Postgraduate research considered as a mental

marathonOr,

the object of research

and the fetishisation of method

Postgraduate research considered as a cross-country

runOr,

the object of research

and the fetishisation of method

Fantasies of the PhD

• Shibboleth

• Apprenticeship

• Original Statement

Approaches to situating the practice-as-research PhD

• historical perspective– ‘research’ is a relatively new addition to the

accomplishments of a university graduate or academic, and even more so—in its academically specialised sense—to the armoury of the practicing artist

• psychological awareness– if ‘research’ stresses a tolerance of uncertainty,

openness and corrigibility, why do we seek to codify the few acceptable ways of ‘doing it’?

• social-institutional sensitivity– how come ‘research’ is the spice that guarantees

creative activity to be socially respectable?

What is the object of (postgraduate) research?

The Laboratory Sciences

The Human or Cultural Sciences

The Humanities

The Vocational Disciplines

The Practical ArtsTHE GENERAL RULE IS

HYPOTHESES ARE NOT ROUTINELY TESTED (although ideas ARE critically examined)

THAT THERE IS NO GENERAL RULE

Method as Fetish

“A fetish is a story masquerading as an object.”

(Robert Stoller)

Established 2000, an affiliate of the Paris Collège de 'Pataphysique

Currently six departments:

Bureau for the Investigation of Subliminal Images Committee for Hirsutism and Pogonotrophy Department of Dogma and Theory Department of Potassons Department of Reconstructive Archaeology The Office of Patentry

The Department of Reconstructive Archaeology

Anthony Hancock Paintings & Sculpture: A Retrospective Exhibition

The accompanying catalogue, prefaced with an essay by Andrew Wilson (then deputy editor of Art Monthly), contains Hancock's catalogue raisonné, a description of the Department's methodology, as well as appreciations of Hancock's work, and essays on the confusions surrounding its authorship (the works of Paul Ashby and Alastair Grant).

Self-Portrait, early 1950sA detail of the reconstruction by

Magnus Irvin

created in April 2002

dedicated to re-making lost cultural artefacts (literary, artistic, scientific, etc.)

The Department of Reconstructive Archaeology

Self-Portrait, early 1950sA detail of the reconstruction by

Magnus Irvin

The Department […] has no prejudices regarding the superior validity of "the real", over "the fictional", "the imaginary" or "the virtual".The Department is concerned not simply with archaeology, but with reconstruction, with praxis rather than contemplation.Ever since Thor Heyerdal, […] archaeology has utilised practical demonstrations to corroborate the plausibility of its hypotheses. The Department does not share this dogged utilitarianism, however. We have no hypotheses to prove, and no itches to scratch, ideological or otherwise.

The Department of Reconstructive Archaeology

Self-Portrait, early 1950sA detail of the reconstruction by

Magnus Irvin

The Department […] has no prejudices regarding the superior validity of "the real", over "the fictional", "the imaginary" or "the virtual".The Department is concerned not simply with archaeology, but with reconstruction, with praxis rather than contemplation.Ever since Thor Heyerdal, […] archaeology has utilised practical demonstrations to corroborate the plausibility of its hypotheses. The Department does not share this dogged utilitarianism, however. We have no hypotheses to prove, and no itches to scratch, ideological or otherwise.

THINKS!But is this

worthy of a PhD?

THINKS!But is this

worthy of a PhD?

The criteria for award of the PhD

(a) consist of the candidate's own account of his/her investigations …

(b) and form a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject and afford evidence of originality by the discovery of new facts and/or by the exercise of independent critical power;

(c) and be an integrated whole and present a coherent argument;

The criteria for award of the PhD

(d) and• give a critical assessment of the relevant literature,• describe the method of research and its findings,• include discussion on those findings and indicate in what

respects they appear to the candidate to advance the study of the subject;

• and, in so doing, demonstrate a deep and synoptic understanding of the field of study, (the candidate being able to place the thesis in a wider context),

• objectivity and • the capacity for

– judgment in complex situations and – autonomous work in that field;

The criteria for award of the PhD

(e) and be written in English and the literary presentation shall be satisfactory, …

(f) and not exceed 100,000 words; …

(g) and include a full bibliography and references;

(h) and demonstrate research skills relevant to the thesis being presented;

(i) and be of a standard to merit publication in whole or in part or in a revised form …

[…]

The criteria for award of the PhD

In the fields of Anthropology, Arts and Computational Technology, Fine Art, Design, Media and Sociology a candidate may– either register to undertake research leading to a thesis

submitted in accordance with the normal provisions,– or register for studio-based research/other audio-visual research.

In the latter case the thesis may include a portfolio, exhibition or other audio-visual display.This must be original work which– exemplifies and– locates the ideas which are developed in conjunction with the

written part of the thesis.

However presented, this work must be accompanied by an adequate and approved form of retainable documentation.

Examining the ‘practice-as-research’ PhD thesis

• The examiners’ point-of-view:– What are the legitimate grounds for ‘referral’

• The candidate’s point-of-view:– What are the allowed grounds for appeal

against the examiners’ decision?

From the web-blurb for IM2

“Practice-based researchers are faced with a dual challenge.

The first is the intrinsically bifurcated nature of a research project composed of a written element in conjunction with a practical element.

The second is the interdisciplinarity inherent in writing art.”

????

’pataphysics

… is “the science of imaginary solutions, which symbolically attributes the properties of objects, described by their virtuality, to their lineaments”(Gestes et opinions du

Docteur Faustroll, II, viii)

… rests “on the truth of contradictions and exceptions”(Raymond Queneau,

’pataphysician)from Alfred Jarry

Les Minutes de Sable Mémorial, 1894

Alfred Jarry1873-1907

Method as Fetish

Research methodology “… is not a matter of logic, but of the logic of the matter.” (Theodor W. Adorno)

Are you sitting comfortably?

Postgraduate research considered as a cross-country run