CIAB
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Our Mission
The Cultural Identity Audio Biography (CIAB) project is dedicated to exploring and enhancing the identities of Asian American adolescents through the power of storytelling.
Founded by a passionate team of researchers and cultural advocates, CIAB recognizes that the teenage years are crucial for forming one’s identity.
Our mission is to share some of our Indiana Asian American young people and their unique experiences and perspectives to help foster a deeper understanding of cultural identity.
We also aim to inspire artists of all forms (painting, drawing, comic books, dance, theater, etc.) to use these stories as opportunities to share these experiences with a broader audience.
What is a CIAB?
A CIAB, or Cultural Identity Audio Biography, is a DJ set created by an individual to tell their life story through a curated selection of music and meaningful quotes. These audio biographies are profound explorations of identity encompassing a person’s past, present, and future selves. Each musical choice provides the listener with a journey into an individual’s life. By blending music and compelling narratives, CIABs showcase the strength and complexity of individual experiences, capturing the essence of what it means to be human.
Empathy, Inclusivity, & Authenticiy
We are committed to helping Asian American teens explore their identity through music.
Our CIAB Project is designed to amplify voices, foster understanding, and create a vibrant space for new ways of envisioning the experiences of Asian American youth.
Each audio biography connects the community across generations, inviting listeners to reflect on their journeys while honoring the diverse narratives that shape Asian American communities.
We’re excited to build a space where everyone can share their unique voices and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of Asian American teen life! Our goal is to inspire artists of all kinds to use the Cultural Identity Audio Biographies as inspiration to create, bringing fresh ideas, images, and energy.
All copyright remains with the artist.
Help Us Amplify Their Voices
Words alone often fall short of narrating the full depth of a life story, which is where art becomes invaluable. Art has a remarkable ability to illuminate personal experiences and enrich our understanding of one another. CIABs are one form of storytelling where individuals can create the soundtrack of their lives. CIABs allow us as a community to hear the voices of others. Yet, music is only one form of artistic dissemination.
Painting, dancing, sculpting, photography, and comic book illustrations are also critical media that help individuals and communities understand our teens’ journey. Writing – poems, essays, plays, comic books, and graphic novels – also provides ways to express a person’s narratives.
This is where you can help! We would love to share our CIABs with the larger artistic community to help further connect our teens’ stories. Making these CIABs public will inspire you to create.
As with all art, anything created is your copyright. Our goal is not to co-op or take credit for your work. Our goal is simply to help emphasize the struggles and successes of Asian American teenagers in the Midwest.