FINEARTS 777 : Studio Research Essay

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A supervised, independent research essay that critically investigates a topic of pertinence to an aspect of contemporary art practice.

Course Overview

This Masters level essay requires you to conduct an extensive exploration and analysis of the intellectual and artistic context surrounding your art practice, both in its current state and its anticipated future direction. Rather than talking directly about the specifics of your own artwork, you are asked to map the theoretical, historical, and cultural space that informs your work's present position and its desired destination within the field of contemporary art. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Fine Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a high level of critical awareness of relevant theory, history and context informing the creative work (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  2. Show advanced critical thinking and reflection to provide depth and insight in the research (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  3. Evidence clear written communication and effective referencing (Capability 5, 6 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 100% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Essay

Teaching & Learning Methods

Based in kanohi ki te kanohi environments, dialogue and independent research sit at the heart of this course, creating opportunities to share and develop approaches to art-knowledge. The course supports diverse learning environments including individual research, group discussion, supervision meetings, lectures/seminars, gallery visits, and written responses to readings.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in. Each week includes 3 hours of supervision contact and 7 hours of independent study time.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Unless by prior arrangement, attendance is expected at scheduled activities on Wednesdays to receive credit for the course.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Health & Safety

Please refer to the Elam School of Fine Arts Health, Safety and Wellbeing guidelines that can be found in the Canvas page for this course in the files section.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This course is reviewed on an ongoing basis in relation to the needs of candidates expressed formally through the SSC and informally in group meetings.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved using the online Extension of Time Application form available on Canvas. Students should notify the Course Director/Course Coordinator of their situation as soon as practicable, and preferably before any due date. Notifications received after an assessment due date will be accepted, where this is reasonable, within the context of the course. If possible, students are encouraged to seek medical, counselling or other support from the most appropriate sources.

Learning Continuity

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 05/11/2024 05:07 p.m.