Aims

Contemporary Practice with Dissertation advances and focuses practical explorations and developments in studio work. The module supports sustained investigation and the establishment of a coherent and critically engaged body of practical work. It enables students to examine their studio activity and evaluate its relationship with research methods and theoretical and contextual understanding in preparation for professional practice and/or more advanced levels of study.

Through a written and/or professional presentation format of dissertation , students engage in a sustained investigation into a subject relevant to studio practice that will support their development as a practitioner. This encourages focused and constructive research, close reading, and detailed discussion with development and clarity of written and verbal argument. The student is encouraged to explore a variety of approaches to the accompanying written exercise and the development of a format appropriate to its content and aims. There are four options available to the student for the dissertation component:

A. Extended Essay. B. Lecture. C. Curated Exhibition D. Educational Workshop.


In short, the module aims to support sustained and focused practice alongside investigation, testing and evaluation of it so students can develop their own professional identity and their written communication around it.

Outline Of Syllabus

The syllabus provides a responsive learning environment where students are exposed to a wide range of critical and practical knowledge and are enabled to independently test and advance their own studio work and theoretical and critical enquiries.

Individual tutorials with a designated supervisor will take place approximately every 3 weeks. Students also have opportunity for tutorials with fine art staff and visiting speakers. A programme of lectures, workshops, seminars, and group critique will run through the semester. Students can also attend visiting lectures, PGR seminars and discipline specific forums.

Topics may include:
Discipline specific practical skills.
Art History
Contemporary Practices.
Cultural Theory
Visual analysis
Curatorial methods

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module is structured around independent studio production, research, and writing. The programme of scheduled teaching supports the development of a sustained investigation. The interdisciplinary studio environment encourages practical productions, the development of critical thinking around a range of fine art practice, as well enabling students to identify and communicate their own position in relation to others and the context in which they are working (K1-4; S1-4).

The Module Talk introduces the aims and structure of the module. Individual Tutorials offer responsive supervision focused on the development of a coherent body of research and distinctive practical work. Tutorials can monitor the development and structuring of dissertation. They encourage students to regularly assess their practical productions. They facilitate the recognition and application of relevant skills, questions, and critical positions in relation to historical and current debates and wider fine art ecosystems. They also refine the student’s ability to develop and clearly articulate a consistent position. (K1-4; S1; S2; S3).

Group Critiques enable interdisciplinary interaction and dialogue and are an opportunity to test innovative work and its ongoing questions with a diverse audience. In a peer supported environment students are encouraged to refine and develop their communication and critical analysis skills around their own work and the work of others, and to offer and receive informed and constructive feedback (K1; K2; S1; S2; S3).

Practice based and professional development seminars are based on the cohort’s interests and encourage student led discussion and debate. In an interdisciplinary and peer supported environment students are encouraged to advance and communicate their own critical positions in relation to the subject, and to articulate links between practice and theory and Fine Art professional contexts. (K2; K3; K4; S2; S3; S4)

The programme of lectures, given by staff, visiting artists, critics and curators provide examples of advanced professional and fine art practices. (K1-4)

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Studio Presentation (60%):

Students present a range of practical explorations and advanced development as well as relevant contextual research and critical or reflective material. The tutorial reflection allows full engagement with all aspects of the module to be assessed. It will focus on the physical or documentary evidence of the student’s selection, evaluation and advancement of practical skills and their ability to recognise, communicate and interpret the key critical questions which are directing the practical exploration. It will also address the practical and critical methods by which the student proposes to direct these towards an advanced exhibition practice.Students are assessed against the following criteria:

1.Practical skills and communication, as evidenced by technical and imaginative use of materials and processes within the practice and presentation, and discussion of their development, consolidation, implications, and realisation (K1;K2; K3; K4; S1; S2; S3; S4);

2.Research and organisation as evidenced by knowledge of relevant subjects, materials, skills, and processes, and through structuring information and discussion of their contextual and critical implications, (K1; K2; K4; S1; S2);

3.Critical reflection and contextualisation, as evidenced by analysis, consolidation and communication of aims within the practical presentation, and through informed discussion of the works’ specific questions and ambitions (K1; K2; K3; S1;S3; S4).

Dissertation (40%):

Based on the varying approaches to advancing their skill on the MFA programme students can approach their final project in the following ways:

Option A: 5000-word extended critical essay. The subject will be identified as an outcome of FIN8020 Contemporary Practice. A question relevant to studio practice and developed within the contextual review will be examined in greater depth.

Option B: 15-20 minute lecture with PowerPoint or video plus a 3000-word critical written exercise
contextualising the lecture in relation to the studio practice. The subject will be identified as an outcome of FIN8020. An aspect of the Semester 1 contextual review will be further examined and presented to peers/examiners via illustrated lecture presentation that should be a succinct verbal account of the essay topic, supported by a well-structured presentation.

Option C: Curated Exhibition of artworks plus a 1500-3000 word critical written exercise contextualising the exhibition in relation to the studio practice. The subject is identified as an outcome of FIN8020. An aspect of Semester 1 contextual review will be further examined and presented via a public exhibition that should be a well-realised account of the essay topic, supported by well-structured documentation.

Option D: Educational Workshop plus a 1500-3000 word critical written exercise contextualising the workshop in relation to the studio practice. The subject will be identified as an outcome of FIN 8020. An element of the semester 1 contextual review will be further examined and communicated via the design and delivery of a workshop that should explore and communicate the essay topic, supported by well-structured documentation.

The word-count reflects the varying breadth of approach, complexity of topic, presentation format, critical skill of the activity.

Task-Specific Assessment Criteria:
1.       Critical reflection, contextualisation, and communication: Evidenced by originality, identification, interpretation, and coherent development of an argument (K1; K3; S1; S2; S4).
2.       Research skills: Evidenced by knowledge of subject and evaluation of appropriate resources and methods to conduct a substantial search (K2; K4).
3.       Practical skills and organisation: Evidenced by presentation, structuring, and interpretation of material (S3).
4.       Appropriate tone and language: Evidenced by the use of illustrative material and a format suited to the option, subject, and aims (K4; S2; S3; S4).