Make a person.
Let’s explore identity, persona, and the alter ego through cutting-edge technologies and using social media as a form of augmented reality. Design a detailed character, complete with a physical profile, comprehensive biography, and personality profile, and build a small online presence to introduce your alter ego to the world.
Your “person” can be human, an inanimate object, or any species of your choosing. Understand your digital Doppelgänger’s personality and backstory, as well as how they choose to present themselves to the world. What dark secrets might they hold? Consider how people in real life curate their online presence and question their motives. What is real, what is performance, and how are those lines blurred? You can approach the project seriously or as a parody, but ensure you communicate insights about your alter ego’s unique identity and digital persona.
Your Task:
Begin by designing a 2D/3D character using photos, Adobe software, and AI tools.
Develop a comprehensive biography and personality profile for your alter ego, documenting their traits, backstory, and unique quirks.
Animate your persona using Adobe Character Animator, After Effects, or various AI tools.
Create a small online presence for your alter ego by producing headshots, body shots, and social media content. I will show you how to create a Twitter bot so that they can spend their lives tweeting in their own voice.
Produce at least two videos using Adobe After Effects and AI generators to showcase your alter ego's personality and backstory.
Compile all elements into a cohesive digital portfolio or multimedia presentation, demonstrating creativity, technical proficiency, and critical engagement with the theme of identity, persona, and the alter ego.
Labs:
Personality Drawing
Puppet Prep
Character Animator
Twitter bots!
Your soul must have:
A personality profile - Personality Quiz & Bio
2+ photos, (a headshot and body shot in t-pose)
2-5 short videos (animation, AI and/or After Effects)
A twitter (X) profile with a unique handle, profile pic & other posted content
A twitter bot set up to continue posting on its own for all of eternity or until twitter (X) removes it!
Keep in mind that your soul does not have to be human, can be a parody of an existing being, or someone/something totally new! Have fun, play, let it evolve, follow your own creative path and do what makes you excited.
Artist Inspiration
Shea Hembrey
Hembrey literally becomes 100 different artists, 100 different souls that he knows inside and out, and he completes their work for them! Amazing. You guys just have to become 1 soul :)
What are your thoughts?
Jaimie Warren
Jaimie Warren is an American photographer and performance artist known for her vibrant and playful self-portraits. Born in 1980, she is based in Brooklyn, New York. Warren's work often involves elaborate costumes and makeup, where she transforms herself into various characters, including pop culture icons and fictional personas.
She is also the co-creator and co-director of Whoop Dee Doo, a community arts project and faux public access TV show that collaborates with other artists and children to create large-scale, interactive performances. This project has been commissioned by numerous museums and festivals, highlighting Warren's commitment to community engagement and collaborative art-making.
Warren's work has been featured in many exhibitions, including solo shows at the Kennedy Museum of Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Miami Dade College Museum of Art & Design. She has received several awards and fellowships, including the Baum Award for an Emerging American Photographer and a fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts
Adrian Piper
"Piper began The Mythic Being in 1973, merging a male alter ego (the Mythic Being) with episodes from her own personal history. The project, which includes photographs, drawings, and performances, first took shape in a series of seventeen newspaper advertisements in New York's Village Voice. In each advertisement the artist appears in drag accompanied by a "thought bubble" filled with text from a journal entry she wrote as a teenager. These adolescent texts became the artist’s personal mantras: during the month in which an ad appeared, Piper would repeat the text over and over, to "reexperience it, examine, and analyze it," she has said. The combination of public revelation and private contemplation was an exorcism of sorts, the artist has explained. "The experience of the Mythic Being thus becomes part of the public history and is no longer a part of my own."
Excerpt taken from the MOMA website:
What do you think the modern-day equivalent to putting these ads in the paper would be?
What are your thoughts?
Amalia Ulman
Excellences and Perfections
For several months, Ulman conducted a scripted online performance via her Instagram and Facebook profiles. As part of this project, titled Excellences & Perfections, Ulman underwent an extreme, semi-fictionalized makeover. Some of the things she posted were true, like her following a strict diet and attending regular pole dancing lessons. But most of what she posted was fiction, for instance she pretended to get breast augmentation surgery and posted pictures of herself in a hospital gown. The images were actually taken during a routine visit to her gynecologist. She also posted food she didn't actually eat, products she didn't actually buy and other personal encounters that never happened but all told the story that she believed is desired from social media influencers. She used memes and intentional misspelling to emphasize her fictional personality. Gallery representatives begged her to stop, she was soiling her reputation as a serious artist. She even feigned a breakdown, a low point for people to spy on where she supposedly checked herself into a rehab, followed by days of silence when she was supposedly not able to access technology, and concluding with a heartfelt apology for her actions and a promise to do better. None of this actually happened.
