Feedback Point 2
Project Plan Reflection and Revision
Reflection on Tutor Feedback
The tutorial for Feedback Point 1 was helpful in clarifying the direction of my Stage 3 work and identifying areas where my initial Project Plan required further focus. One of the key suggestions was the importance of creating a clear distinction between Stage Two and Stage Three work. In response to this, I will produce a reflective blog entry reviewing the work completed during Stage Two and situating Stage Three as a new phase of research and creative exploration.
Another important point raised during the tutorial was that the conceptual framework I proposed for the Critical Review was too broad for a 2500-word analytical text. While the themes of myth reinterpretation, narrative identity, craft epistemology, diaspora, and bilingual writing are central to my practice, they need to be more clearly prioritised for the written component of Unit 3.1. The tutor suggested that these broader themes can continue to inform the practical work and research while the Critical Review develops a more focused analytical direction.
The tutorial also confirmed that the central concept of my project, The Bird Who Came From Afar, provides a strong narrative and symbolic framework. The bird functions as an autobiographical alter ego through which I explore migration, memory, and identity. During the discussion we also considered the possibility that the bird might incorporate symbolic characteristics of native birds from the different countries that shaped my journey. This idea will be explored further in the visual and narrative development of the project.
Another important aspect of my research is the role of bilingual consciousness in my writing. As a Greek speaker writing primarily in English, my work explores hybrid linguistic expression. This exploration of Greek-English hybridity (sometimes referred to as “Greenglish”) will continue to shape my narrative voice and contribute to my investigation of diaspora identity.
Finally, the tutorial reinforced the importance of developing a clearer connection between practice-led research and personal experience, particularly in relation to my professional background in craft and textile production. My training and work experience across different cultural contexts (Germany, Japan and Italy) have shaped my understanding of craft as a form of knowledge production. This idea will continue to inform both the creative work and the research process.
Revised Project Plan (Version 2)
Project Title
The Bird Who Came From Afar: Myth, Migration and Narrative Identity
Aims of the Project
The aim of this project is to explore how mythic narrative structures, autobiographical storytelling, and craft knowledge can be used to articulate experiences of migration, identity formation, and cultural hybridity.
The project uses the metaphor of the bird as an autobiographical alter ego to reflect on my personal journey across different countries and cultural landscapes. Through writing, visual documentation, and reflective research, the project seeks to investigate how lived experience can be transformed into narrative form.
Key Themes
The project will explore the following interconnected themes:
- Myth reinterpretation and narrative structure
- Migration and diaspora identity
- The autobiographical alter ego (the bird)
- Bilingual narrative strategies (Greek-English hybridity)
- Craft as a form of knowledge and creative thinking
Research Questions
The revised research question guiding this project is:
How can mythic narrative structures, autobiographical alter ego, bilingual narrative strategies, and craft formation landscapes articulate the complexities of migration and identity construction?
This question allows the project to explore the relationship between myth, lived experience, and creative practice while maintaining a focused analytical direction.
Practical Work
The practical component of the project will include:
- Reflective narrative writing
- Photography documenting landscapes and environments connected to my journey
- Visual and textual exploration of the bird as a symbolic figure
- Blog entries documenting reflections, process, and research development
The work will explore the different geographical and cultural contexts that shaped my life and professional formation, including Greece, Germany, Japan, Italy, China, the Isle of Man, and Scotland.
Research Approach
The project will use a practice-led research methodology, where creative practice and theoretical inquiry inform each other. Through reflection on my lived experiences and professional craft background, I aim to develop a narrative framework that connects mythological structures with contemporary migration narratives.
Critical Review Direction
For Unit 3.1, the Critical Review will focus on a more targeted exploration of selected themes, particularly:
- Myth reinterpretation as narrative framework
- Narrative identity in autobiographical storytelling
- The role of alter ego in reflective practice
These themes will provide the basis for the 2500-word analytical text while allowing other ideas to be developed further in Unit 3.2.
Reflection
Revising the Project Plan helped clarify the relationship between my creative practice, research interests, and lived experiences. While the conceptual framework remains interdisciplinary, the feedback from the tutorial encouraged me to refine the focus of the Critical Review and allow the broader themes to develop organically through the practical work.
The project continues to evolve as a practice-led exploration of migration, identity, and storytelling, using myth and autobiographical narrative as tools for reflection and creative expression.
Alexander's blog 