Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years (1.8.2018-31.7.2020), which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, the students are able to:

- Identify basic concepts and theories related to costume and dress research.

- Critically reflect on issues about the theory and practice of costume design.

- Identify key methodological approaches for costume and dress, and select methods suitable to answer research questions related to the students’ interests or personal perspective.

- Recognise different ways and methods to collect data and search information from different sources, including archives, collections and individuals.

- Define and use terminology related to costume/dress studies as an academic discipline.

- Recognise and consider ethical aspects related to research in the field of costume.

- Argue on and present the findings of their individual research work in oral and written ways.

Credits: 3

Schedule: 05.02.2019 - 22.02.2019

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Sofia Pantouvaki

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Sofia Pantouvaki

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    In this course the students are introduced to basic theoretical concepts related to research in the field of costume and dress, and to tools, methods and approaches for the development of a personal research-oriented enquiry. The course content varies each year to include theoretical approaches to costume and performance from the perspective of different scholars and artists. It may also include introductory sessions to research methods for costume and dress and to different perspectives in the study of costume; for example, material culture, collection-based research in archives and museums, visual analysis and semiotics, ethnographic approaches, oral history, and creative practice. The course includes lectures and presentations on special aspects of costume history, theory and practice and in related areas that expand the understanding of costume in inter-disciplinary ways. The students work in a subject of their choice in order to critically reflect on costume in live or mediated performance and to develop a personal research approach. The course includes student presentations and written essays.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Content

    This year’s Costume and Research course introduces projects and literature from the international field of costume research and concentrates on qualitative research methods for understanding the creation, production and function of costume in live performance (i.e. theatre, opera, dance) and film. The course employs methods of desk analysis (literature review), intertextual analysis of written and visual materials (notes, drawings, photographs), and focuses on qualitative interviewing as a method for collecting unpublished knowledge and gaining insights. The students will select a topic of their choice, conduct an empirical investigation on the work of a costume designer and will prepare a small-scale final project on their topic.

    The course starts with a reading pre-assignment and includes three tasks. The final task (Task 3) will consist of a Flash Talk presentation and short final essay. Reading materials will be shared during the course. The planned schedule is for 3 credits. Additional credits (up to 6cr) can be gained through independent work; students interested in gaining additional credits can contact Prof. Sofia Pantouvaki.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Students’ development during the course, motivation, attendance and active participation in discussions, independent work and completion of assignments

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Evaluation

    Students’ development during the course, motivation, attendance and active participation in discussions, independent work and completion of assignments.

    Pre-assignment 10%

    Attendance, participation and reading assignments 30%

    Task 1 15%

    Task 2 15%

    Task 3 (final) 30%

Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Contact teaching 40%, Independent work 60% of total workload

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Workload

    Pre-assignment 5h, Contact teaching 31h, Independent work 45h

     

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Barbieri, Donatella, 2012b. Encounters in the Archive: Reflections on costume , V&A Online Journal, No. 4, Summer 2012. Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/journals/research-journal/issue-no.-4-summer-2012/encounters-in-the-archive-reflections-on-costume.

    Kawamura, Y., 2011. Doing Research in Fashion and Dress: An Introduction to Qualitative Methods. Oxford & New York: Berg.

    Monks, Aoife, 2010. The Actor in Costume. Basingstoke, GB: Palgrave MacMillan.

    Pantouvaki, Sofia. Narratives of Clothing: Concentration Camp Dress as a Companion to Survival . International Journal of Fashion Studies, Issue 1 vol. 1, Intellect. ISSN: 20517106.

    Texts used in the course will be informed in advance to registered students if related to pre-assignments, and will be handed out during the contact sessions.

Substitutes for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    ELO-E6500

Registration for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    WebOodi registration

     

    The order of priority for admitting students to courses at Aalto ARTS 1.1.2018 onwards (approved by The Committee of Arts, Design and Architecture on 10.10.2017)

    The order of priority is as follows:

    1. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have scheduled it for the current academic year in their personal study plan (HOPS);
    2. exchange students for whom the course is a part of his/her officially approved learning agreement and scheduled to be taken during the current semester;
    3. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have not completed it yet;
    4. students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and has been scheduled in the student's PSP (HOPS) for the current academic year
    5. students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
    6. students for whom the course is compulsory for their minor;
    7. students, for whom the course is part of his/her minor subject s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
    8. students who have applied for the course through a student mobility scheme (internal mobility within Aalto University, flexible study right (JOO) studies etc.);
    9. other students.

     

    Courses that are intended to be multidisciplinary (e.g. UWAS courses) may apply an order of priority based on the learning outcomes of the course, while bearing in mind the university obligation of enabling students to complete their degrees within the normative duration of study set for the degree. The order of priority does not apply to courses organised by the Centre for General Studies or doctoral courses.

    This decision on the order of priority does not influence the right of the teacher to define prerequisites for the course.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Pre-assignment:

    Please read actively (making notes) the following texts (available to download from MyCourses):

    Monks, A., 2010. “Introduction: The Dress Rehearsal”, from: The Actor in Costume. Basingstoke, GB: Palgrave MacMillan, pp.1-12.

    Pantouvaki, S., 2010. “Theatrical Costume: Dressing the Role – Dressing the Performer”. In: Endyesthai (To Dress) – Towards a Costume Culture Museum, I. Papantoniou (ed.). Nafplion: Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation, pp. 109-117.

    Nadoolman Landis, D. (2018), ‘Character and costume in cinema: The Hollywood Costume exhibition’, Studies in Costume & Performance, 3:1, pp. 91–96. [doi: 10.1386/scp.3.1.91_1]

     

    Other course literature 2019

    Barbieri, Donatella and Sofia Pantouvaki (2016). “Towards a Philosophy of Costume”, Studies in Costume and Performance, Vol. 1, Issue 1, spring 2016, pp. 3-7. [https://doi.org/10.1386/scp.1.1.3_2]

    MacLaurin, A. and A. Monks (2015), Costume – Readings in Theatre Practice, London/New York, Palgrave Macmillan.

