Degree - Independent Study Module

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So I know that lots of people are interested in further education and studying. We have posts about the OCA and OU courses here in this forum so I thought I'd like to share my experience about an upcoming module that I'm studying.

A bit of background about me: I left school ten years ago after doing A-Levels in Maths, Physics and Music Technology. I didn't go into further education. At 23 I bought the first module of the OCA Photography degree and hated it. During this time I was repeatedly rejected from studying photography at university for various reasons (mostly that my storytelling isn't good enough within my imagery or that they didn't think I could manage the academic work - I didn't get good marks at school). I decided to study with the Open University as a way to prove I could manage the academic side of a photography degree, but ended up falling completely in love with History of Art as a discipline by accident, although I'd always been more interested in the theory of photography than taking pictures. I worked as a fashion photographer in this period too employed full time. I then went freelance, hated it, and I now work freelance as a photography journalist writing for photography magazines.

That's me. This is what I'm doing.

I started studying for my BA in History of Art at Oxford Brookes in September 2013. One of the reasons I was attracted to this degree was that there is not only the standard third year dissertation, but also an option to also take an independent study module. Very few students take this module, it's not an easy one if you're not motivated I guess. I think they say 2-3 students a year and our year group (I think) is about 70 strong. However I'm a strong candidate, the marks from my first term averaged 67% and you need 70% to get a first.

I'll be hopefully taking the Independent Study Module as part of my second year and I'm planning to study photography. I have my first meeting in two weeks with my head of department when we're going to look at the options and start putting together a plan.

Basically the module comprises of three stages:
1. Plan the module. Basically I have to write a plan for my term of study, gather resources, plan any visits etc.
2. Do the study. Each term comprises 12 weeks of study.
3. Submit a portfolio of work. As agreed prior to the module starting, in the planning sessions.

My module will start in January 2015, the second semester of my second year. As far as I can tell I have to get most of it planned over the coming months. I thought it would be interesting to share my thoughts on the planning of my module (essentially writing part of a degree course) and then my progress through it. Hopefully culminating in a first...

Hope you find it interesting and insightful!
 
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This sounds interesting, definitely following your progress along this journey Charlotte.

What are your thoughts for the module, and are their any guidelines or restrictions on the theme/scope that you can define?
 
Alastair said:
This sounds interesting, definitely following your progress along this journey Charlotte.

What are your thoughts for the module, and are their any guidelines or restrictions on the theme/scope that you can define?
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:plus1:

I'll also be following your progress with interest. I can fully understand why you fell in love with the history of art :)
 
Alastair said:
This sounds interesting, definitely following your progress along this journey Charlotte.

What are your thoughts for the module, and are their any guidelines or restrictions on the theme/scope that you can define?
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No it's really open so that it can encompass pretty much anything. They key is that I have to come up with a plan that is effectively to the same level of study as everyone else. Some people have used it for vocational work experience and so forth. My tutor is keen to integrate the photography journalism work I do somehow, so I guess I have to wait and see what plans he has for that. He's keen, I think, for me to see exhibitions and write reviews, so I have to research what will be on this time next year.
 
So I've got my meeting tomorrow with my head of department and I'm using the opportunities of lunch at Wagamamas between lectures today as a time to write down some ideas.

I'm thinking I'd like to study gender representations within photography. It's a fantastically huge remit and allows me to look at everything from 18thC Victorian nursemaids who were covered in cloth while propping their charges up for photographs, right through to the depiction of gender in modern pornography. I'm also hugely interested in how artists represent themselves and there's an interesting division that's arisen in the way male and female photographers shoot self portraits. Men tend to follow in the 'scholarly' style, such as Rembrandt's self portraits in the National Gallery, whereas it's far more likely for a woman to show herself in a way that's eroticised or as if her body is public property.

My other ideas are around modernist architecture and architectural photography. I'm interesting in if photographs of European Modernist Architecture influenced American Modernist Architects. It's curious because much European work is in colour while American styles tend to be black and white. Perhaps there is some connection there, our architectural lecturer think's it's worth investigating.

As for output, I'm going to suggest a two pronged approach. Firstly a weekly blog that captures the things I've learnt and investigates my own views on the subjects I study. And secondly an extended essay. This *might* be quantities above the level required, so I'm going to discuss it. Since I'm a writer I'm also going to investigate if I can get a magazine to pick it up as a serialised column. I've got some time to pitch it around.

My third option is basing it on an internship that's coming up at the universities gallery. They're curating a photography exhibition over the summer to open this autumn, however it might be too early to tie it in with my module. I'm going to look at what shows are planned for next year though and possibly investigation of photography curation is an option. I'm also visiting Paris in April 2015 with the university so it exposes me to a wider range of curation styles, however this is the expensive option.

Lastly there is ethnographic photography and it's functions, however I think this falls a little left of the remit of the department and is more anthropological in nature.

