Contextual Studies

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES: ASSESSMENT

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PH6CTS CONTEXTUAL STUDIES

Nicola South          Student number:514516

SELECTION OF LEARNING LOG ENTRIES FOR REFECTIONS ON LEARNING OUTCOMES

LO1 undertake research and study demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of your area of specialisation and built a theoretical framework for your creative practice.

I have researched extensively. Some of my research is shown under the CS Research tab in my Reflective Journal on my blog; much I did not post to avoid self-plagiarism, though I have posted screen shots of someof my research notes and annotations:

  1. I researched visual methodologies I could use to examine artists work for affect and effect. I built on this research and assimilated so I could present it coherently in my Literature review, particularly see pages 1 to 5. I began by reading Rose’s (2001) ideas on visual methodologies. These led to further research on semiology and discourse analysis and models for semiotics of visual art such as Saussure and Pierce: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/research/cs-research/cs-a1-notes-on-a-text-and-annotations-as-used/ I then researched further set this in context with other writers: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/research/cs-research/cs-a2-research-further-evidence/
  2. Research enabled me to build a theoretical framework for my Body of Work photography, which developed exploring ideas deepened through CS research, which stimulated broader CS research. My CS course reflective evaluation explains this research journey: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/assessment/cs-assessment/cs-course-reflective-evaluation/  

LO2 synthesise and articulate your critical, contextual, and conceptual knowledge and understanding into a coherent critique of advanced academic standard.

  1. The draft Literature review only touched on the effect of audience in interpreting meaning in images. I queried in my reflections against learning outcomes for assignment 2, whether I should expand my research to include this, or if this widen my research too much?  My Tutor suggested I research and add this to the conclusion of my essay. After further research I realised audience was an area that a semiotic analysis of images did not take account of and is integral to understanding meaning. Consequently, I wove this factor throughout my dissertation, and dedicated a section of the third chapter to it. These changes can be seen in my submitted dissertation as well as the redrafts of my Dissertation proposal/planners here: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/c-s-assignments/cs-dissertation-proposal-redraft/
  2. Researching and drafting my dissertation helped contextualise my BOW concept and relate sources to each other for my dissertation. I started with research on the tension between expressive and documentary photography, then looked at this in the work of White and Blakemore, with other commentators and the influence of Szarkowski’s ideas on mirrors and windows. See some of my research notes and annotations as I critiqued and cross related them for use: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/research/cs-research/cs-a2-research-evidence/
  3. As my research expanded it was important to articulate how the style and content of the work of an artist can exemplify affect. Initially I related how visual analysis methodologies can expose this content by adding Minor White and John Blakemore’s images and narration of affect in these images into my literature review pages 6 and 7. Then, when I drafted Chapter three of my dissertation I expanded on this including many of only Minor White’s images and applied a semiotic toolkit to pick apart affect in his work. I noted this in my reflections on learning outcomes assignment 4 and here in my reflections on formative feedback for assignment 4: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/cs-submissions/csa4-reflections-against-formative-feedback/ The final result of this can be seen in pages 10 and 12 to 14 of my dissertation.   

LO3 apply your own criteria of judgement, reviewed, criticised, and taken responsibility for your own work with minimum guidance.

  1. Between assignment 1 and 3 I worked on reframing the precise title to outline my main enquiry succinctly. In my reflections on Learning outcomes for assignment 2 I shared the mind map I developed to begin this process:  https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/c-s-assignments/cas-assignment-2/cs-a2-reflections-against-learning-objectives/ In my Assignment 3 Learning log I reflected on my ongoing process of defining the title: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/c-s-assignments/cs-assignment-3/cs-ass-3-learning-log/ and finally in my Assignment 4 Learning Log I described how I decided to focus only on the landscape photography of Minor White, dropping John Blakemore: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/c-s-assignments/cs-ass4-learning-log/
  2. Some of the decisions and actions I took after reviewing my work are exemplified in my Critical Reflective Summary of changes made to my dissertation draft between assignment four and five: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/cs-assignment-5/cs-a5-critical-reflective-summary/

LO4 select and apply information management skills and used appropriate technology in the production of an accomplished critique with minimal supervision.

My tutor supported my improvement in academic writing, but I took responsibility for implementing techniques he suggested, and his feedback especially by assignment 5 confirms my ‘good studentship’ in this.