"I wrote a story in pictures, the cute girl..."
"The sadder the girl, the happier the troll..."
In creating this project, she was praised and admired, but also suffered abuse, criticism for seeming to promote unrealistic body standards, she was the target of cheap flattery, dick pics, and obscene propositions. Her close friends were often confused, unable to demarcate the Ulman of social media as a separate fiction, even when she would try to explain the project away from the keyboard. By repeating a lie for three months, she created a truth that she was unable to dismantle. Her friends and family were confused and concerned, even after explaining the project to them in person they had difficulty distinguishing fiction and reality.
"By repeating a lie for three months, she created a truth that she was unable to dismantle."
This project is certainly considered a form of digital performance. But it also demonstrates how social media can be an abstract form of augmented reality. What the artist did was an exaggerated version of what we see people doing everyday-- using social media to paint a picture that shows the world only what they want to be seen.
How does this impact the way we perceive the world?
Can you think of other examples where reality is "augmented" by social media?
What are the real-world impacts?
What are your thoughts?
Nikki S. Lee
Nikki S. Lee was born in Kye-Chang, Korea, and immigrated to the United States in 1994. She graduated from the University of Korea, studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and received her master’s degree from New York University.
In her photo series from the 1990's titled Projects, Lee repeatedly transformed herself into a whole new person through dress, makeup, gesture and posture and taking on the characteristics, of often stereotypical groups like "Midwesterners, Yuppies, Hispanics, hip hoppers, swing dancers, senior citizens, lesbians," etc. By spending time with the group, socializing and interacting with them she assimilated herself, until she actually became a part of the group. Then she would have a friend or group member shoot low quality pictures with a cheap, automatic snapshot camera. Not professional, staged photos, but casual and natural shots with her and her new set of friends. Lee uses this process to investigate social behavior and the characteristics of other peoples identities. She literally took a walk in someone else's shoes to see what it was like to live like them, to be them.
Although Lee’s works are held in collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. However, her work is also highly criticized and considered to be extremely controversial. Lee’s work was made during a different time, before people became aware to the sensitivity of cultural property and subtle racism, and exploitation of gender and sexuality. Today, in a political climate dominated by racist apologetics, artwork addressing the identities of marginalized groups of people has become a far more sensitive topic. Cultural appropriation has become a heated topic, and there is a need to protect the voices of marginalized groups. Lee was using appropriation strategically to investigate issues of race, gender and sexuality so that she could understand them better. She infiltrated the groups with honesty about her performative art intentions, so the people she was interacting with knew what she was up to. As a Korean woman, Lee is also a person of color and could be considered a marginalized person as well, so her project is not coming from a place of privilege, but... She was literally wearing black face, and the questions remain-- is her work appropriate? Is her work an affront or a genuine attempt to make a connection? Does her work celebrate the cultures of other individuals or trivialize their plight and reinforce stereotypes? What do you think?
What are your thoughts?
Jon Rafman
Jon Rafman made an Avatar for himself to explore an online virtual world called Second Life. Second Life is a free 3D virtual world where users can create, connect, and chat with others from around the world. It's like role playing, sims, social media and virtual reality all rolled into one. There is certainly some adult---and very strange content, so be forewarned. This is where fine art and crude humor collide!
"The video monitor shows the Kool-Aid Man wandering through 3-D digital worlds. The smiling red pitcher ambles through desolate urban landscapes, slides down a waterslide in a pristine Alpine landscape, swims under the sea, frowns next to a bloody corpse, interrupts two people screwing, dances to "Come on Eileen" at a bordello filled with triple-E-breasted hookers in fetish wear, and break-dances next to a furry man-wolf in a cock ring. Kool-Aid Man is Canadian artist Jon Rafman, and his video Kool-Aid Man in Second Life: Tour Promo Video, is on view at FotoFest in "Poke!: Artists and Social Media.""
KELLY KLAASMEYER| SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 - The Houston Press
This artist is super out their weird and pushes the boundaries on what is appropriate, but I thought it was a great example of giving life to an Avatar and setting them lose in the virtual world.
Here is another video, part of a series where he captures the most surreal instances in a these video dream journals. They are absolutely bizarre, and yet relatable and satisfying.
