I told Jasminka about my problem in time allocation for different tasks.

On one hand, due to the underestimated workload for editing the data collected in July, I need to go on with transcriptions and website construction, also including my further plan in online promotion. On the other hand, the focus of this unit should be reflection, which requires more investment in combining the previous action research with theory-based analysis. With limited remaining time for the course, I have been in a daze about what is important and what to do first.

Jasminka suggested a review of the research question, which I felt echoed the feedback from Mark: Further precision of the research question would be beneficial. The currently research question showed some ambiguity in stating “explore their own cultural significance”. After evaluating its relationship with the methodology I adopt currently and the intervention I did, I would like to refine the research question a little bit more:

How can small manufacturing-based cities facilitate citizen’s active exploration of their own cultural significance? – a case study of Wenzhou city in China

Then think about what is the nature of my updated research question. Since “how can” is the fixed pattern for MA applied imagination, I should, based on my understanding, continuously optimize the methodology which helps approach the goal.

There are two key takeaways I got from the first intervention. First, in the theme of city culture, the boundaries between experts and non-experts are blurred because the cultural assets could be more dynamic and be hidden in residents’ thoughts and daily lives. Second, to motivate people’s active participation, it is good to place myself in a relatively passive position, while creating the atmosphere which triggers people’s willingness to share.

I think the next step for carrying out reflective practice is to, as Mark suggested, further explore how these takeaways gathered from the intervention align with or challenge the academic theories I have referred to. It should start immediately. Based on this, I could development my milestone outcome for unit 4 as well as provide some guidance to my online promotion practice in the next two months if possible.

At the same time, for the online promotion practice, I should also break them down for better implementation. There will be some different parts:

• Continue with the editorial work of participants’ audio records collected in July. Ideally 1 or 2 people’s stories could be uploaded on the website each week.
• Go on generating the new topics in the column “Discussions” based on new reflections on the archivists’ statement. There is no frequency requirements (potentially this part is important for my form of presentation at the Festival).
• Improve the narrative, or the branding, of this project. I think more introductions on participatory archiving and the development of this project up to now might be beneficial to enhance the professionalism (but whether this can help in people’s active participation still requires to be testified). Hopefully to be done by Oct 15th.
• Create the new social account on LittlleRedBook for this project, and add new post based on the branding of this project and the column “Discussions”. Ideally 1 or 2 posts could be added each week. Hopefully to start on Oct 15th.