Glossary
- Globalisation – The act of connecting networks of production towards a worldwide scale
- Cross-cultural – The relationship of different cultural perspectives to each other
- Hybridised – The forming of something new from selected strands of knowledge
- Discipline – An individual creative area such as Fine Art, Music, Creative Writing etc.
- Interdisciplinary – Integrating the study of two or more disciplines with concepts from both the arts and broader global views
- Multidisciplinary – Working with different areas of study at the same time and as separate entities.
- Form – The bringing together of materials, on a coherent level, to create a relationship with the world. The physical appearance of a work of art or structure of writing, its materials, style and composition etc.
- Site-specific – Creative work that is created in response to a specific site with the intention of being located in the site and where removal from the site would change the meaning of the work. Often associated with Installation Art, Land Art and Public Art.
Psychogeography – In its broadest sense describes the effect of a geographical location on the emotions and behaviour of individuals.
Place – Anywhere that forms a relationship to the person who is stepping onto or into that geographic location, either physically or virtually, through a connection with past, present and future history.
Methodology – A system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity. A process of studying and constantly reassessing questioning of methods, as opposed to an application without thought, to effectively move on and change practice.
Critical Thinking Skills
- It is important at degree level and beyond to be able to challenge the views of others and your own received knowledge. This helps to develop the field of study you are part of.
- It leads to clearer thinking and an informed understanding of your own work and the work of others.
- It assists in interpreting meaning and values within the work of others that then inform your own creative output.
- It encourages you to be more observant of what you see, hear and read both in your studies and in your everyday life.
- It develops your own personal understanding of your field and the wider creative culture.
- It underpins practical reflective thinking which is an essential part of developing your own creative style that in turn leads to individual and engaging work.
Further to this, employers in all sectors are increasingly aware of the importance of these types of thinking skills. They contribute to innovation, added value and higher productivity.
Critical thinking is a skill like the many others you will be developing during your studies. As with drawing, embroidery, painting, photography, etc., you will need information, guidance and support. There are several publications out there that can offer this, but I think this one is particularly good because it furnishes the reader with clear guidance from a basic to an advanced understanding of critical thinking skills. This is in part done using description and example but it also has a number of exercises that develop your thinking. For me this is one of the advantages of this book, it encourages the reader to engage in activities that develop skills rather than simply telling you about them. As a visual person, this helps me remain focused and improves the effectiveness of more descriptive writing.
The step-by-step approach to critical thinking finishes with a section on critical reflection. The ability to learn from your reflective thinking is an essential part of academic study, particularly in the creative arts. Critical reflection is a structured, focused, conscious form of thinking that aims to develop understanding. Transforming the way we see the world (or an aspect of it) and influencing the way we think and act. When building a body of work reflective thinking assists you in identifying key insights into the way you work. Deepening your understanding and ability to effect the changes required to create exceptional and relevant work.
Because critical thinking is a vital part of studying towards a degree it is my suggestion that students at all levels would benefit from the guidance a book like this offers. It is never too early or too late in your studies to consider improving your critical thinking skills. It leads to a more useful learning log style, better-developed critical reviews and stronger creative work.
So what is Research?
When I wrote the blog post in October introducing myself as the new Course Leader for Textiles I outlined the elements that I feel make a good textile course. At the top of this list, I put research.
“I believe good quality research is at the centre of every student’s studies. Wide-reaching research enhances the student’s creative potential by exposing them to the richness of the creative world, inspiring creativity but also developing critical thinking skills and analysis.”
I was asked by a couple of students what this means and how they can go about doing good research. So this blog post is about unpacking those couple of sentences and explaining what research in the creative arts, specifically textiles, is all about.
The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of research is
a. The systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc., in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
b. An endeavour to discover new or collate old facts etc. by a course of critical investigation.
Pulling out the keywords from this definition we have – investigation, study, discover, collate, critical and conclusions. All these words suggest a level of thinking and searching that leads to an understanding of value. In other words, the exercise is useful and assists with the development of knowledge and creativity. The value will be defined by where you are in your studies or creative practice. The point you are at on your journey to becoming a practitioner will influence the types of research you will be most interested in.
When your journey starts, perhaps during your first Level 1 course, the main type of research activity you will be engaged with is looking at and collecting imagery. This will be of artworks made by others and the purpose of this research is to develop an understanding of what creativity is in your field. From these beginnings, the intensity and shape of research change through academic study leading to a research degree or becoming an artist/practitioner.
“I never made a painting as a work of art, it’s all research.” Pablo Picasso.
Here I believe Picasso is saying that all his artistic endeavours are part of a learning process that leads to the next piece of work.
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