Methods xpub

Intro:

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 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.

Editing Reading, Writing & Research Methodologies - handbook information

https://xpub.pzimediadesign.nl/curriculum.html

Plagiarism

Simple Wiki Style Sheet:

Titles and works = italics

Essays = Title in Caps

Notation = Harvard System (writer, page number) = (Smith, 26)

URL = make link

Guide to Essay Writing

A Guide to Essay Writing

Outcome of the seminar (trimester three)

The specific outcome for the RW&RM seminar of 2016-17 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 your self-directed research. 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.

Key texts that will inform this course

XPUB Reader

TRIMESTER TWO

Noémie Vidé

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/First_draft

Giuli₳

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/First_draft_essay

25 January 2017

15:00 meet in lrg Proj Spc

Steve gives intro:

15:15 we make notes and briefly research possible subject for the second essay

15:30 meet in groups

Group A: large project space

Group B: Studio

Discuss:

What do you want to research this trimester?

Researching the second essay

Suggestions:

1) Look at the conclusion of the last essay and consider the research strands it suggests.

2) Formulate a question arising from the group work you did last trimester

3) Consider new questions that arise at the start of this trimester

4) consider the core questions at the centre of you self-directed research

5) Follow leads suggested by your bibliography

6) Use previous methods (see below)

7 ) Explore Jstore

Timetable:

First draft: 22 February

Deadline: March 22

Steve's notes on what you are doing:

New term

New project: collaboration with DePlayer the theme: the relation between scores and sound. Michael, Aymeric, a graphic designer, Andre.

Still speculative: DePlayer have a publication in which sound artists make works and have invited contributions for the next issue.

They have been showing their records, Michael been showing how to produce sounds from scripts, Andre technical devices. Looking into the science

Tmrw it is graphical scores – probably start with John Cage.

Also a publication with Florian, about experimental publishing, decided to write a manifesto which can be amended by other students.

What is stake in writing a manifesto?

Performing an intention.

One opinion: Manifesto classifies = self classifying, you may see the hypocracies and contradictions in your thinking, you are making a stand which places you in a position which others may oppose.

Another opinion: The manifesto is a tool to experiment and understand what we are doing. Part of the topic we have to explore: which political structures communicate to other people; the M is a declaration of intent, the process should allow for reflection on the course. An action which shows an ideology.

What do we agree on?

We start with a question.

Task: Before the next session, (a) read and research. (b) organize another session together in which you discuss the research you have done in the meantime. Set realistic aims for the next session. Set agenda:

30 November - upload final version of essay here

Noémie Vidé https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/Final_draft
Karina Dukalska - Time Perspectives and Cultural Diversity
Franc González - Cybernetic Nature
Giulia de Giovanelli - [1]
Clàudia Giralt Monedero - Reflections on glitch
Emily Buzzo - Wonkr, Douglas Coupland's app for the future.

23 November- upload latest version of essay here

Steve will give written feedback

Franc G - The Art of Cybernetic Union - Essay Draft 1

16 Nov = DEADLINE FOR ESSAY FIRST DRAFT, REVIEW

Todays task

Give a title

Make an abstract (two to three sentences which give outline of the text- answer: what do you want this text to do?)

Use the Harvard method to make references

Make bibliography

Useful links:

Notes on Harvard method are here:

A Guide to Essay Writing

Jstor is a very useful resource

http://www.jstor.org/

This is the guideline from the last session:

Describe, in your own words, what the text (s) you are reading are about.

Why this text is of interest to you?

What is its relation to your self directed research?

How can you turn the questions these texts raise into work?

Make link to your drafts here >

Noémie Vidé

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/First_draft

Giuli₳

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/First_draft_essay

9 Nov

Lesson plan:

Continuing from the last session

The aim between now and the end of the trimester to write an essay (1500 words max).

This week we will discuss the material you are working on and next session (next week) we will review the first drafts.

Aim of essay: Choose two texts that have been reading which have a relation to each other and make a comparison.

To do so you will need to make a synopsis of the texts (outline what the thesis of each is = what is the text about? = what does it have to say?).

Groups of three: Make notes on the pad of what your peers have to say.

http://piratepad.net/zjuOfHBY37

1) Writer: describe, in your own words, what the text (s) you are reading are about.

2) Readers: make notes on the pad of what your peer is saying.

Readers, ask:

3) Why this text is of interest to you?

4) What is its relation to your self directed research?

At 16:30 we meet as a group to review work done.

12 Oct

Lesson Plan

So far you have

(1) made a brief description (what, how and why?) of a project you worked on

and

(2) made notes on a lecture by Vilém Flusser and/ or Marshall McLuhan

If you have not done so, please make a link from the methods page to those texts: like this:

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/User:Francg/expub/media-wiriting

or this

https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/User:Eastwood

(3) For Wednesday's session: Bring along a text you are reading or want to read in the near future.

Please choose a* text* that has a relation to the work you are doing on the course.

For instance, a text that may have been referred to in Florian's seminar; a text you have discussed in tutorials; or a text you have encountered in your self-directed research.

In this session we will devote time to making a synopsis of the text and ask how we unpick and follow productive research strands.