Thursday 8 May 2014

Inquiry submission

I have just submitted my dissertation. I have mixed feelings.
I kept tampering with it until the end, which is not a good thing. It can leave you head spinning and a bit word-blind.
But, I think I always felt that way in the closing days of submitting module work so perhaps it's just committing the work for scrutiny that makes me feel uneasy. Whatever the reason - it's finally done.

Friday 2 May 2014

Amendments : From Inquiry to Hey Jude

Under advisement I have just made amendments to my Evaluation. Next up : changes to Analysis.
It's interesting that whilst making these amendments I felt the project slipping away from me, even though I know they can only improve the piece. I had grown atrached to the form of the original. This reminded me of script writing. Sometimes you can grow attached to a line or a scene, even though inside you know it disrupts the balance of the piece. But you must look at the bigger picture and know when to make changes. This is what it is to craft something. As Paul McCartney once said "It's not about the notes you added, but the notes you leave out."

Thursday 24 April 2014

Inquiry update

Well, I've finally handed in a copy of my intro, evaluation, analysis and artifact. (Though having now proof read it, I've seen typos and oversights).
How do I feel about this body of work?
To be honest, I'm not sure. Probably apprehensive. I seem to have research material left over. Plus,  every now and then I will come up with something that I think should have been included. But that would mean omitting something else.
Have I done the right thing?
I think at the moment I'm too close to the material. I need to take a breath and then review.

Monday 7 April 2014

Evaluation and Literature.

Just finished my evaluation and Literature review. It was interesting to look back on the process which, if I'm to be honest, didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked. Interviews had to be cancelled and rearranged and then cancelled again with alarming regularity. But we got there in the end. I have also found that some of my literature sources have been abandoned, whilst other have been moved lower down the ranks of importance/relevance. I suppose it's better to have too many sources than not enough.

Now to look at the ethics.

Thursday 3 April 2014

We are Detective

I have found that by applying an acting strategy to my research I am able to glean more from the literature.
Let me explain.
When given a script we are taught to take a methodical approach.
First read the script for what it is - a story.
Read it again. Picking up on neuonses.
Read again looking at your character. What people say about him/her and what they say about themselves.

There are more steps to this process,  but I think this highlights the approach I am taking to my literature. Even if it's one paragraph, one quote, be a detective.
In quotes sometimes people tell you more about themselves, their approach,  their craft -  if you read between the lines. Of course, once you've done this you must find more evidence to substantiate your claim.
But finding evidence is what a good detective does.

Thursday 6 March 2014

Full steam ahead

So, today's campus tutorial was interesting, and helped clarify some of the concerns of how I go about my Inquiry.
We had an overview of philosophical view points and our own positionality in relation to our investigation within our chosen profession.
What really struck home was the time frame we are working to. Now's the time. I need to start drawing the threads of my inquiry together and produce a coherent and logically plotted piece of investigative writing.

Wednesday 26 February 2014

Literature review

Currently, I am working my way through Acting theory and Sports psychology, and finding similarities in their strategies for success (by success, I mean a successful endeavour not monetary gain)
Interestingly, it appears, on the face of it, that musicians and sportsmen work harder in their alone - time than actors. Is this really the case?
I will put this to my SIG (British Actors Network) on Facebook, and observe the feedback.