes] Topic Selection

With your group, divide the four themes so that each student focuses on one:

• Cyborg Theory

  Analyze Donna Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto and its relevance to human-machine merging

• Retro-futurism

  Explore historical/speculative design shaping cyborg narratives

• BIPOC Futurism

  Investigate how BIPOC futurism reimagines the future and cultural identity

• Technological Influence on Culture

  Examine how tech shapes social and cultural identities in speculative narratives

Once themes are chosen, students work independently for the remainder of this activity.

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[30 minutes] Research Angle + Source Planning

Open a document (Word or Google Docs) and answer the following:

1. Define Your Research Angle

• What fascinates me about this topic?
• Do I want to focus on a specific time, theory, or artistic/cultural example?
• What types of examples (art, design, literature, activism, etc.) interest me?

2. Identify and Skim Potential Sources

Academic Sources (3–5 options):

• Use McMaster Library databases or Google Scholar
• Search for scholarly articles, chapters, or papers
• Example keywords: "Cyborg Manifesto" AND digital identity, "Retro-futurism" AND speculative design

Public Sources (5–8 options):
Look for reliable public-facing media such as:

• News articles (e.g., CBC, Wired, The Guardian)
• Podcasts (e.g., Code Switch, IRL by Mozilla)
• TED Talks (via ted.com)
• Artist essays, blogs, or cultural commentary

Skim headlines, intros, and section titles — look for relevance, not depth (yet)

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[30 minutes] Select Final Sources + Annotated Bibliography

Choose:

• 1 academic source
• 2 public sources

Create an annotated bibliography:

• Cite each source in APA format
  • APA Citation Guide
• Write a 3–5 sentence summary of each source’s key ideas
• Explain how each connects to your topic or storytelling concept

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[25 minutes] Draft 2–3 Research Questions

Based on your research, write 2–3 open-ended questions that will guide your thinking and creative work.

These should help you:

• Analyze your topic from cultural, political, or aesthetic perspectives
• Reflect on your own relationship to the theme (identity, body, memory, tech, etc.)

Sample Questions:

• How does Haraway’s idea of the cyborg help me rethink my own body as a site of hybridity or resistance?
• What retro-futuristic tropes speak to my cultural background or challenge my expectations of the future?
• How does BIPOC futurism center my identity in tech-based storytelling?
• How do current technologies shape the way I tell stories—or how I see myself in them?

Good questions connect theory, culture, and self.

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Submit Partial (Individual) Research Report

You submission document must have:

• Full Name + Student Number
• Theme Title (e.g., Retro-futurism)

Research Notes:

• Brief description of your chosen research angle
• 2–3 guiding research questions

Annotated Bibliography:

• 1 academic source + 2 public sources
• APA citations
• 3–5 sentence annotations per source

➡️ Export your file as a PDF
📄 Filename: PartialResearchReport-Lastname.pdf

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Before the Next Class

• Read your three sources thoroughly
• Highlight key arguments, case studies, or examples
• Gather quotes, notes, or visuals that inspire you

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📤 Submission

Type	File Name	Who Submits
Individual Research Report	PartialResearchReport-Lastname.pdf	Each student

⚠️ Follow the submission protocols carefully. Incorrect submissions may result in lost points.

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