Determining Creative Practice – A practice-based research symposium

The University of Bedfordshire, University of Derby and the MeCCSA Practice Section present a one day practice-based research symposium for media practitioners and academics.

The contribution of practice-based research within arts and
humanities has become increasingly recognized and indeed
inter-disciplinary collaborations are creating recognition outside of
the field. A key criteria of practice-based research is the role of
critical writing and reflection. The process relies on forming explicit
relations between practice and outcome and reflexively exploring the
role of the researcher in producing the creative output. Theoretical
paradigms for the latter are many and varied. Indeed it is possible to
‘justify’ any form of practice as research through sufficient
theoretical cause. The creative process however is often organic,
multi-valent and can be driven by unknown causes, disparate events or
what appears as irrelevant information. Some creative practitioners
would claim this drive is ‘something’ beyond them. Others may argue
this is simply the nature of the creative process.

In the context of writing, reflecting and presenting practice-based
research what role do notions of determinism play? Are the requirements
of practice-based research over-determined? Is there space to consider
the concept of pre determination within creative practice?

We welcome presentations of all forms of creative work, including
films, creative writing, performance, sound and new media that address
the following themes:
–
Is the core origin of creativity within the individual, society, or something else?
–
Is the conscious processing of creating work just one part of the creative story? 
–
What is the role of collaboration in questioning the self-determination of the artist, or the work of art?
–
If media practice is predetermined, what does this say about the
product, the practice, and the practitioner? How does this relate to
originality, creativity, and progress?
–
If proposals ‘determine’ how useful are they in a process of creative discovery? What alternative models exist?
–
What role does commissioning and pre-production play in determining a creative practice?
–
To what extent do the institutional and commercial bodies that enable
and fund practice-based research encourage the production of paratexts
which predetermine the nature and scope of the practice and the context
within which that practice can be ‘read’?
 

Creative presentations of 10 minutes followed by 10 minutes of theoretical interpretation / reflection are encouraged.

The event is free and includes lunch and refreshments.

Please e-mail proposals of 300 words to both organisers by 21 October 2009 to
Joanna Callaghan: joanna.calllaghan@beds.ac.uk  and 
Dr Jason Lee: J.Lee@derby.ac.uk

> Download the flyer with the Call for Papers of this event

> Further information on the event’s website

This event is funded by the University of Bedfordshire, University of Derby and MeCCSA, the Media, Communication, and Cultural Studies Association. 

It follows on from the symposium Circularity, Narrative and Aesthetic Translation held in April 2009 at the University of Bedfordshire.