Jon Rafman is a prominent and accomplished artist, yet he remains controversial not only due to his unconventional work. In 2020, Rafman faced "cancellation" when several exhibitions and openings at major galleries and museums were called off following serious allegations of sexual misconduct. Although Rafman never admitted any wrongdoing, he did issue an apology. However, in 2024, he seemingly reinforced his questionable behavior by collaborating with Ye (Kanye West) on a video titled Vultures. The trailer—released Tuesday on X—depicts a chaotic narrative where a suburban city is taken over by cultists and transformed into a playground for howling wolf men, murderous clowns, and ravenous crows. West sings throughout the film, using his lyrics as a questionable defense against accusations of misogyny and antisemitism. The trailer culminates in a spectral militia in battle formation against a backdrop of burning homes.
What are your thoughts?
More Examples to Explore
These artists have used alter egos to delve into complex themes and push the boundaries of their artistic practices.
Marcel Duchamp
Alter Ego: Rrose Sélavy
Description: Marcel Duchamp, a pioneer of conceptual art, created the alter ego Rrose Sélavy in the 1920s. Rrose Sélavy, a female persona, allowed Duchamp to challenge traditional notions of gender and identity in art. This alter ego appeared in photographs by Man Ray and even signed some of Duchamp's works.
Cindy Sherman
Alter Egos: Various Characters
Description: Cindy Sherman is known for her photographic self-portraits in which she assumes a wide range of alter egos. Through elaborate costumes, makeup, and settings, Sherman explores themes of identity, gender, and societal roles. Her work often blurs the line between reality and fiction.
Theaster Gates
Alter Ego: Shoji Yamaguchi
Description: Theaster Gates created the fictional Japanese ceramicist Shoji Yamaguchi to explore themes of racial identity and marginalization. By adopting this persona, Gates was able to experiment with new mediums and challenge the boundaries of the art world.
Lynn Hershman Leeson
Alter Ego: Roberta Breitmore
Description: Lynn Hershman Leeson developed the alter ego Roberta Breitmore in the 1970s. Roberta was a fictional character with her own identity, complete with a driver's license and bank account. Through Roberta, Leeson explored feminist identity politics and the construction of self.
Claude Cahun
Alter Egos: Various Personas
Description: Claude Cahun, a French artist and writer, used photography to explore fluid and multiple identities. Cahun's self-portraits often featured gender-bending and surreal elements, challenging conventional notions of gender and identity.
Andy Warhol
Alter Egos: Various Characters
Description: Andy Warhol experimented with alter egos, including drag personas, to explore themes of celebrity and identity. His photographic series with Christopher Makos featured Warhol in various wigs and makeup, blurring the lines between his public persona and private self.
Nick Cave
Alter Ego: Soundsuits
Description: Nick Cave, an African American artist, creates elaborate, wearable sculptures called Soundsuits. These suits serve as alter egos that conceal the wearer's identity, allowing them to move freely and expressively. Cave's work addresses themes of race, identity, and social justice.
Adrian Piper
Alter Ego: Mythic Being
Description: Adrian Piper, an African American conceptual artist, created the alter ego Mythic Being in the 1970s. This persona, characterized by an Afro wig and mustache, allowed Piper to explore issues of race, gender, and identity in public performances and photographic works.
Alok Vaid-Menon and Janani Balasubramanian (Dark Matter)
Alter Ego: Dark Matter
Description: Dark Matter is a trans South Asian performance art duo comprised of Alok Vaid-Menon and Janani Balasubramanian. Their work explores themes of identity, gender, and social justice through performance art, poetry, and activism.
Zanele Muholi
Alter Ego: Various Personas
Description: Zanele Muholi, a South African visual activist and photographer, uses self-portraiture to explore themes of identity, race, and LGBTQ+ rights. Muholi's alter egos in their "Somnyama Ngonyama" series challenge stereotypes and celebrate black identity.
Yasumasa Morimura
Alter Ego: Various Historical and Cultural Figures
Description: Yasumasa Morimura, a Japanese artist, creates self-portraits in which he transforms into famous historical and cultural figures. By adopting these alter egos, Morimura critiques Western art history and explores themes of identity and cultural appropriation.
Ana Mendieta
Alter Ego: Silueta Series
Description: Ana Mendieta, a Cuban-American artist, used her body as an alter ego in her "Silueta Series." Through these earth-body works, Mendieta explored themes of identity, displacement, and connection to the land.
Cassils
Alter Ego: Various Personas
Description: Cassils, a transgender artist, uses their body as a medium to explore themes of gender, identity, and power. Through performance art and self-portraiture, Cassils creates alter egos that challenge societal norms and highlight the fluidity of gender.
