Study Task 7 - READING EXTENDED ESSAYS

DISSERTATION TITLE:
'To what extent does miniaturisation influence contemporary illustration paper craft?'

INTRODUCTION
The introduction establishes a clear and direct topic, using etymology to carefully define terms to set out a purposeful argument. It also provides a brief history of relevant contextual elements and reveals some common questions and opinions surrounding the topic. Installs a strong direction for the essay and a brief overview of the structural intent of the essay although some of the context seems irrelevant to the central topic; e.g. the size of cosmetic packaging.

TONE
There seems to be a lot of 'he said/ she said' without any great deal of analysis or academic sophistication. Some language seems to be fairly academic with a consistent formal tone, but this is let down by very inconsistent and poor grammar. While the author has established an academic tone, the inconsistency of verb tenses and perspective creates difficulties in the clarity of the language and subsequent sophistication of the text. Chapter 4 focuses on reflective practice so channels a much more personal tone than the main body of the text, which is appropriate to the 'proposal' tone of this chapter.

SOURCES
A fairly strong variety of sources ranging from academic texts to more factual online resources and opinions are sourced from different contextual backgrounds. The author relies on psychological theorists and phenomena to create a strong theoretical grounding which is furthered in discussions of the mental health attached to cultural objects.

TRIANGULATION
Quotes and references are used thoroughly throughout to establish context but these are rarely analysed or developed, merely used to establish facts and viewpoints. The variety of sources is good but these are not carried over or cross examined within the relevant sub-chapters. The author only seems to connect like for like sources and so any triangulation, if made, is selective and overdrawn or poorly substantiated. 

STRUCTURE/ FLOW/ CLARITY
It is clear from the outset what the function of the text is, the author sets clear objectives which drive the informative success of the essay and establish a thorough assessment of the topic. There is a very chronological and almost asyndetic form with no direct flow or link between paragraphs, something which is upheld by the lack of triangulation across authors or authorial backgrounds. However, there is a very solid objective throughout which is clearly met and the author covers a plethora of sources and issues. 

Study task 6 - ESSAY STRUCTURE

To what extent do the unsophisticated arts pave the landscape of cultural heritage?

Introduction 250-300 words

Essential information about content 
-Definitions of heritage/ definitions of ‘unsophisticated art’

Outline topic investigating
-Importance of heritage in art/ culture knowledge and education

Why is this area of study important?
-Importance of celebrating unsophisticated arts and traditional art practices to uphold national heritage and socio-cultural awareness

Overarching research question
-Intent for essay to promote the value and legacy of heritage and tradition in the contemporary cultural landscape

Context and Themes 850 words

Background research
-Industry and revolution of practical visual media
-Inclusivity of museum collections
-Barbara Jones’ ‘unsophisticated arts’

Independent critical understanding of contexts relevant to topic
-Fragmented cultural awareness encouraged by exclusive collections
-Taste and aura/ class and status

Opinions and texts to construct your argument
-Social relationships with art/ People’s art
-Heritage as national identity
-Noel carrington’s value of the local and utilitarian craftsman

Theoretical sources

-Rodney Harrison; Heritage
-John Berger; Viewing cultures
-Priscilla Boniface; Heritage and tourism

Contextual information
-Function of heritage within and without public realm

Triangulation
-Heritage as pivotal to socio-cultural awareness and national identity
-Heritage is therefore worthy of a place in cultural arenas; museums
-Museum collections should be representative of the heritage and community that surrounds and informs them
-The unsophisticated arts were produced for utilitarian functions, not aesthetic purposes
-Should these practices not be appreciated in their native contexts

Case studies of practice 850 words

Apply research to examples of art practice/ object/ phenomena
-Barge painting/ fairground decoration
-Contemporary illustrated objects/ publications
-Tom Frost/ Alice Patullo/ Emily Sutton

How can individual works be exemplary of wider cultural tendencies?
-Environmental contexts promote organic observations; native context speaks truth about wider landscape in which that practice sits

Visual analysis
-Unapologetic character
-Pride
-Celebration
-Tradition

Explain relevance of works cited
-Contemporary channels of heritage and tradition
-Traditional media
-Promotion of nostalgia in audience

Application of theoretical research and context to back up interpretations
-Place of tradition and nostalgia based illustration practices in gallery and museum spaces
-Transience of heritage from outsider to insider through contemporary appropriation

SECONDARY RESEARCH - Textual Sources