This module builds on the introduction to key concepts in methods for research and its interpretation and communication at level 4. It updates the knowledge and skills acquired at level 4 and offers opportunities to apply these by focusing on the contemporary and interrogating studio-based practice. The module will focus on critical themes and issues in contemporary research practice in art and design history, as performed by researchers including academics, curators and art and design practitioners. The module will interrogate the shifting relationship between art and design history, theory and studio-based research practice. You will correspondingly explore a range of creative interpretative and communicative research-based activities such as exhibition making, curation, policy writing, and academic publishing. This will develop skills in producing research for a variety of media, aims and audiences.
The module is designed to support your learning across your Level 5 modules, enabling you to create the critical framework within which to explore current issues in art and design practice, interpret the production, consumption and display of historical and contemporary artefacts, and develop your own informed practical approaches to the communication of art and design history and theory using these as disciplines with which to interrogate contemporary art and design culture. Throughout, you will establish a clear position for yourselves, and present (in spoken and written form) your interests and perspectives.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
The teaching and learning strategy for this module is structured through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and individual and collaborative tasks, with a key focus on self-directed projects that enable the application of critical positions to students' own emerging practice in research and its visual, verbal and written interpretation and communication.
The module will make use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Canvas for communication and dissemination of information between students and staff as well as making online learning materials available to all.
All courses based in the Kingston School of Art offer students free access to the online video tutorial platform Lynda.com. This provides a wide range of subjects to choose from, many with downloadable exercise files, including software tutorials covering photography, graphics, web design, audio and music, CAD and Microsoft Office software, as well as courses on business and management skills. Some of these are embedded in the curriculum and offer additional self-paced learning, others may be taken at will by students wishing to broaden their employability skills in other areas.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Lectures, seminars, visits, workshops, individual and group tutorials | 44 |
| Guided independent study | 256 | |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
This module emphasises the application of methods in research and its interpretation and communication as related to critical themes and issues in contemporary art and design history, theory and studio practice. Students will develop their ideas and demonstrate their skills through independent and collaborative visual presentations and extended critically-engaged commentary.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1) Critically analyse a variety of research, interpretation and communication methods in the history and theory of art and design | Visual presentations and extended critically-engaged commentary. |
| 2) Build a critical framework to explore and understand contemporary research practice in the disciplines of the history and theory of art and design | Visual presentations and extended critically-engaged commentary. |
| 3) Demonstrate understanding of critical themes and issues in contemporary art and design history, theory and studio practice | Visual presentations and extended critically-engaged commentary. |
| 4) Apply skills in using art and design history and theory methods to research, interpret and communicate contemporary studio practice | Visual presentations and extended critically-engaged commentary. |
| 5) Communicate their research through interpretative visual, verbal and written media | Visual presentations and extended critically-engaged commentary. |
| 6) Demonstrate a willingness to explore new and emerging methods for research and its interpretation and communication | Visual presentations and extended critically-engaged commentary. |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | Practical exam | 50% |
| Visual representation with critical commentary | Coursework | 50% |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
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