To be honest I'm hoping that the gender option is the one that will come to fruition. I'm also planning on taking a 'gender, sexuality and culture' module at the same time, so they'd compliment each other.
 
I like the gender idea, there has been some recent interest in "hidden mothers" in Victorian portraiture and articles in the press (I collect carte de visite - I only have one "hidden mother" card, but there are other gender-specific patterns in posing, etc.). It's a big theme, but that allows a very broad research phase leading to a more focussed scope as the project progresses. If you followed the photographic portraiture thread from 1860-2010 you'd have a convenient 150 year time-line.

Why not a blog and your own curated on-line exhibition? (that way you could still work in the internship as part of your preparation and research).
 
Alastair said:
I like the gender idea, there has been some recent interest in "hidden mothers" in Victorian portraiture and articles in the press (I collect carte de visite - I only have one "hidden mother" card, but there are other gender-specific patterns in posing, etc.). It's a big theme, but that allows a very broad research phase leading to a more focussed scope as the project progresses. If you followed the photographic portraiture thread from 1860-2010 you'd have a convenient 150 year time-line.

Why not a blog and your own curated on-line exhibition? (that way you could still work in the internship as part of your preparation and research).
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I'm not really convinced at 'online curatorship'. To me that's just 'here are a few of my favourite things'. It doesn't involve the administrative skills of organising an actual exhibition, working with artists, working with gallery staff etc. That just screams cop out to me.
 
CharlotteM said:
I'm not really convinced at 'online curatorship'. To me that's just 'here are a few of my favourite things'. It doesn't involve the administrative skills of organising an actual exhibition, working with artists, working with gallery staff etc. That just screams cop out to me.
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But it's a lot cheaper than a RL exhibition when working on a student budget.. and other than "working with gallery staff", most of the other disciplines can be done - marketing, preparation of catalogue (an on-line exhibition can still have a physical catalogue). And it can tie in directly with your extended essay idea - an illustrated extended essay presented to the public as an on-line exhibition and printed catalogue.
 
Alastair said:
But it's a lot cheaper than a RL exhibition when working on a student budget.. and other than "working with gallery staff", most of the other disciplines can be done - marketing, preparation of catalogue (an on-line exhibition can still have a physical catalogue). And it can tie in directly with your extended essay idea - an illustrated extended essay presented to the public as an on-line exhibition and printed catalogue.
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Well, it all got decided on Thursday.

I'm going to be working towards producing an exhibition catalogue. A physical book, printed most likely by one of the on-demand services.

I have a word limit of 3000 words total and it's not allowed to be an extended essay (they prefer us to do more experimental projects). The current plan is to produce a longer introductory essay that explores the themes and concepts and then shorter essays introducing each 'room'.

My subject is going to be how photographers represent themselves through self portraiture, focussing on feminist/queer studies interpretations of the male gaze. I'm thinking that I'd like to plan two rooms, one room with 'watchers' and one with 'watchees'.

I'll stick some examples up in a sec, although I'm using the internet through my mobile phone since I've just moved into my new flat today. No proper broadband until 24th March. :-(
 
The obvious example I can think of is Cindy Sherman, I'll have to have a think about others.
 
Nan one month after being battered - Nan Goldin
P78045_10.jpg


Self Portrait - David Bailey
British-Photographer-David-Bailey.png


Self Portrait - Mapplethorpe
Robert-Mapplethorpe-Self-Portrait-1975.jpg


Bailey is a 'gazer' in the shot here, while the other two are being 'gazed'. Mapplethorpe is the interesting one that I'm keen to include - as a gay man he doesn't fit into the Western Canon of what artists should be... traditionally...

I also want to include an Ana Medieta film - possibly this one. I'm comfortable putting video under photography, or rather grouping them together as 'lens based media'. I think it'll provoke interesting discussion with my tutors anyway. This is one of her photographs, but I'm keen to research and include a film.

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/mendieta-untitled-self-portrait-with-blood-t13354

T13354_9.jpg
 
CharlotteM said:
Mapplethorpe is the interesting one that I'm keen to include - as a gay man he doesn't fit into the Western Canon of what artists should be... traditionally...
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Although Michaelangelo and Caravaggio's sexuality was probably rather fluid, shall we say :)

BTW, on a related track, considering they extensive use of photographic self portraits in their art, Gilbert and George might fit your remit rather well, as would Andy Warhol.
 
CharlotteM said:
My subject is going to be how photographers represent themselves through self portraiture, focussing on feminist/queer studies interpretations of the male gaze. I'm thinking that I'd like to plan two rooms, one room with 'watchers' and one with 'watchees'.
Click to expand...

Could be interesting if you dipped into vernacular photography - i.e. The "selfie", though I suspect that is a whole other project in itself ;)
 
Musicman said:
Could be interesting if you dipped into vernacular photography - i.e. The "selfie", though I suspect that is a whole other project in itself ;)
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There will almost certainly be a 'selfie' or two in it. Most likely looking at Terry Richardson or someone.
 
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