Xiatong RAN
Biography:
I am a PhD in Global Creative Industries at the University of Hong Kong, starting in the 2026/27 academic year. With an educational and practical background in film production and museum curating across mainland China, my research spans museum studies, creative industry, and virtual reality (VR). Affiliated with the eXtended Humanities VR + AR Research Lab and the University Museum and Art Gallery at HKU, my current work investigates narrative VR and museum curation, exploring how immersive narrative media contribute to cultural memory.
Email:
Academic Qualifications:
Bachelor Degree Beijing Film Academy 2013-2017
Master Degree The University of Melbourne 2018-2020
Research Interests
Museum studies, curatorial innovation, digital humanities, virtual reality (VR), creative industry
Project title:
Constructing Cultural Memory through Comprehensive Media: a Comparative Study on Museum Exhibitions and VR Exhibitions
Project abstract:
Cultural memory is a dynamic process of reconstructing and mediating the past through narratives, symbols, and media. While museums have long served as significant sites of collective remembrance, emerging immersive technologies are transforming how cultural memory is represented, experienced, and transmitted.
Integrating cultural memory theory, communication studies, and museology, this research compares museum and VR exhibitions presenting similar historical themes, focusing on their media characteristics, narrative strategies, visual expressions, and audience engagement. Through qualitative comparative case studies, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews with exhibition creators and audiences, it investigates how different exhibition formats shape emotional engagement, memory formation, and cultural identity.
By identifying the distinctive mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of these media, this study aims to contribute to theoretical discussions on cultural memory mediation and provide practical insights into museum storytelling and the application of immersive technologies in cultural heritage exhibitions.