Resumo
Five years ago, and with the rise of right wing conservative parties, financial crisis around the world, dictatorships in the third world, S realized that it would be impossible to live in their homeland. They seeked asylum in one of the North European Countries famous for their LGBTQ acceptance. As soon as they arrived they started the long process ‘naturalisation’ procedure where they learnt the new language, re-did their master’s in graphic design, and went through multiple ‘integration’ exams. Finally, S is ready to be part of the community, with a small government loan, that happens to be of a great interest, they bought a second-hand laptop, rented a small room, and started applying for jobs. Our story begins with S setting up her new, yet old, laptop. It is a conversation between S and their new AI software, in which the introduction between the human and the machine tells us a lot about the world we live in, and the realities we created. The AI starts asking S to provide more information about their hometown, current location, language, gender, work, friends, favourites, etc. All questions revolve around the multiple meanings of identity, and belonging. Although the notion of citizenship is not addressed directly, its multiple facets are explored through the conversation. The AI voice tries to be as friendly and human as possible, just like the ‘happy city’ S has moved to, a fake and pretentious friendliness that bores S, remind them of their eternal alienation. The question; “Where are you from?” is asked by both S and the Machine, the different responses of each drops light on agency, and identity in the digital age. When the human asks the AI: “where are you from?”, the answer comes right away in an automated one tune voice: “As mentioned on my box, I was designed in California”. While when the question is asked by the AI, S finds themselves incapable of giving a simple answer, they are stuck in “where am I from?”
Palabras chave
Citizenship. Critical heritage Studies.