Hi Gunnar
My take on this is that in future, Schools of Art and Design,
especially in the UK, will explore more the idea that 'making a film'
might be undertaken as part of a research degree process, in the sense
that the 'making' may allow insights that could not be identified
through other kinds of 'observation'.
In which case, future students will benefit from both the 'film-
related researcher' and the 'person good at making films' as one and
the same person. And they may look at this, and continue to be taught
by, film-makers from a non-academic environment.
This raises another question for me.
I recently posed an issue to immediate colleagues about the parallel
history of formal Art and Design education in the UK, and
traditionally University education. It went something like this:
'I wonder how we might perceive Research in the UK had Art and Design
been an integral part of the University system as it has developed
since the 1840s.'
What could Art and Design have contributed to the development of
Research protocols and debates as it has developed since?
Rather than having to play catch-up, as often seems to be the case.
Even occasionally be ridiculed, by traditional University subjects,
for a lack of etiquette and sophistication.
I know some of my colleagues here at Loughborough have explored what
we know about 'making', through 'making', as part of their PhD. I have
heard Chris Rust refer to the work of Owain Pedgley, in particular.
But I do like to entertain myself with the idea that Art and Design
has just simply arrived at this particular party much later than
expected.
And wearing jeans!
Robert.
Robert Harland Lecturer Loughborough University School of Art
and Design +44 (0)1509 228980 [log in to unmask]
www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ac/mainpages/Research/staffpages/harland/harland.htm
On 8 Dec 2009, at 23:00, Swanson, Gunnar wrote:
> If a university wants to teach filmmaking, it may make sense to have
> students spend some of their time with film researchers but I hope
> it goes without saying that they need to learn to make films from
> people who are good at making films (as opposed to people who are
> good at conducting film-related research.) The attitude toward
> degrees and worthwhile activities of the School of Communication at
> ECU is not unlike the attitude of many universities as a whole.
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