Research Project: assignment outline (+ proposal examples X 2)

Research Project + Proposal

The research project asks students to conduct research on a video artist of the student’s choice and to present the findings in a report that includes: 1) an introduction to the artist, his/her interests and intentions and a brief description of a typical work 2) a statement identifying and defining/describing the artistic form and ‘genre’ within which the artist works (e.g. video installation, video performance, experimental music, theatre, Internet art); 3) an explanation of the manner and importance of his or her innovation in their field; and 4) an analysis and interpretation of one or two major works. 

The research must involve a minimum of four (academic) sources and references must be properly cited in the final text. Final projects will be written in report form, with sections dedicated to the above-mentioned information and analysis, and include an introduction and conclusion (1000 words, typed and double-spaced). Due November 18.

The proposal should identify the subject of the research and provide a brief explanation of the significance of artist, work or movement to be researched as well as a preliminary list of research sources (250 words, typed and double-spaced).  Presentations on research topics will be made on October 28 and November 4.  Please e-mail providing me with the topic of your research by October 26th.  I will put groups together for the research project presentations on the 28th and November 4.   Your formal proposal is due November 4. 

 

   Examples:  Research Project Proposal

 My research project will study the video installation work of Finnish artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila.  Known for producing short, vivid, narrative-based videos on multiple screens about the psychological impact of inter-personal conflict, the artist’s vision is defined by an especially keen sensitivity to the intricacies and ambiguities of human emotion.  In the past, Ahtila’s work has focused largely on women’s response to romantic discord.  Most recently, she has produced a different type of film.  Where is Where? (2008) considers the emotional trauma of war on civilian victims of both genders.   The research project will be concerned with identifying common and uncommon narrative and stylistic features of the artist’s different works and understanding how the multiple screen presentation shapes the viewer’s experience of the story.

Preliminary bibliography:

Princenthal, N. In Times of Trouble. Art in America v. 96 no. 6 (June/July 2008) p. 146-51.

 Durand, R., et. al., Eija-Liisa Ahtila: les mots, la mort, l’espace, le temps / Eija-Liisa Ahtila: Words, Death, Space, Time [Interview]. Art Press no. 342 (February 2008) p. 24-30.

 

OR

Stan Douglas is a Canadian visual artist specializing in large-scale, video installation work.  Typically, the artist produces works involving the re-enactment of historical events or moments in time (urban renewal in Vancouver; conflicts between Canadian natives and European settlers), or narrative-based reflections on historical or cultural phenomena (economic globalization; Jazz in France; changing News Production formats).  Formally, the artist is known for his experimentation with narrative devices and conventions of visual/filmic representation.  The study will survey Douglas’s career by studying the artist’s major exhibition catalogues with a view to identifying common thematics and formal techniques. 

 

Preliminary Bibliography:

 Hans D. Christ, Iris Dressler, eds. Stan Douglas, past imperfect : Works 1986-2007  Ostfildern : Hatje Cantz, 2008

 Gilles Godmer, Stan Douglas, Montreal : Musee d’Art Contemporain de Montreal, 1996.