Seminar IV: Research Toolkit (Spring 2015)
Seminar IV covers a set of key areas from developing a critical literature review to ethnographic research methods. NB. All sessions take place in the PGR study room unless otherwise stated
Wednesday 11 February (1-3pm)
Session 1: What is the Doctorate in Philosophy?
This session examines the nature of the PhD as both a lived process and a formally assessed qualification. It explores the significance of the word ‘philosophy’ in its title and the role of ‘theory’ as a means to speculate upon and generate ‘new knowledge’.
Set Reading
(1) Woodhouse, M. (2000) ‘Recognizing Philosophical Subject Matter’, A Preface to Philosophy. Wadsworth, pp. 1-19.
(2) Culler, J. (2000) Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (Chapter 1). Oxford, pp.1-17.
+ WSA Seminar, 4-6pm: Ashok Ranchhod: The Futures of Genetically-Modified Foods: Global Threat or Panacea? (Harvard Suite, RM #3032)
Wednesday 25 February (1-3pm)
Session 2: Critical Literature Review
Details to Follow
+ WSA Seminar, 4-6pm: John Armitage: How to Write an Academic Paper for Publication (Harvard Suite, RM #3032)
Wednesday 11 March (1-3pm)
Session 3: Cultural Politics – Research & Writing
As one of the founding editors of the journal Cultural Politics, Prof. John Armitage will examine two articles from the journal to explore differing approaches to research, asking how the articles relate to wider fields of knowledge, what methods are employed, how styles of writing differ and how the articles are structured.
Set Reading
(1) Matthias Messmer and Hsin-Mei Chuang (2013) ‘China’s Vanishing Worlds: Countryside, Traditions, and Cultural Spaces’, Cultural Politics, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp.43-52.
(2) Anna-Verena Nosthoff (2014) ‘Art after Auschwitz: Responding to an Infinite Demand: Gustav Metzger’s Works as Responses to Theodor W. Adorno’s “New Categorical Imperative”’, Cultural Politics, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp.300-319.
(3) John Armitage and Joy Garnett (2015) ‘Vespertine’, Cultural Politics, Volume 11, issue 1, pp.126-133.
+ WSA Seminar, 4-6pm: Gordon Hon: A Hole in the Ground: Poussin and Filmmaking (Harvard Suite, RM #3032)
EASTER VACATION
Wednesday 22 April (1-3pm)
Session 4: Creativity in Research
Details to follow
+ WSA Seminar, 4-6pm: Adam Dunn: The Artifice of Seemingly Natural Charm: Constructing and Learning the Algorithm of Seduction (Harvard Suite, RM #3032)
Wednesday 6 May (2-3.30pm)
Session 5: Writing with Images
DISCUSS: ‘…visual studies remains a field that is mainly engaged with kinds of argument that do not need to make continual, close concerted, dialogic contact with images’ (Elkins)
Set Reading
Elkins, J. (2013) ‘An Introduction to the Visual as Argument’, Elkins, J. et al. (ed.) Theorizing Visual Studies: Writing Through the Disciplines. Routledge, pp.25-60.
+ WSA Seminar, 4-6pm: Eirini Bazaki: Business Methods Research (Harvard Suite, RM #3032)
Wednesday 13 May (2-4pm)
Session 6: Archives and Historical Sources
Prof. Jussi Parikka discusses the notion of archives and in general, the way in which historical interest of knowledge can become part of our research. Examples are drawn from media history and media archaeology, but with an eye towards archives, online archives/resources and questions as to the realm of historical knowledge production
Wednesday 20 May (12-3pm)
Session 7: Studio-Based Thesis
Details to follow
+ WSA Seminar, 4-6pm: TBA (Harvard Suite, RM #3032)
Wednesday 3 June (1-3pm)
Session 8: Ethnographic Methods
Details to follow
+ WSA Seminar, 4-6pm: TBA (Harvard Suite, RM #3032)