Denise Toor

Communication master's student in the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I have always had a curious nature that loved to learn how or why things worked the way they did. I have also had the great fortune to work and study alongside many brilliant scholars and students who continue to inspire my own work and research interests.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I was working for a research lab at SFU when I decided to pursue the program. Given my position, I was able to learn much about the faculty and School, and it worked well to be able to both study /work at SFU at the same time.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

My research, titled "Is That Me? Gendered Online Violence Through AI-Generated Images," explores the discrepancy between online AI discourses and the embodied harm that is caused, ignored, or otherwise obscured through the positioning of AI technologies. By employing an affective approach, my research seeks to juxtapose online narratives with lived experience to add valuable insight into the ways in which confrontations with deepfakes of the self have implications for our relationships to our self-image and our interactions with technology.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

AI-generated images, image-based abuse, gender-based violence

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

It was actually an RA-ship in my undergrad that landed me the position with the research lab that lead me to pursue my Master's. I also have many of my course Professors to thank for supporting my academic development and research.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

SSHRC-CGSM