    [especially: ‘MacLaurin, A. (2015) ‘An Interview with Jenny Tiramani’, pp. 19-28.]

    Pantouvaki, Sofia (2014). “Narratives of Clothing: Concentration Camp Dress as a Companion to Survival”. International Journal of Fashion Studies, Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 19-37. [doi: 10.1386/infs.1.1.19_1]

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    5 Gender Equality

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Minimum groupsize 3

     

    Students will be accepted to the course in the following order:

    1. Students of costume design major, for whom the course is compulsory
    2. Students of costume design major, for whom the course is optional
    3. Exchange students of costume design
    4. Minor students of costume design, whose major is production design or design for the performing arts
    5. Minor students of costume design, whose major is another than production design or design for the performing arts
    6. Other students of production design and design for the performing arts
    7. Other students of the department of Film, Television and Scenography
    8. Other students

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Pre-assignment:

    Please read actively (making notes) the following texts (available to download from MyCourses):

    Monks, A., 2010. “Introduction: The Dress Rehearsal”, from: The Actor in Costume. Basingstoke, GB: Palgrave MacMillan, pp.1-12.

    Pantouvaki, S., 2010. “Theatrical Costume: Dressing the Role – Dressing the Performer”. In: Endyesthai (To Dress) – Towards a Costume Culture Museum, I. Papantoniou (ed.). Nafplion: Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation, pp. 109-117.

    Nadoolman Landis, D. (2018), ‘Character and costume in cinema: The Hollywood Costume exhibition’, Studies in Costume & Performance, 3:1, pp. 91–96. [doi: 10.1386/scp.3.1.91_1]

     

    Other course literature 2019

    Barbieri, Donatella and Sofia Pantouvaki (2016). “Towards a Philosophy of Costume”, Studies in Costume and Performance, Vol. 1, Issue 1, spring 2016, pp. 3-7. [https://doi.org/10.1386/scp.1.1.3_2]

    MacLaurin, A. and A. Monks (2015), Costume – Readings in Theatre Practice, London/New York, Palgrave Macmillan.

    [especially: ‘MacLaurin, A. (2015) ‘An Interview with Jenny Tiramani’, pp. 19-28.]

    Pantouvaki, Sofia (2014). “Narratives of Clothing: Concentration Camp Dress as a Companion to Survival”. International Journal of Fashion Studies, Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 19-37. [doi: 10.1386/infs.1.1.19_1]

Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    Schedule

    Week 6

    Tuesday 5.2.                    

    10:15-12:30      Introduction to the course. Discussion of pre-assignments.                                     

    Research through reading: source analysis, bibliographical search and literature review.

    13:30-16             Understanding costume, multi-method research. Project examples. Intro to Task 1.
                                  (Critical Costume, Encounters in the Archive, Tribes, OISTAT, Metsis, etc.)

     

    Wednesday 6.2.                            

    [9:15-12              Costume lecture: Understanding the Wizard of Oz, Sarah Bowen]

    13-17                   Independent work.Task 1 and Reading.

     

    Thursday 7.2.                  

    9-12                     Group work on Task 1.

    13:15-16            Guest lecturer: Joanna Weckman, on her work using oral history and other sources as a method for costume research in Finland.                

     

    Friday 8.2.         

    10:15-12:30      Task 1. Student presentations. Feedback. Reading assignment.

    13:30-17             Finalisation of Task 1 and Reading.

                                  Submission of Task 1 on Friday 8.2. at 17:00 by email.

     

    Week 7

    Tuesday 12.2.

    10:15-12:30      Discussion of reading assignment. Research methods: qualitative interviewing.

    13:30-16            Research methods: qualitative interviewing (continues). In-class exercise.

     

    Wednesday 13.2.          

    [9:15-12              Costume lecture: Cinema, TV, Theatre, Commercials - Italian Costume Designer Grazia Colombini Talks About Approaching Different Languages]

    13-17                   Independent work. Planning an interview.         

     

    Thursday 14.2.

    9:15-10                Qualitative interviewing: review of the models (tutor’s feedback).

    10-12                   Conducting an interview. Meeting with guest Costume designer.

    13:15-15            Analysing interview materials and transcribing.

    15-17                   Group work. Work on transcript.

     

    Friday 15.2.      

    9-17                     Independent work. Interview materials and transcript.Transcribing.                   

     

    Week 8

    Submission of Task 2 on Monday 18.2. at 9:00by email

    Tuesday 19.2.  

    10:15-12:30      How to use and analyse the empirical material. Content analysis.                         

    13:30-16            From materials to argumentation: Essay Writing and Flash Talks.

     

    Wednesday 20.2.          

    [9:15-12              Scenography lecture: Sankariliiga (League of Heroes)]

    13:15-17            Group work: content analysis of interview materials.       

     

    Thursday 21.2.

    9:15-13                Independent work. Preparation of Flash Talk and of final essay.                             

    14-17                   Tutor’s feedback to final essay (individual tutorials).

     

    Friday 22.2.                     

    9:15-12                Independent work on the final project (Flash Talks and essays).

    13:15-16            Final Student presentations (Flash Talks) and feedback.

    Tips and guidelines for final essays.

                                 

     

    Submission of final essay on Monday 25.2.2019 by 5pm to Prof. Sofia Pantouvaki, email: sofia.pantouvaki@aalto.fi

     

    Feedback session

    Week 11

    Monday 11.3.  

    15:15-17            Feedback to course and final essay.

Description

Registration and further information