VA6006 - Critical Contexts

As a fine art student, your principle method of learning is through practice, which becomes more independently defined as the year progresses. At level six this is achieved through processes of critical thinking, creative research, experimentation, and open ended, challenging approaches to working. It is with an active engagement with these processes that you will progress your creative and conceptual skills and ‘take ownership’ of your practice. The primary site of your learning will usually be the studio and workshop environment. Your learning will be informed by different approaches to self-initiated and directed research, including material production, the critical analysis of a text, image, exhibition or film etc., or reflecting and acting on discussions with staff and peers. Initial taught sessions will encourage you to critically re-evaluate your practical and theoretical concerns from level five in order to begin to set meaningful priorities for this next stage of study.
Teaching at this level encourages you to steer the content and direction of your practice with greater autonomy, as over the year production and concept become more defined and professional. You should be prepared to identify questions and issues that can inform the one to one or group conversation, to be curious about practices other than your own and how they might contribute to, or challenge, your own way of thinking and making. These are important factors in synthesising your ‘artistic attitude’ and having confidence in it. The module offers a diversity of approaches to learning and teaching including individual tutorials, group critiques, technical workshops, lectures and seminars and student led presentations. Learning crucially occurs through a range of other forms that you take ownership of. This includes following recommended reading and initiating independent practice and creative research, being present for informal studio conversations with peers and staff, taking time for self-reflective evaluation and acting on formative feedback, keeping up-to-date with BLACKBOARD ULTRA, our electronic learning portal, being responsible for planning your studio production, attending guidance sessions and meetings, and independently embedding yourself in external artworld contexts through talks, events and gallery visits. Tutorials, group critiques and a self-evaluation review will furnish you with formative feedback to enable you to ‘feed forward’ and realise further ambitious outcomes in semester two.
At level six, Teaching Enhanced Learning (TEL) will continue to act as a core learning platform to support your subject knowledge, learning and creative practice via your module site on BlackBoard Ultra.

Academic support is provided through scheduled contact with your designated Studio Tutor. Work is discussed with academics in one to one tutorials seminars and group critiques. These formal conversations are opportunities to receive immediate formative feedback on on-going work and to act on that feedback. You write up a self-evaluative review on your progress at the semester mid-point which represents a constructive learning tool and is intrinsic to monitoring your academic development. You are supported academically by having your own studio space to produce work in and your regular attendance will also enable you to speak to tutors on a more informal basis about work you are developing. The Artistic Attitudes seminar programme addresses various approaches to research and practice and the sessions are designed to progressively support your critical understanding of what constitutes a professional and independent contemporary art practice. Formative feedback therefore occurs continually across the range of teaching contexts.

Further formal academic support is provided via information posted on the BlackBoard, the notice boards, e-mail and academic consultation and feedback office hours. The summative assessment point will provide timely feedback and guidance on the strengths of your developing practice and areas that can be improved upon. The Library is open 24 hours a day and the Electronic Learning Portal houses all your module documents including your timetable.

Where appropriate, students may also be directed to engage with Study Skills+, or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support. Personal Guidance tutorials also provide opportunities for students to discuss, in confidence, their academic progress on the programme Additional support is fostered through the Student Rep. system and the Ask4Help in Student Central can offer advice on academic procedural matters.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1 Demonstrate a critical understanding of the core theories and contexts that inform your artistic position.

2 Test, extend and evaluate your theoretical and practical knowledge through a range of practical outputs.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3 Critically reflect on the conceptual and material connections of your practice in a draft artist statement.

4 Apply critical judgement, analysis and an advanced level of technical competency in the selection and application of appropriate materials and processes.

5. Plan and implement a self-directed creative project, including setting priorities, time management and attendance.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5

Summative Assessment

(MLOs 1,2,3,4,5)
Semester 1
You will present a considered body of work in progress for this summative assessment at the end of semester one. All supporting coursework from semester 1, including contextual research/documentation, reading list and a draft artist statement will also be presented. This ‘Progress Review’ is a crucial point in your progression through the year. It enables you to reflect on your achievements so far and to respond to feedback, whilst also encouraging you to continue to test your ideas and to take risks before the final summative assessment point in semester two.

(EMA) Written feedback will be provided via the module BlackBoard site within 20 working days of submission. All feedback will be provided in the context of the module learning outcomes and module assessment criteria and will advise you on the strengths of your evolving practice as well as identifying areas for further development.

N/A

AH6008

Full details are contained in the other sections of the module specification
This module builds on your creative and intellectual learning at level five and acts as a preparation for your final major project and the formal presentation of work in semester two. This first, level six, studio module will support you in the negotiation of an individual pathway for your developing practice, which may incorporate single or multiple material processes and media. The emphasis of your learning at this stage will focus on deepening your theoretical understanding and increasing your technical and critical skills. Research-rich learning delivered through tutorials, seminars, lectures and external activities and experienced through independent practice, support these processes.
The mid-point, self-evaluation review and summative assessment act as progress reviews and are significant ‘feed forward’ opportunities to reflect on your achievements and to support the realisation of your creative ambitions in semester two. Critical Contexts, together with the follow-on studio module, Synthesis support the development of a range of professional, transferrable skills, including working independently, problem solving, time management and identifying priorities that are key skills which can be applied to a range of career pathways.