Reading, Writing & Research Methods
Reading, Writing, and Research Methodologies 2016-17
Led by Steve Rushton (trimester 1&2) and Steve Rushton & Kate Briggs (trimester 3)
Handbook description: "The Reading, Writing, and Research Methodologies Seminar is tailored towards (further) developing research methods within the first year of this master. By establishing a solid foundation of research skills, it will eventually prepare students for their Graduate research in the second year. Through reading core theoretical texts, they will establish a common vocabulary and set of references to work from. They will learn the practice of classic ‘essayistic methodologies’, including close reading, annotation, description and notation, students learn to survey a body of literature, filter what is relevant to their research and create comparative pieces of analysis. The seminar helps students to establish methodical drafting processes for their texts, where they can develop ideas further and structure their use of notes and references. The course takes as axiomatic that the perceived division between ‘practice’ and ‘theory’ is essentially an illusion."
Curriculum:
The seminar over the two trimesters will involve:
(a.) Identifying the object of your research: description and analysis of your work
(b.) Contextualizing your work through description and reflection on contemporary and historical practices.
(c.) Identify research material key to your practice.
(d.) Synopsis and annotation of key texts
(e.) Writing machines: creating methods for group and individual writing.
Throughout, there will be an emphasis on working collectively, whether in a larger discussion group or in smaller reading and writing groups.
Outcome: Text on Method
The specific outcome for the RW&RM seminar of 2016-2017 will be a 1500 word text which reflects on your own method and situates your work in relation to a broader artistic and cultural context. The various texts produced within the RW&RM seminar will serve as source material for your text on method. In common with all modules on the course RW&RM serves to support the other elements of the course (Self-directed Research, Issues in Art & Theory, Practice-Group Critiques &c.). Therefore, the text on method will inform your Self-Evaluation at the end of the third trimester and provide the basis for your Graduate Project Proposal that you will produce in the fourth trimester.
Here are the Text on Method guidelines; and here is the link to previous texts on method: '''FINAL VERSIONS''' deadline 6th May
Wiki Basic style sheet
Titles and works = italics
Essays = Title in Caps
Notation = Harvard System (writer, page number) = (Smith, 26)
URL = make link
Some tips on normative writing
Active / passive mode of address Orwell's Politics and the English Language &c
TRIMESTER TWO
Session one 26-1-17. Writing Machines
This is the task for this session
Set yourself a writing assignment, design a writing machine.
Use the texts you have generated in this class as a resource, including Steve’s notes on what you want to achieve with writing over the next two years (last session).
Use the methods employed so far to develop a procedure / constraints for writing (AKA a writing machine) which addresses a key project you have worked on, or are working on.
Word count 1500 words max
If last time you didn't get a chance to speak to Steve about what you want to achieve with writing over the next two years, sign up here and we will do it today:
http://pzwiki.wdka.nl/fineart/Calendars:Fine_Art_Calendar/Fine_Art_Calendar/26-01-2017_-Event_1
Timetable for this session
10:00 Steve's intro
11:00- (1) make plan
12:00 (2) execute plan
16:00
Session 8 december
10:00 Steve gives intro to: 'why the hammer can only think nail'.
A field exercise in which:
The subject is
1) an ecology
2) a machine
3) a discourse
11:00 - we go into the field, observe the subject and take notes.
15:30
Group performance of our notes in three acts
1) an ecology
2) a machine
3) a discourse
This session's outcome: a recording of the above archived on the wiki.
OUTCOME SESSION 5
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Please upload my notes from the last session here:
Steve's notes on what I want to do with writing
Session 24 Nov. What kind of writing practice do you want to build?
This session’s agenda
10:00 : Kate Briggs
will extend an invitation for you to become involved in the February Writing Event on the 14 of February 2017. The first of these events took place last year. Students gave readings of texts they were working on and we invited some professional writers to come along and talk with the students individually about the role of writing in their studio practice. Kate will outline the project and discuss with you how you might participate.
11:00-16:30
Continue from the last session:
11:00-16:30
Meetings with Steve:
Aim: to talk about your ambitions over the next two years, specifically related to writing. What kind of writing practice do you want to build? Agenda: please consider these points of discussion beforehand:
1) What role does writing currently play in your practice?
