Post Session Reflections Unit Presentations -Introductory 5 min First Presentation- 20 min Final Micro- Presentation + ( 10 min Feedback)
Research / knowledge can not be thought of monolithically as relying on type of methodology which belong speculatively to the western cannon. The book Practise -led Research, Research – led Practice in the Creative Arts – Edited by Hazel Smith and Roger. T. Dean, The chapter : The conundrum Of knowledge and Research looks speculatively at the use of art, meditatively to explore intersectionality, identity politics as well as positionally. The idea of practise- led research is at the crux of how we find new frameworks for understanding how we can use our own subjectively to characterise, explore, diversify lead to new areas epistemology that is seen within research. The importance of practise-led – research within education can be just as informative to allow the wider audience to gain an insight into numerous experiences of marginalised groups, ideas, notions that can be re- conceptualised and can be included not only culturally but how we look at politically at legislation on inclusion.
The idea of practise -led research and the extremity of this type of this type of study was used controversially by American Sociologist, Journalist John Howard Griffin who darkened his skin to see the insurmountable severity of racism, Jimmy Crow segregation of disenfranchised African Americans in the deep South, New Orleans and Mississippi in the 1960’s . The turning point in the cannon of his research was when he published his research in a book- ” Black like me and later”. The published literature helmed by the the controversial nature of the research, alluded to the inequalities, and structural and institutional racism faced by black Americans, was the widely accepted ,valued but doubly seen as incredulous by many white Americans. The linchpin of his lived experiences, research made him not only a target by many white Americans, but by the racist supremacist organisation KKK. In his study ‘black like me’ he said “The only way I could see to bridge the gap between us was to become a negro” –
Research- led practice is a terminology which we can use to compliment practise- led research and which suggests more clearly than practise led research that scholarly research can lead to creative work
Both practise- led research, Research- led practice are often carried out collaboratively. creative practitioners sometimes join forces with a researcher more specifically orientated towards basic research work ( pg 8,9)
-H.Smith, R.T. Dean Practise -led Research, Research – led Practice in the Creative Arts, Edinburgh University Press; Reprint edition, 2009
Fieldwork, artwork, performative arts can be used for more than just its aesthetic resonance. It can be the starting point for primary and secondary research and can also function as a point of reference as some artist can use historical etymology as the basis for their painting; alternative form of knowledge, much like historical novels or research paper. The artwork, performance art can provide a rich context that can be used to enhance research. By choosing not include this form of research we are choosing to marginalise artists further, their vision, lived and historical experiences which can represent different intersectional groups; relegating their experiences as inferior and leading oppressively to non- recognition.
Going back to the presentation at the beginning of the teaching and learning course I made a reference to the Black arts group being set up towards the end of my post- graduate course because the course, the syllabus and even the non – diversification of the teaching staff and student body made it difficult to not be seen as other on the course. The purpose of the workshops and safe space crits were to explore student experiences and provide the participants with the space, agency to speak candidly about how the course could be challenged, redesigned to make it more inclusive for multi- ethnic student population.
Slide 4
During my 5 min presentation I was recommended the book Practise- Led research, Research- Led Practise by Megan Pickering who was part of my tutorial group.
After listening to the feedback from my 20 Min presentation. I was given positive feedback pertaining to using my using my artwork as a critical, powerful point of reference, as well as how this could be implemented moving forward in my own teaching practise. Reading this book really touched on and resonated with the formative feedback that I was given and practise- led research, Research- led practise its importance and relevance.
Reading the chapter it challenges the Modus Operandi of to how we accept and respond to traditionalistic, orthodox research and pedagogy. When we are given complex literature how can we find quantitive methods; ways that feel authentic, represents us as individuals and how can this ensure that moving forward we are more aware of our positionality; there are more ways to interpret, language, text, art, performance which provides invaluable ethnographic modes or research and epistemology that opens the flood gate for what is seen as being collectively acceptable in academia. Much like the Harney & Moten Undercommons, The: Fugitive Planning & Black Study text we have a responsibility to challenge academic hegemony and voyeurism.
I chose the title “No beginning No End” because the( I thought we had come to the end of the blogging phase and was prematurely celebrating when I found out the new unit involved, more blogging) the terminology originates from Buddhism, the idea of the cyclical birth cycle of life, death and rebirth, I thought that within the teaching context the cycle of teaching students involves:
1.Birth – introduction to the course Death – symbolising the finishing of the course
2.Rebirth – students going out into the world of work, restudying with, 3/4 years of transferable knowledge.
The quote : seems very relevant to how I feel…..
“But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes and for the foreseeable future Blogging”
Bibliography
- J.H. Griffin, Black like me and later, Serpent’s Tail; Main – Classic edition,31 Oct. 2019
- Edited by H.Smith and R. T. Dean -led Research, Research – led Practice in the Creative Arts, Edinburgh University Press; Reprint edition, 2009