Mickalene Thomas
Alter Ego: Various Personas
Description: Mickalene Thomas, an African American artist, creates vibrant, multi-layered portraits that often feature herself as various alter egos. Her work explores themes of beauty, race, and femininity, drawing inspiration from art history and popular culture.
These artists have creatively used social media platforms to explore themes of identity, reality, and interaction, turning the medium itself into a canvas for their work.
An Xiao - An Xiao's project "The Artist Is Kinda Present" was a performance piece that used social media to interact with participants. Inspired by Marina Abramović's "The Artist is Present," Xiao invited people to connect with her via text message or tweet, creating a digital presence and interaction as part of the artwork.
Lauren McCarthy - In her project "Script," Lauren McCarthy allowed strangers on the internet to script her daily life for a month. Each day, people could add dialogue, settings, and stage directions, which she then performed and documented, turning her life into a collaborative performance piece.
Man Bartlett - Man Bartlett's performance piece "#24Kith" involved asking people to complete the phrase "I AM..." using the hashtag #24Kith. This project was part of "The Social Graph" exhibit and explored identity and self-expression through social media.
Amalia Ulman - In her project "Excellences & Perfections," Amalia Ulman used Instagram to create a fictional persona, posting staged photos and narratives that blurred the lines between reality and performance. This project questioned the authenticity of social media personas and the construction of identity online.
Jon Rafman - Jon Rafman's project "9-Eyes" involved collecting images from Google Street View and presenting them as art. By curating these images, Rafman explored themes of surveillance, voyeurism, and the digital landscape.
Twitter Bots:
Politics and Parody on Twitter:
Devin Nunes learned a hard lesson: Don't try to sue parodies. Three reasons, 1. Parody is protected under copyright laws, and 2. If you let them know they have gotten under your skin, they win! 3. You will only encourage the explosion of new parodies! After attempting to sue the Devin Nunes' Cow account, dozens of additional parody accounts popped up continuing to humiliate the Congressman. Here is a peek at just how many there are.
To Do Exercises
Generators: In class, we will take about 15 minutes to play with these random generators. Use this as a brainstorming tool to get you thinking about who your soul will be.
Here is a character generator that will give your character a pretty full profile.
Here is a character generator that gives you a little bit more control with some serendipity.
Here is a personality generator.
Here is a character creator to create a random avatar.
Here is a trait generator.
Here is a random thing generator, use this to determine parts of your character's body, props, weapons, tools, etc.
Here is a whole list of role playing random generators.
Questionnaire: For your homework, complete the following exercise. Answer the questions for your soul, draw a sketch of what they will look like. You should have a good idea about who they are, what they are like, their history, etc.
How do you manifest in a physical form?
How tall are you?
How would you describe your hair (color, length, style)?
Do you have any distinctive facial features (freckles, dimples, gills, orifices, scales, etc.)?
Hair, fur, scales or skin color?
How would you describe your build (slim, athletic, monstrous, fishlike, etc.)?
Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
What is your usual style of clothing?
Do you have any scars or birthmarks?
How would you describe your smile?
Do you have a beard or mustache?
What kind of footwear do you usually wear?
Do you have any noticeable accessories (jewelry, hats, etc.)?
How do you usually style your hair/fur?
Species?
Gender?
Tattoos, piercings, scars, horns? tail? wings? other anomalies?
Eyes? How many, what color?
Head shape?
Ear shape?
Teeth? What kind?
General size?
Style?
Opacity?
Skeletal structure?
Make a loose sketch depicting your soul's physical likeness.
Who are you on the inside, really? Answer these questions (short answers ok) to find out.
Full name?
Where from?
Where did you grow up?
Age?
Zodiac Sign?
3 fears?
3 things you love?
4 turn ons?
4 turn offs?
Best friend?
Sexual being? orientation?
Favorite color?
Current obsession?
Favorite quote?
Favorite place?
Favorite music?
Daily routine?
Favorite Food?
Someone/something you love?
Someone/something you hate?
Current relationship status?
Relationship with parents?
Children?
Favorite season?
Good or Evil?
How did you survive the quarantine?
Main addiction?
Profession?
Education?
Best 2 personality traits?
2 worst personality traits?
Religion?
Pet(s)?
Weapon of choice?
Mission or purpose for existing?
Kryptonite?
Use the answers to these questions to help guide writing your soul's short bio. 250 words. Post the Questionnaire, bio, and sketch to your blog. Due 1 week from today.
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