Reading, Writing & Research Methodologies 2013/2014
This is a shared page for the R,W & R module.
Trimester 1: 2013-14
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.
30-10-13
Over the past few weeks we have articulated the distinction between disciplinary societies and control societies. Key points: control societies are governed by pattern and code, and regulated by images and algorithms. This is opposed to disciplinary societies, which are governed by meaning and sense and regulated by precepts (see A. Galloway’s ‘protocol’ and G. Deleuze’s ‘postscript on the societies of control’)
Recognition of these systems (control and discipline) allows us to understand contemporary media as a mode of (self) governance and opens up a number of avenues of enquiry. I will mention four here:
1) Databases and protocols as control mechanisms
2) Digital labor (immaterial labour)
3) Digital mediation providing new ‘technologies of self’
4) Participatory surveillance
Over the next few weeks we will study a series of texts that explore these avenues
Sample texts (you may have chosen a different text on Wednesday, which is fine ):
Tiziana Terranova: ‘free labor’ (from ‘digital labor, the internet as playground and factory’, ed Trebor Scholz, 2013)
Ayhan Aytes: ‘return of the crowds, mechanical Turk & neoliberal states of exception’ (from ‘digital labor, the internet as playground and factory’, ed. Trebor Scholz, 2013)
Geert Lovink: ‘Facebook, anonymity and the crisis of the multiple self’ and ‘ society of the query: googlization of our lives’ (from ‘networks without a cause’, 2011)
A. Galloway: Protocol, Introduction (2004)
A. Galloway: The Interface Effect, one chapter from the book (2012)
Douglas Rushkoff: Programme or be Programmed (2012)
Assignment for this session: make synopsis of one of the above texts and load it onto the wiki (use the method where you write the key points at the bottom of each page and then edit them together in an elagent fashion). In the next session we will come together and discuss the resource we have created (a collection of texts discussing our key issues from different perspectives.)
16-10-13
'Every society has its diagrams' - G. Deleuze
Background for this week's seminar. How the idea of the control society can help us understand today's mediascape
Extract: 'how little we know of our neighbours', Rebecca Baron, 2005
Text: A. Galloway, 'protocol' introduction:
Digital Human - Urban:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03cf03g
Digital Human - Cyborg:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nphp7
Text: Brian Holmes' Future Map: http://www.mara-stream.org/think-tank/brian-holmes-future-map/
9-10-13
Background for this week's seminar:
Foucault and governmentality, 24 and the economy of the body:
santiago siera
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=naoYNgnDUl8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DnaoYNgnDUl8
http://24.wikia.com/wiki/Interrogation
Clips for 24, season three
Clips from Harum Faroki 'The Creators of Shopping Worlds' and 'Immersion'
Clip from Amie Siegel, 'DDR/DDR'
Text: Brian Holmes' Future Map:
http://www.mara-stream.org/think-tank/brian-holmes-future-map/
Analysis: Edward Snowden: Leaker, Saviour, Traitor, Spy?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03c30cr
Your text for this week: You can pick up the Foucault, Deleuze and Lazzarato text from the office (on USB stick)
Assignment for this week (9-10-13):
1) Make a draft report on my lecture about the difference between discipline & control societies (as a group or individually)
2) Use parts of the texts by Foucault, Deleuze and Lazzarato to substantiate the position I take :-)
3) For references use Harvard System (see note below):
1000 words maximum.
Please upload below. Deadline 8-10-13
The Harvard System of referencing
The Harvard System of referencing works within the text itself and not in footnotes or endnotes. Whenever you quote, or refer to someone’s words (directly or indirectly), or use someone’s argument, or refer to a source, you should use the system described below. Whenever you quote you write the surname and the date of publication in brackets. When you quote directly, you should also add the page number:
In studying the anatomy of brains of early man, some 19th century anthropologists came to a conclusion which one writer reminds us was ‘at the time considered highly provocative but which is now obvious to every anthropologist’ (Wendt, 1974, p.12). If the name of the writer is part of the sentence itself, put the date in brackets after the name: Wendt (1974, p.12) reminds us that the conclusions of some 19th century anthropologists were ‘at the time considered very provocative’. The same applies when you are not quoting directly: Wendt (1974) reminds us that the conclusions of some 19th century anthropologists were considered very provocative when they were published.
Sometimes, you find a useful quotation from one author in a book by another. In such cases, reference like this: Johnson sweeps aside this argument: ‘His expressed view of the world has more style in it than sense – or evidence’ (quoted in Mason, 1990, p.44). In this case, you are quoting Johnson from a book which you have not read and which you therefore cannot quote directly. So the reference is to Mason’s book, which you have read.
You will sometimes need to refer to more than one book or article by the same author, each published in the same year. In this case, put a letter after the date to show which of the publications is referred to in this instance: Peterson (1989b, p.45) was risking the wrath of her profession by suggesting that ‘there is more to be gained by restraint than by rushing headlong into open debate’.
for more handy essay guidance, see:
http://pzwart3.wdka.hro.nl/wiki/A_Guide_to_Essay_Writing
2-10-13
Agenda for today's seminar:
1) a) revise the notes you took last week and edit text in groups to give an accurate account of what was covered last week, b) Josh Harris' continued adventures in We Live in Public.
2) a) look at the term 'governmentality' : b) view examples of 'governing at a distance' in the media, c) make and review notes
18-9-13
Your assignment for this week is to upload a text onto the wiki on Tuesday 17 Sept (ahead of next weeks seminar). Please write a 300 word text (maximum) describing three of your works / projects. Remember NOT to write about why or how, simply describe WHAT it is. This week we will review your texts in small groups.
PS: Please make notes of the Fuller - Harwood lecture on Thursday (following Annet's tour).
25-9-13
Please upload a direct link to your texts here
Outcome of the seminar (trimester three)
The specific outcome for the RW&RM seminar of 2013-14 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.
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.
Brief for 1500 word methods text. The aim of this assignment is to use description of your work as a way of identifying and articulating your method.
Describing first what and then how and why you make work often leads to discussions of the works context (what work is similar to the work you describe; what are the key ideas the work deals with). The theoretical elements of the texts you write should therefore emerge from, and have a very clear connection with, the work you are making.
For this experiment I am asking you to follow the method outlined above so that you can begin to reflect and write quite deeply about the work you are making.
A second method you will find useful is to draw on annotations of texts you have read which have a particular relation to the work you make.
First draft: early May (review in groups)
Final draft: late May (review in groups)