hi all,
in the spirit of this conversation, may i tell the list of this new ma 
programme (the ph.d. aspect to be validated in a few months) -- which is directly 
attempting to help post-graduate students combine (in a non binaric way, if this 
is possible): theory/theoretical/philosphical aspects with producing a bodyof 
work, either visual/acoustic, or in some other aspect of the arts.  it is the 
first of its kind which concentrates specifically on contemporary philosophy 
and also allows the student to do one unit anywhere in the EU (to be expanded 
to the US, Japan, West Africa and South Africa next year).  the student my 
submit a fully written dissertation/ thesis; or may choose, instead to submit as 
their ma/ph.d. dissertation an art piece + smaller written work.

this programme came out of five very exciting years at the jan van eyck (as 
head of the theory department) where we were attempting to streamline an 
approach which might provide a somewhat tough, somewhat playful, working/creative 
and intellectually stimulating enivornment to artists/ philosophers/ 
technicians/political theorists, and literary folks in a way which might also give 
'credit' to one's output at the level of an ma up to and including the ph.d.    

there are some rough spots still (this will be its first year of working at 
the university of greenwich), but it's rather exciting, despite (or because) of 
these 'spots';  i've appended the general overview below to give you the 
basic ideas; there are a couple of ma bursaries (for tuition) available and later, 
some ph.d. funding (still casting around for this).  it is held at the 
university of greenwich (department of creative, critical and communication studies, 
school of humanities), at the magnificient maritime campus, and Trinity 
School of Music (also on the campus) is linked with this (for those of you more 
interested in acoustics and peforming composition), as is the school of computing 
mathematical sciences and the school of architecture...   for general 
information, etc. see my website: www.gre.ac.uk/gs04

anyone who might wish to connect their programmes with this one; or might 
wish to somehow be involved, either as a graduate student, researcher, or link -- 
or even if you have some suggestions, don't hold back!
kind regards
johnny g.


MA in Critical Studies, New Media and the Practising Arts
Department of Creative, Critical and Communication Studies
School of Humanities
Maritime Campus
Programme Director: Prof Johnny Golding (Sue Golding/johnny de philo)


Overview Statement:

This programme is a unique interlacing of theory and practise, allowing a 
student the ability to engage with advanced philosophic, creative and critical 
analysis as it links with or informs new media, visual/acoustic culture, 
communication studies, and the arts.  Apart from this unique interlacing and 
engagement, two innovative aspects of the programme should be highlighted: (1) a 
student has the option, should he or she wish to pursue it (and in agreement with 
his/her Supervisory team) to opt for ‘Independent Research Project’ as one of 
their choice units; here the student may embark on a ‘practical’ arts 
project; and (2) the student may wish to take ‘Elective Option Unit’, in lieu of one 
of their choice courses; wherein the student may be permitted (upon agreement 
with the Instructor of the course and their Supervisor Team) to take a course 
outside of the University (for example, with a University or Cultural 
Arts/New Media Institute within the EU).

As it is set out in the documentation which follows this overview, the 
Programme has been designed on the basis of a one year full-time Masters Degree.  
However, students may be permitted to take only the courses and not complete the 
dissertation (in which case, they will be awarded a PG dip).  They may wish 
to take the Programme on a part-time basis (in which case, the Programme is 
extended over two years).    At present, the Programme can run without any 
additional funding – but it would be a rather ‘bare bones’ operation.  We are 
hoping in the first instance that there will be some teaching relief for the ‘core 
staff’ in the Department of Creative, Critical and Communication Studies in 
order to mount a fuller programme, and every effort is being made to find 
additional funding outside the School and University (British Arts Academy, the 
AHRB, the Arts Council and EU funding).

We are pleased with the tremendous support from the other Schools at the 
University of Greenwich with respect to this new programme.  In particular, the 
School of Computing Mathematics (Department of Information Systems and 
Multimedia, Dr. Mohammad Dastbaz, Head) and the School of Architecture and Construction 
(Dr. Teresa Stoppani, Head of the MA) have offered appropriate units for our 
students to consider.  There are no pre-requisites for any of these units, 
although the student is expected to have the appropriate undergraduate background 
and approval of the Instructor before embarking on the respective course.  

