[-empyre-] practice-led

[Cecile Chevalier]

In response to Keith...

Unfortunately Practice-Led or Practice-Based research are themselves lost in translation from one field/institution/individual/reference to another, which in my opinion is one of the problem art practice has as research - if basic terminologies and definitions  such as 'Practice-Led' or 'Practice-Based' could be agreed or constant - we would get a clearer impressions of "how we [as research practitioner]manifest in the world" of art practice as research. 


Another definition, find online, that reflected some of the readings done in the early stage of my PhD...
http://www.creativityandcognition.com/research/practice-based-research/differences-between-practice-based-and-practice-led-research/
"If a creative artefact is the basis of the contribution to knowledge, the research is practice-based"
"If the research leads primarily to new understandings about practice, it is practice-led." (and therefore no absolute in having a final artefact produced)

Cécile
________________________________________
From: empyre-bounces at lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au [empyre-bounces at lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au] on behalf of keith armstrong [keith at embodiedmedia.com]
Sent: 23 January 2013 01:55
To: empyre at lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au
Subject: [-empyre-] practice-led

Hi All

Its a curious thing trying to follow a list that balloons dramatically overnight and contracts also entirely when Im awake (European predominance!)  with various threads that intermingle: interesting too that some single posts don't make the digest and vice versa as far as I can see.  I can say Adrian Miles never sleeps (or maybe he's in Europe?) as he's onto the thread beautifully!  There seem to be also many voices that speak but garner no response - quite understandably .. all in a days list work I guess!

Clearly we are up against a range of very diverse positions that don't necessarily see what we do as either artists, creatives or academics or blends thereof in similar lights as you'd expect.

To note I don't think anyone with some form of university support (even with other tasks thrown in) should underestimate how valuable that can be for being able to keep ongoing focus on research (which is about 'contribution') : its truly a privilege .. allowing  more capacity, regardless of load,  to turn good artwork into transmissible forms of research (lets just think of this not as an imposition maybe but as generous extra layers of communication we can provide for others / as well as additional capacity for understanding 'whats actually going on') - - in my mind this does not 'necessarily' have to mean a train load of papers  'on top' - there are many other ways ..  that include statements for database recordings, web site entries, lectures and plain old conversations amongst peers.

Interestingly too, to add - there is also a clearly understood fact from psychology that the impressions of who we think we are and how we act rarely match  with how we manifest in the world. (e.g. I may think Im quite green and tell you so because I recycle my bottles, and yet I might make 5 international flights a year ..)

In terms of distinctions of research this may be helpful"

Practice-led research is that in which the creative practice leads the research in such a way that its major findings reside in the practice itself, which then becomes a central component of the examinable outcome. The thesis comprises more than 50% (up to 75%) of creative practice and less than 50% (to a minimum of 25%) of accompanying written text or exegesis, which illuminates / interprets / contextualises the creative practice. The research occurs through the practice which  informs methodology, content, context and conceptual frameworks.



Practice-based research also places practice at the centre of the research, but its findings provide insights about the practice even if they are discovered through the practice. The creative practice itself is not normally an examinable component of the thesis even if the creative process may be a major part of the methodology. A documentation of the practice becomes part of the thesis but not the practice itself. The word length is normally the same as a written thesis.

Cheers

Keith