  1. In my assignment 5 reflections on learning outcomes against LO1, I identified that I have progressed from the point in the literature review where I presented various theories, to the dissertation where I have interrelated, evidenced and put them to practical use, see https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/cs-assignment-5/cs-a5-reflections-against-learning-objectives/
  2. Up to assignment 4 I was still being challenged by my tutor to be more succinct. By assignment 5 after reviewing my whole dissertation with rereading, reordering, and amalgamating my sources and evidence, I noted that now better understood the value of techniques such as PEEL (Paint, Evidence, Explain, Link), using quotes to support points rather than explaining the quotes to form a critical argument, and how to use some ‘reverse engineering’ to achieve this. These techniques enabled me to get to my point faster, reduce the word count and be more concise. See my reflections on formative feedback for assignment 5: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/cs-submissions/cs-a5-submission/cs-a5-reflections-on-formative-feedback/

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES ASSESSMENT

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PH6CTS-5         Nicola South Student number: 514516

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES COURSE REFLECTIVE COMMENTARY

Starting points and progression

In Contextual Studies I understood I should build a contextual and theoretical framework for my photographic work as Body of Work and my Contextual Studies would run concurrently and contextualise each other; I wasn’t sure how this would work. My interests lay in Postmodern Landscape perspectives, photographing subjects as visual metaphors, and using photography for layers of truth. Exploring these further would develop my research on Minor White in my Landscape photography coursework, and Documentary Fact and Fiction research.

Initially I explored themes of post structuralist thoughts on plurality of meaning, and the way work can be interpreted differently by various viewers. I researched how photography can free a subject from a fixed time and place, ontology, (Bazin, 1960) and revisited ‘ways of ‘seeing’ (Berger, 1972) and relationships involved and ‘reading the space’ (Walker, 2005). It was satisfying researching critically and comparing the approach and conclusions of these and other leading authors relevant to my concept.

From assignment two I researched the tension between ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ in photography that emerged in the early 20th century and investigated methods to articulate both affect and effect in artists’ work. I began using compositional analysis, but concentrated on post structural Semiology and discourse analysis, focusing on the premise shared by writers that using semiotics based purely on linguistics cannot fully explain visual signification.

After assignment three I added further commentary from theorists such as O’Sullivan (2001) on affect theory and the opposition of idealism and materialism, and by assignment four had expanded on the need for context to give meaning. Whilst redrafting I also expanded on the effect of the audience on interpretations. I enjoyed deeper research on White and his methods for equivalence such as sequencing and symbolism, and contextualising with commentators such as Szarkowski and his ideas on mirrors and windows in photography.

Challenges

Summarising my argument to form a concise title was a challenge. I intended to explore how photography can be used for both sharing reality (effect) and expressing what is in an artist’s mind (affect) and discuss with reference to the landscape photography of Minor White and John Blakemore. It took me until assignment 4 to tighten this to: ‘Affect and Effect’, the landscape photography of Minor White. By then I decided to concentrate only on the work of Minor White, as after deeper research on both photographers, I felt Blakemore’s work did not exemplify my theme in such a rich manner. Allowing the research to dictate the final question eventually worked.

Later in my research I realised that I had not initially understood some concepts such as representation well. As my understanding grew I gradually incorporated representation into my dissertation to an extent; and I will continue as an area of further investigation along with theories on realism.

The peer group hangouts that I am part of, as well as tutor led Groupwork sessions, were a great support to my studies. Both my Tutor’s feedback and another who ran the Level three groupwork sessions helped me to better understand ways to extend and control my research.

What I will take forward

I now appreciate that at the beginning of a project you may be uncertain on what to research, or how a project will be framed, however as you proceed the balance of this shifts to more certainty and confidence. It was satisfying to discover that my research helped me to figure out where my photographic practice fits into the photographic world; I now understand how a good knowledge of visual culture can support my photographic knowledge. My Contextual Studies research moved my Body of Work creative practice forward, and my Body of Work explorations gave meaning to my Contextual Studies. It was rewarding to refresh and improve my academic skills, particularly how to bring a balance in my writing between being concise but not too dense, I will take this forward as a transferable skill.

References:

Bazin, A. and Gray, H. (1960) ‘The Ontology of the Photographic Image’ In: Film Quarterly 13 (4) pp.4–9.

Berger, J., Blomberg, S., Fox, C., Dibb, M. and Hollis, R. (1972) Ways of Seeing. London: British Broadcasting Corporation.

O’Sullivan, S. (2001) ‘THE AESTHETICS OF AFFECT: Thinking art beyond representation’ In: Angelaki: journal of theoretical humanities 6 (3) pp.125–135.

