Choosing a bag for this task was a challenge to begin with!
Usually I don’t have a specific bag that I use… I like to ~switch it up~ depending on the occasion, purpose and my outfit that I wear that day!
For this exercise, I picked my burgundy backpack that I use consistently and specifically for work, and is currently the one I use most on a regular basis.
- iPad/iPhone: contains social media (Instagram, Discord, Messenger, Line), service apps (banking, phone plan, authenticator, etc.) and entertainment (Spotify).I use Instagram consistently (but passively) as a means to casually stay in touch with friends and follow artists and local events. I am more active on Messenger and Discord and engage in one-on-one conversations with friends more consistently there. Lastly, Line is reserved for family and family group chats. In some ways, this reveals the media literacy that I have when it comes to choosing methods of communication with others, that I do not have a strong online presence, am more private in nature, and prefer to engage with friends and family more intentionally. I tend to try and streamline my forms of communication, so I do not get overwhelmed by the amount of messages I need to reply to.
My phone is also essential for work, as I need it to two-factor-authenticate my accounts when I log into the computer in the office…but sometimes I wish it weren’t the case that I need my phone to do everything nowadays.
Otherwise, I do not keep anything else work-related on my phone and have it only on the devices I use in the office, to maintain a sense of ~work-life balance~.
Additionally, the stickers I have on my devices also reveal some more personal information about myself; the Vancouver Art Book Fair sticker pinpoints my residing location, and my passion for art, books, and art book fairs; the green “DUMB” sticker is from local band punk band Dumb, as well as other stickers from local artists that I have collected.
- Headphones: an important device for me to be able to access audio-media. Without them, I would not be able to engage with the “texts” that I have on my digital devices. Usually I listen to music and podcasts on my commute to work. Based on the playlists I have created and the podcasts I listen to, one can probably triangulate my music taste, languages I engage with, and the demographic and that I reside in.
- Pencil case: as Instructional Assistant in a community college, besides assisting instructors with language course, part of what I do is sit in their classes and learn alongside with the students. My pencil case contains highlighters, pens, pencils, and sticky notes to take notes during classes. I enjoy taking notes with pen and paper — from French verb conjugations to Japanese Kanji characters, physically writing them down helps me with remembering what I learned.
This reveals more about my multilingual literacy and the languages that I am currently engaged with.
- Wallet: I know the physical plastic cards are not “digital” devices technically speaking, however I have included it in this section as it allows me to access a lot of services that are “digital systems”. Besides the obvious identification cards with personal information, other membership cards suggest the places and activities I engage in; my position and work location based on my work ID; that I am a patron of the library from my library card; that I use (or maybe rely on) public transit from my compass card. My debit/credit cards are the physical interface in which I can use to interact with payment systems, with information accessible through my banking app on my phone.
Between the cards, there is also interaction and exchange of information, for example, my compass card is linked to my credit card to reload my fare automatically when it is running low.
- Umbrella + Reusable Bag + Pouch+ Hand Sanitizer: I don’t necessarily use these items daily for work, but it is there in case I do need it “just in case”. The pouch includes several personal hygiene contents such as hair ties, band aids, extra face masks, etc. The hand sanitizer and extra masks indicates that I am cautious and aware of the my own health and health of others during the pandemic. It might also say something about having a certain degree of health literacy and being able to make informed health decisions.
I would imagine archeologists examining this bag will realize how much dependence we have to our digital devices, and the interconnectedness of everyday life and technology in our very global community. Even the physical artifacts that we do carry with us, often are only the “keys” to (remotely) access the non-physical services that we need in our day-to-day, which relies heavily on communication between both interfaces. It becomes a requirement that users adapt multiple literacies; digital literacy in using digital devices; data literacy in interpreting information; or media literacy in using different mediums for communication, in order to keep up with the fast-paced evolution. With increased information constantly flowing through our periphery, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep track and manage, therefore pushing the need for convenience through automation and in some ways, makes our lives even more intertwined with technological devices. This has been exacerbated during the pandemic when most services went online and became virtual. From online classes to telehealth appointments, our lives adapted to the technology, just as much as technology has adapted to our lifestyles.
20 years ago, I think this bag would look more or less the same, maybe without the technological devices such as iPad, iPhone or Bluetooth headphones (perhaps a Walkman CD player instead?) There would definitely be more cash in my wallet, and a paper bus pass instead of a compass card. Instead of relying on audio-media for entertainment, I would probably put in a book to pass the time during my commute. The hand sanitizer and face mask might be a bit superfluous to have on hand during that time.
( But also 20 years ago, I would’ve only been 6 years-old, so… I probably would have included more snacks and coloring books in a lilac backpack. )
Overall, this backpack and the contents of it is structured around my needs for work. I don’t think the contents are reflective of the image that I have of myself personally (though some traces of my “personal life” still leaks through) but it is the image that I would like to project to the people in my workplace — straightforward, minimal and practical.