2) What role would you like writing to take in your practice over the next two years?
3) What you read and how you read it – what you write and how you write it (from tweets to shopping lists)
4) Throughout, Steve will take minutes and hand them to you for your own use at the end of the session.
Sign up here:
http://pzwiki.wdka.nl/fineart/Calendars:Fine_Art_Calendar/Fine_Art_Calendar/24-11-2016_-Event_1
16:15 Upload texts below:
16:30 Meet in Project space to recap the day’s activities
Upload outcome of Session 4 - 24 Nov
Session Three 10 Nov
10:00- 11:00
Meet in project space for update with Steve
Feedback from readers (continued from last session)
In groups of 2
(1) give feedback on the second draft of the What? How? Why? texts.
(2) Make edits to your text and upload changes
Session: weaving research strands, making collective notes
Task three
11:00-17:00
Select three things
1) a piece of media (YouTube clip, film, TV show)
2) a text you are reading which has a useful relation to your work
3) a work of art (by another) which delights or infuriates you
Make a link to media, text &c (where possible) here:
https://pad.pzimediadesign.nl/p/Steve_Rushton
Bring a lap top
( When we discuss the texts you choose, Steve will outline handy note taking technique)
Outcome of Session Three
Please upload your wiki content on a new page here
Session Two 27 Oct
Task Two:
10:00 Intro
10:00 - 12:00
Describe three of your works
for each work describe
What (100 words max)
How (100 words max)
Why (100 words max)
300 word description of three works = 900 words (max)
12:00
Outcome of Session Two
12:15 - 13:00
In groups of three,
Read each other's texts
Readers: give feedback (what were you given to understand by the text? how can it be improved to make it clearer?)
Writer: remain silent, do not try to defend the text, concentrate on what the text is actually communicating to your readers.
Make notes of your reader's comments
13:00 LUNCH
14:00 Continue reading in groups and making notes
15:00 Make changes to your text
Keep original draft
17:00 Meet in large group to review and to wind up
Steve will introduce next session.
17:30 FINISH
Session One: 13 Oct
10:00: Introduction to RW&RM by Steve Rushton
(a) What happens in the seminar?
(b) How does this fit in with the other aspects of the program?
(c) How does the the seminar feed into the course over two years?
For every session there is a different task, which employs a different writing method. I will set no assignments outside of the class, but you must commit to trying the methods I suggest for at least the day of the seminar. Over the three trimesters you will accumulate a collection of texts and approaches to writing which serve as a resource as you go into the second year.
10:30: Steve will outline the task for this session:
www.servinglibrary.org/space
11:00 We will catch the 21 or 24 tram to the
Stedelijk Museum Schiedam
PLEASE BRING:
1) NOTEBOOK AND PEN
2) an OV CHIP CARD with a few Euro on it
3) and a PACKED LUNCH
4) STUDENT CARD/ and or/MUSEUM PASS/ ROTTERDAM PASS
Exhibition: The Volkskrant Art Prize 2016-17: Alexis Blake*, Jan Hoek, Anouk Kruithof, Jay Tan* and Evelyn Taocheng Wang
AND
Ten Years of the Volkskrant Art Prize A group show of recent work by past winners Nathalie Bruys (2006) | Guido van der Werve (2007) | Eylem Aladogan (2009) | Navid Nuur* (2010) | Ahmet Ögüt (2011) | Tala Madani (2012) | Femmy Otten (2013) | Floris Kaayk (2014) | Bram De Jonghe (2015) And public's favourites: Sharon Houkema (2010) | Nik Christensen (2011) | Sarah van Sonsbeeck (2012) | Zoro Feigl (2013) | Floris Kaayk (2014) | Levi van Veluw (2015)
(*Piet Zwart alumni / alumna)
16:00: Meet up back at the Piet Zwart to review work done.
17:00: Finish
Useful links
Venue:
http://www.stedelijkmuseumschiedam.nl/nl/
Route: 21 or 24 tram (25 mins)
Outcomes of Session One
here are the notes:
and here is the sound file of your collective reading:
http://pzwart1.wdka.hro.nl/~acastro/descriptive%20description.mp3