Creating a field site of research

After some careful consideration and some research into my original niche, I’ve decided to alter my niche just a little bit towards a niche that is a little more broad. This niche now is not just “art videos” but is now calming content. As someone who focuses a lot on mental health, runs an anxiety page from existing projects, and is constantly looking for ways to cope with high levels of stress, I feel this is more specifically a niche I feel connects with me and what I hope to gain from this project.

Now to create a field site. A field site is defined as a network of connections. It’s used as a tool to explore different elements and perspectives of a specific niche and narrowing down our research. By making these connections we form a mind map of how each element on this niche are interconnected. Speaking to a few tutors, I was given the advice to focus on the different platforms.. eg. Youtube vs TikTok. As well as to focus on where this content is coming from. As an audience I find there are 3 main places I am finding my content, but there are other avenues in which there are interactions.

I split this field site into 7 categories or branches in which I find these interactions to be prevalent.

First 4 are specifically platforms where large amount of content is created and how this content is used to engage with audience on a daily or weekly basis

1. Youtube
2. TikTok
3. Instagram
4. Apps

The next 3 are specifically ways in which we get this content and how they make us feel. As a niche which focuses on the mental health of an audience, such as myself, the ethnography research will observe the reactions of the audience of creators content and how they interact. These include:

1. Merchandise
2. Creators
3. Persona

Throughout this research process and establishing my media niche, I want to narrow down what I will observing, mapping, and what my expectations are as an audience of calming content.

Looking into how creators prioritise their content. Is it specifically to sell a product, or are they putting focus onto their audience with engagement?

How important is consistent content creating?

How is the audience connecting with eachother?

What sort of persona is being established?

I’ve personally struggled a lot with understanding this concept, and working on how I can narrow my research. But, I believe doing an ethnographic study on a media niche which focuses on the coping mechanisms of individuals struggling with mental health or high levels of stress can be highly beneficial and informative. Tying in my own findings with mental health research, can help shed some light on the importance content even as small as ‘creativity’ and ‘calming’ content can have on a persons mental health.

“Drawing mandalas as a form of art therapy can reduce anxiety, tension and overall stress.  Drawing stimulates creativity and is a way to release emotional blockages”

MRT, 2017

References:

Marcia Norton Centers for Children and Families, MRT, 2017, ‘Drawing ‘mandalas’ can help reduce stress, anxiety’, https://www.mrt.com/news/health_and_wellness/article/Drawing-mandalas-can-help-reduce-stress-11001941.php