PhD Research - Anna Fox

28th October 2013

Anna Fox
Professor at UCA - photographer.
http://www.research.ucreative.ac.uk/profile/421
Back to the Village - view of Thatcher's Britain, work stations.
Books. publication part of process - design, structure, etc.
Practice-led PhD
Mystery & myth of PhD
Different to grad and postgrad
Strong ides based proposal - can evolve
What the idea is, and why original and timely
Doesn't have to be greatly original - but must be timely
Interpretation of practice led PhD
Practice complements area of enquiry
EG, previously lost archive - make new work in response to, or new method of work
Context of research
What is going on in the field
Other people's work - what is missing - what needs to be done
Must be passionate
Who, where, why PhD
Funding - some insts more than others
1 or 2, poss 3 supervisors
Can choose supervisors from diff institutions
They choose who to spend time with
*Need a research question
First 6 months of PhD- refine and develop the proposal
Consider anticipated applications, potential benefits, impact of your research
Priority will be given to enquiries that transcend individual practices and concerns.
Max 300 words
Why - timing? Tough to go straight from MA to PhD
Better time in between?
Material and commitment
Question - raise questions
Original contribution to knowledge
Question up front - confidence - may evolve
Usually play around with practice
Shock diff between MA and Phd study
Have to be defined
Experimental practice
But writing - about 40,000 words
So quickly define areas, texts, artists, etc, to explore
Already have about 20 relevant writings books, can evolve, but
Informed about area, articulate c. 3 or 4 reasonably well known practitioners
How your work contributes to context
PhD panel - made up of research experts
Not necessarily in your field
Up to 8 people on panel - c. 6 from 6 areas
Therefore must be very clear and not assume knowledge
Special, new innovative
Research context
Precedent - taken further, new ways
New contribution to knowledge
Can be simple. confidence
Introduce context
Introduce research
Clear. Not own work - other practitioners, contemporary and historical, writing - PhD level
Probably very wide frame of references
Very specific issues
Focus on key people to make the point
Rather than plethora of art based responses
The PhD research journey
A struggle - structure, but rewarding
Identify why research relevant now
Why valid, useful, interesting?
Start writing conference papers, proposals
Why intellectual community interested?
Have to be confident about main proposal area
Key areas - starts as list - titles, headings, expand each
Libraries, research, etc
Record process - everything is recorded in PhD
How everything is constructed - even photos
Potentially part of practice
Record the methods of recording
Identify cultural approached
List what and how
Speculation for proposal - a bit ambiguous
Key books and essays - be precise - max 20 titles
Key texts - the most relevant
CV - at least a year
Useful, part of conferences
Submitted proposals even if not yet accepted
Shows aiming for context of PhD work
Exhibitions, etc
Journals, articles, etc
Articulate technical content of image making and thinking
MPhil c. 18 months of PhD
Structure of PhD
Simplest - outlining potential chapter headings
Into - context of study
Subject matter
Case studies
Primary research
Interviews
Own practice - mapping, testing and exploration
Summing up
Thesis
Keeping up with all processes
Enrol PhD - en route pass MPhil - goes through MPhil panel
Documented exploration
Funding
How to identify and approach supervisors
University - someone in research centre
Apply to more than one - competitive
How closely relate to area of research
Contribute to research endeavour of university
Where is there research already in your line of practice
Comment on their research culture
Call research office - check person supervising PhD
How to match up - not person
Research page profile of university
Poss not precise match
Most established in field
Supervisors - have to be academic?
Have to be established as supervisor at the university
Could bring in external specialist to final panel
PhD - difficult to get on with art practice
Online arts practice-led PhD - University of Hertfordshire
Have subject of enquiry which will benefit from PhD enquiry - not just to get on
Good idea - academic framework of practice
Get to nub of practice
Investigate something new
Goldsmiths - prePhD research year
Full time 3 years, part 3 - 6 years
AHRC Masters - PhD
Poss 2/3 years after Masters
Part time and distance PhD - possible
Not rules, but take part in research community
Usually research methods course to start - also online
More than profile as artist - develop research and context
Look up universities' research pages

Reflection 
Rather full notes so I can recall all those details. What a PhD actually is is becoming a little clearer. We are all MA students with a lot of commitment already - 4 years online. I still need to know more about the practical benefits and reasons for doing a PhD. It almost seems like an altruistic act to do it purely for the sake of the research.

14th November 2013