The Structure of the Programme:

Each student is required to take five courses (20 credit points each), write 
a Dissertation Outline Proposal (10 credit points) and a Dissertation (70 
credit points), for a total of 180 credit points based on the one year, full-time 
Masters Research Degree Programme.  The core courses or units of assessment 
include: (1) The Research Methods Seminar – set up along the lines of a 
laboratory of research and participation, wherein (and wherever possible) Guest 
lecturers – artists, scholars, practitioners and players in the field(s) – are 
invited to link their work with those of the graduate students;  (2) Foundations I 
(Contemporary Political Philosophy and Aesthetics), on offer to give a 
thorough analytic basis of ‘dialectical reasoning’ at its most poignant and as it 
relates to new social movements, media technologies and the arts; (3) 
Foundations II (Untimely Meditations and Discursive Analysis), established to give the 
student a ‘post-dialectical’/post-metaphysics foundation as connected to mode
rnity/ post-modernity and visual-acoustics at its most fluid, 
multi-dimensional, sensuous; (4) Dissertation Outline Proposal (to be worked on in a 
one-to-one environment with his/her Supervisor and/or Supervisory Team and submitted by 
the end of Semester II in order to embark on the further research and writing 
of the Dissertation over the summer term (for full-time only); adjusted for 
part-time study. 

The student may then refine their programme of study to reflect the more 
specific detail of their speciality research interest.  To this end, the optional 
courses play a particular role: the student may choose two units from the 
selection as listed in this handbook, or they may choose to do one Independent 
Research Project and one taught unit within the University, or they may choose to 
do a unit at another Art/Cultural Institute of higher learning or University 
(as approved), outside the University of Greenwich (and within the EU for 
example).  This may incur additional costs for the student.

Whichever direction the student may choose to take in their advanced 
Research, we will endeavour to give a one-to-one guidance and the intellectual space 
to produce cutting-edge, experimental research in Critical Studies, New Media 
and the Practising Arts.

Professor Johnny Golding 
        (S. Golding/johnny de philo)
Director of the Programme
  on behalf of the Department of Creative, Critical and Communication Studies





OVERVEIW DIAGRAM OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME



Please Note:
The diagram below is based on a one year, full-time study for the Masters 
Degree.  Students may opt to do the degree on a part-time basis (in which case 
the study period will extend to two years).

The student may opt to forego his/her dissertation and prefer a Postgraduate 
Diploma (PG Dip).  If he or she takes this option, then the Dissertation 
Outline Proposal will naturally not be required.
 

CRITICAL STUDIES, NEW MEDIA and THE PRACTISING ARTS [180 CREDITS  F/T  1YEAR 
STUDY]  1 year  F/T
    
SEMESTER 1 COURSES
Compulsory
Foundations I:  Contemporary Political Philosophy & Aesthetics   (20 credits)

Research Methods Seminar (I) (20 credits)

Optional
Any one of the associate graduate level units on offer within the Department 
of Creative, Critical and Communication Studies, the School of Humanities or 
associated Schools within the University, in the first instance, as approved by 
the Programme. (20 credits) 


SEMESTER 2 COURSES
Compulsory
Foundations II: Untimely Meditations and Discourse Analysis 
 (20 credits)
Research Methods Seminar (II) including Dissertation Outline Proposal, as 
approved by their individual Supervisor; 
Optional
Any one of the associate graduate level units (as noted in Semester 1 Optional
) OR art project (enrolled as ‘Independent Study Project’ – see list of 
units following this section). 
(20 credits)



1 year F/T  DISSERTATION [15,000 words] 
Compulsory
If the student is signed up as Full-Time, the Dissertation will be completed 
over the summer term.  [80 credits]  


    
Progression to MPhil/Ph.d. if desired/appropriate.  



Professor dr. Johnny Golding 
                 (Sue Golding/johnny de philo)
Chair/Professor of Philosophy in 
    the Visual Arts & Communication Technologies
Dept. of Creative, Critical and Communication Studies
School of Humanities, University of Greenwich
Maritime Campus, Greenwich
London SE10 9LS
w: www.gre.ac.uk/~gs04

and Head /core advising researcher of the Theory Dept.
the Jan van Eyck Academy
Post-academic research institute in Fine Art, Design and Theory
Maastricht 6211km, the Nederlands
w: www.janvaneyck.nl