Empowering Refugee Narratives through Augmented Reality: The Clarkston AR Gateways Project

Core Concepts

The Clarkston AR Gateways project empowers the refugee community in Clarkston, Georgia to create site-specific augmented reality experiences that anchor their diverse narratives and presence within the town's physical and digital landscapes.

Abstract

The Clarkston AR Gateways project is a speculative process and artifact entering its second phase, where Augmented Reality (AR) will be used to amplify the diverse narratives of Clarkston, Georgia's refugee community. The project employs a participatory co-design approach, engaging directly with community members to anchor their stories and presence into the town's physical and digital landscapes.
The first phase of the project involved a crosswalk painting initiative in 2023, which faced challenges in achieving deeper community participation and empowerment. This led the team to integrate AR into the second phase, aiming to establish a model adaptable to diverse, refugee-inclusive communities and demonstrate how AR storytelling can be a powerful tool for cultural orientation and celebration.
The project builds on existing AR work with refugees, which has focused on addressing issues like post-traumatic stress, providing settlement information, and enabling cultural orientation. In contrast, the Clarkston AR Gateways project emphasizes the importance of representation and establishing a tangible presence in space, empowering the refugee community to shape their future within the augmented environment by adding their stories as interactive experiences to the gateways.
The project leverages AR's unique affordances to situate interactive narratives within public spaces, encouraging interactions that shift how the spaces are conceived, perceived, and experienced. This process of refugee-driven AR creation reflexively alters the space and affirms their presence and agency, aiming to achieve spatial justice through inclusive, equitable, and accessible engagement.

Stats

Clarkston, Georgia is known for its refugee population from 55-plus countries, making it America's most diverse community per square mile.

Quotes

"A lot of headlines when speaking about countries with conflict often focus on terrorism or war, or they focus on fear. What we want to do is uncover the stories about the people living there."
"By gamifying this experience, users can participate in understanding the emotional journey Syrian refugees have endured."

Key Insights Distilled From

The Clarkston AR Gateways Project: Anchoring Refugee Presence and Narratives in a Small Town

by Joshua A. Fi... at arxiv.org 04-15-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.08179.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can the Clarkston AR Gateways project's approach be adapted to other refugee-inclusive communities around the world?

The approach taken by the Clarkston AR Gateways project can serve as a model for other refugee-inclusive communities globally by emphasizing participatory co-design, cultural representation, and empowerment through AR technology. To adapt this approach, other communities can start by engaging directly with refugee populations to understand their stories, experiences, and needs. By involving refugees in the design and development process of AR experiences, these communities can ensure that the narratives are authentic, respectful, and reflective of the diverse cultures present. Providing training and resources for refugees to develop AR skills can empower them to share their stories autonomously and shape the public art in their communities. Additionally, focusing on spatial justice and community empowerment, as demonstrated in the Clarkston project, can help create inclusive and equitable AR experiences that celebrate cultural heritage and foster understanding among community members.

What potential challenges or unintended consequences might arise from commodifying refugee narratives through AR experiences, even with the intent of advocacy and representation?

While using AR technology to amplify refugee narratives can be a powerful tool for advocacy and representation, there are potential challenges and unintended consequences that may arise from commodifying these stories. One challenge is the risk of reducing complex and personal narratives into marketable or entertainment products, potentially devaluing the lived experiences of refugees. By turning refugee stories into commodities, there is a danger of exploitation and the loss of authenticity and cultural significance. Additionally, the commercialization of refugee narratives through AR experiences may raise ethical concerns about ownership, consent, and the impact on the communities being represented. It is essential to approach the creation of AR experiences with sensitivity, cultural awareness, and a focus on empowerment rather than commercial gain to avoid these challenges and unintended consequences.

How can the Clarkston AR Gateways project's focus on spatial justice and community empowerment inform the design of future AR experiences for social change in public spaces?

The focus on spatial justice and community empowerment in the Clarkston AR Gateways project can provide valuable insights for designing future AR experiences for social change in public spaces. By prioritizing inclusivity, equity, and representation, future AR projects can aim to empower marginalized communities, amplify diverse voices, and challenge prevailing narratives. Incorporating participatory design approaches, as seen in the Clarkston project, can ensure that the AR experiences are co-created with the community members, fostering a sense of ownership and agency. Emphasizing spatial justice in the design process can help address issues of access, representation, and social inequalities within public spaces. By centering community needs and perspectives, future AR experiences can promote dialogue, understanding, and positive social impact in diverse urban environments.