Research Essay (RE 400

Overview This course constitutes the practical research component of the programme and is developed in tandem with the theoretical research component, Research Essay in order to establish a sound, practice-based research focus. Within the context of this course, students are required to devise their own creative projects in response to an identified research problem or question relating to a selected area of specialisation with relevance to local, contemporary creative industries, practice and discourse. The course also aims to extend practical expertise through an emphasis on experimentation and the consolidation of technical skills, conceptual ability and aesthetic aptitude. The projects devised for this course are designed to reinforce the practice-based approach of the BA Honours in Visual Communication programme through establishing a synergy between theoretical and practical contexts – an important requirement for completing an Honours. The aim of the practical component is to provide practical and/or visual solutions to pertinent questions and relevant issues within the field of the students chosen area of specialisation, whilst demonstrating advanced technical skill, conceptual ability and aesthetic aptitude within a body of work evident of students’ ability to present practical projects in a professional, critical and challenging manner.

Objectives On completion of this course students should be able to: + Formulate a practical research problem or pertinent question within the context of local, contemporary creative industries; + Devise and plan an independent research project coherently; + Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate creative outputs and industries in order to position own practice; + Showcase an understanding of contemporary local and international creative trends, approaches, products and techniques relative to the student's chosen field of specialisation; + Experiment with a variety of materials, approaches, software and techniques in order to arrive at unique approaches to problem-solving; + Generate conceptually sophisticated ideas and solutions for identified problems; + Display advanced technical skill and conceptual insight within a particular area of specialisation within the ambit of contemporary trends, styles and thinking; + Organise and manage their own projects responsibly and effectively; + Produce a body of work sufficient in its scope and length to the requirements set out within this course; + Articulate the extent of the creative production with relevance to local, contemporary discourse and practice; and + Demonstrate sufficient in-depth creative development, exploration and understanding of the chosen theme/problem.

Overview This course forms the theoretical component of the independent research project undertaken by students. Within the context of this course, students are required to devise their own practice-based research projects in response to an identified issue/problem or question relating to a selected area of specialisation with relevance to local, contemporary industries, practice and discourse. The theoretical component serves as a kind of framing document for the creative production, its conceptualisation, positioning and processes in relation to pertinent questions and relevant issues, whilst demonstrating the successful application of research methodologies and techniques. The research essay should be approximately 12000 - 16000 words (approximately 30-40 pages, excluding visual material, addenda and the bibliography).

Objectives On completion of this course students should be able to: + Select a choice of subject (research question / problem) relevant to local, contemporary creative industries and/or discourse whilst recognising contemporary and historical local and global contexts of the chosen discipline; + Articulate & delineate problems, issues and questions arising in the creative field &, in particular, to his/her own independent research studies amidst local & global contexts, through using a range of specialised skills to identify, analyse & address complex or abstract problems drawing systematically on the body of knowledge & methods appropriate to the chosen field & discipline; + Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information in order to produce an original and relevant research study through the development of creative responses to relevant, current, identified creative problems and issues; + Demonstrate knowledge of & engagement in the area of specialisation’s field, discipline & practice; + Demonstrate comprehension and insight required to achieve the stated objective(s) of the study within the given timeframe; + Demonstrate knowledge literacy through the his/her ability to select and interrogate multiple sources of knowledge including visual, textual and product-related resources as it pertains to the chosen discipline; + Maintain a balance between the employment of resources for research through relying on a selection of books, journals, recent sources, seminal sources and other sources of information relevant to the focus of the research study; + Present and communicate academic, professional or industry-related ideas and texts effectively in a logical and cohesive manner through offering insight, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues identified within the context of the research focus, disciplines and discourses at large in the correct academic register; + Manage and apply him/herself in a self-critical manner through learning strategies which effectively address his/her professional and ongoing learning needs as well as those of others; + Demonstrate accountability in terms of his/her own research, decision-making and use of resources as well as being responsible for the decisions and actions of others where applicable; + Establishing a sound connection between theoretical and practical concerns within the context of the independent research study; + Produce a research essay of satisfactory length and scope with appropriate division of chapters, balance between chapters and the sequence of chapters;

+ Present information and communicate effectively through a competent, thoroughly edited style of writing throughout the research essay; + Establish a sound connection between theoretical and practical concerns within the context of his/her independent research study; + Apply the correct academic, technical and formal methods, procedures and conventions required for research within the chosen field; and + Display ethics and professional practice through identifying and addressing ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different ethical value systems within a local and international creative field.

September 2021