Artistic In/Hindsight: Art-Based Oral History Research of the Pandemic

Yuying Wu

This thesis delves into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of diverse artists’ expressions. Utilizing art-based oral history research, interviews with a variety of artists explore their creative processes, contributions to community healing, and potential legay for future generations. Despite demographic limitations, these narratives document the experiences of a generation, shaping life trajectories amidst pandemic-induced challenges. This project unveils nuanced responses, highlighting adaptability, healing, and resilience. The oral histories collected encapsulate a profound commentary on the enduring impact of the pandemic, providing a time capsule for future generations to comprehend artistic expression during times of crisis.

Final_Wu_Thesis_20240116

Hailing from Shenzhen, China, Yuying Wu is a dynamic multimedia content creator and storyteller, bringing a rich background to her narrative pursuits. Yuying holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Communications and Economics from UCLA, where her passion for storytelling took shape. Immersed in video storytelling during her UCLA years, she contributed to the school newspaper Daily Bruin and participated in community-based documentary projects, addressing issues like homelessness in Westwood and the roles of women in college sports teams. Her professional journey includes impactful internships at tech giants Tencent and OPPO, shaping her skills in digital marketing and social media operations. Proficient in crafting content strategies for social media platforms, Yuying aims to bridge the realms of multimedia content creation and oral history. Throughout her pursuit of a master’s at Columbia University, she aspires to leverage this intersection to communicate impactful stories on a broader scale, exploring the dynamic interplay between personal narratives and broader social science disciplines. As an oral history fellow, she has worked for the Institute for Diversity and Civic Life to curate oral history series on social media, enhancing public engagement of the organization in the Texas community. For her thesis, Yuying engages in art-based research, using it to study the pandemic era and curate a website that preserves the oral history and artwork explored in her work. Driven by an unwavering enthusiasm for storytelling, Yuying endeavors to contribute meaningful insights to the realms of history and society through the potent fusion of multimedia content and oral history.