From Framing an Answer to Asking a Question: A Turning Point in My Research Direction

When I first defined my research question, it sounded confident and action-driven: “How can AI-generated visuals reshape the global image of Chinese aesthetics?” It seemed clear and purposeful—but during a tutorial, my tutor offered a piece of feedback that fundamentally shifted my perspective.

She pointed out that my project was “starting with an answer rather than a question.” In other words, I had already decided that AI should and could reshape China’s image, and my research was simply gathering evidence to confirm that. This approach, while structured, left little room for discovery, contradiction, or complexity. It framed the project as a solution delivery, not a process of exploration.

That comment stayed with me.

As I conducted interviews with young Chinese creatives and distributed a cross-cultural visual survey, I began to notice a pattern: what truly resonated with audiences—especially non-Chinese viewers—was not the AI technology itself. It was the emotional tone, aesthetic subtlety, and human presence within the AI-generated avatars. A soft smile. A sense of quiet. A feeling of rootedness or grace. These emotional qualities provoked recognition and empathy, far more than symbolic indicators like red tones, dragons, or traditional costumes.

It became clear to me that my real interest wasn’t about proving AI’s power, but rather understanding how Chinese aesthetics could be more emotionally resonant, culturally nuanced, and globally understood. That’s when I decided to reframe the project around a new, more open question:

How can we present contemporary Chinese aesthetics in ways that foster emotional connection, cultural nuance, and global intelligibility?

This shift was more than semantic. It marked a deeper change in my mindset—from solution-driven to discovery-oriented. It allowed me to let go of rigid expectations and instead listen more closely to the data, the participants, and the nuances of cross-cultural perception.

Ultimately, I’m grateful for that moment of critical feedback. It challenged me to take a more humble and reflective approach, and it made the research more honest, human, and relevant.