Walker, I., Dagenais, F. and Batchen, G. (2005) Image & Imagination : Le Mois de la Photo À Montréal 2005. McGill-Queen’s Univ. Press. At : https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=0qyuzQEACAAJ

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES: DISSERTATION PLANNER REDRAFTS

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  1. My first draft for assignment 2
  2. My revised planner following feedback by assignment 3. This includes more detail for chapter 2 and the addition of the thoughts of O’Sullivan ( 2001) and Edwards (2012) on affect, as well as more detail for the conclusion.
  3. My final amended dissertation plan following my decision to restrict my artist study to Minor White and with my planning for Chapter 3 with an increased content on the impact of the audience on meaning, particularly for chapter 3 to link in with the Minor Case study. Chapter 3 has expanded as I realised the need to use his work to example how visual methodologies and knowledge of the context of an artist helps with understanding the expression and meaning in their work. The impact of the audience is circular here.
DISSERTATION PROPOSAL REDRAFTSDownload

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES: CRITICAL REFLECTIVE SUMMARY OF DISSERTATION CHANGES

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CRITICAL REFLECTIVE SUMMARY

Throughout draft assignment five I have refined my writing to:

  • Make it less dense.
  • Linked short paragraphs to increase the flow e.g., page 8 paragraph 2, page 9 Paragraph 2, and page 14 paragraph 2.
  • Revised to read for a reader coming it cold.
  • Ensured that critical terms are defined at least once for each one.
  • I have used the academic phrasebook but could revisit.
  • I have added description, denotation to most images, e.g. page 10 and page 13.
  • Write in the third person.
  • Added in suggested extra reading.

Where I have refined I have particularly concentrated on ‘reverse engineering’, which I think I took to quite well and to change it from more of a literature review style using quotes to support a point, rather than quoting and then explaining the quote. For example:

Page 7, 2nd and third paragraphs

Page 15, 2nd paragraph

Page 16, last paragraph

I have tried to increase my use of PEEL, Point, Evidence/Example, Explanation, Link, but more work may be needed on this.

I am unsure whether I have included sufficient on context as determinant of meaning.

Specifically, I have :

  • Added Hall’s description of representation.
  • Some modern examples e.g. Page 5 paragraph 1
  • Referenced Benjamin’s reference to Brecht – p6.
  • Added images to support my mention of Alfred Stieglitz’s equivalents – p7.
  • Taken out the leading questions on page 11.

I have not found the place to dovetail some realist documentary ideas as a contrast to White, but I may return to this with a fresh eye. The same stands for including a reference to Shore’s categories. I refreshed my research on both but haven’t so far found where to use them.

I have reordered my writing in some places; the conclusion is probably the most revised in terms of ordering and rationalisation, and next chapter three.

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES: SUBMISSION

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Reflections and actions on Formative feedback for final submission

This was written feedback form my tutor followed by some email exchanges for clarification on points from myself

My reflections:

Reviewing the whole document and considered reordering and amalgamating, gave me the extra insight I needed to cut down repetition, preamble and see where I needed to get to the point quicker.

This is the first feedback where my Tutor hasn’t reminded me generally about using ‘PEEL’ using quotes to support points rather than vice versa (just in one place), I am now understanding and putting it into practice. He has also noted that my use of the ‘reverse engineering’ has worked well.

Conversely it is a balance and there are still one or two areas where I should expand a little to explain complex arguments.

Further reading carried out: https://nkssite6.photo.blog/category/contextual-studies/cs-assignment-5/cs-a5-pre-submission-additional-reading/

Covering note: Rename ‘Critical Reflective Summary’- this will be good for showing response to feedback.

Abstract:  Rework to:

  • Integrate to introduce the theme instead of introduce theories I’m talking about. Overview of research question to tease but not give topic away.

  • Reduce the number of words, although the allowance is 500, my tutor suggests that less is more.

Essay: Comments given:

  • Flows much better,
  • Good studentship incorporating feedback points successfully.
  • Suggestions for linking learning points
  • Reverse engineering has worked well
  • Good studentship
  • Answers question well, which my Tutor suggests is: Does a photograph show reality, or a photographer’s emotions

    General:

  • Use my ‘voice’ sometimes instead of academic phrases
  • Have mostly explained philosophical terms to general audience but check again
  • Be careful I’ve not got too much preamble before making a point (ref reverse engineering)
  • Don’t try to pack too many ideas in one paragraph
  • Expand out writing in some areas and maybe cut some less relevant sections
  • Filter in realism comments as I go along.
  • Try to get below the 5,000 word count (currently 5080)

Intro:

  • Make less dense
  • Check critical terms are defined mostly in the intro paragraphs
  • Expand out some points in key paragraphs.
  • Show my knowledge of the theme, representation of reality.
  • Stylistic codes need to be less densely packed,

Main body:

  • Check that I’ve explained White’s relationship to Stieglitz equivalents clearly.
  • Similarly reread my content on representation and ensure that it clear – expand.

Conclusion:

  • Take out subheadings – reviewing it I don’t know why I left them in!
  • Cut down some dense text references, don’t need as much as only summing up from earlier
  • Review the last paragraph which reads a little bit awkward

Actions completed since feedback:

  • Abstract: reworked and reduced the word count
  • Covering note – renamed critical review
  • Dissertation: Reviewed, expanded some parts, reduced others (reduced preambles) , reduced word count, checked that critical terms are in the introduction.