Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, 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:

- analyze, argue, present and reflect on their own creative work and respond to constructive criticism

- discuss and give critical feedback to others' written or artistic work, ideas and methods

- raise a shared discussion and debate on cultural and artistic subjects

- read and analyze academic texts on design for theatre, film and television, and explore how to use them to support their ideas and to contextualize their own work within contemporary creative production

- present and develop their thesis plans according to University guidelines.

- outline a theoretical framework including literature in support of their MA Thesis

Credits: 4

Schedule: 13.09.2021 - 25.03.2022

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

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

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

Course teacher: Susanna Suurla

Contact: susanna.suurla@aalto.fi / +358 405846197

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The MA Seminar in English generates discussion on topics related to design for theatre, film and television and supports the development of the MA thesis in English. During the course students identify central concepts and methods of artistic research for the performing and screen arts. The course enhances skills related to thesis writing and dialogue amongst the students, thus building a common culture for understanding, analysing, presenting and critiquing thesis work. 

  • applies in this implementation

     The course is taught remotely, all meetings via zoom.


    • The autumn seminars are aimed at first year MA students or students who have not taken part in the course earlier.

    •  The spring seminars are aimed for both 1st and 2nd year students. 

    Details on schedule, content and zoom links in the Zoom Links & Schedule section.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Student's development and motivation during the course. 80% attendance to seminars required.

    Independent and group work outcomes. Active participation in discussions and feedback sessions. 

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures, discussions, presentations and groupwork 75h, independent work 33h. 

    The seminar consists of two parts: the first is aimed at 1st year students and second at 2nd year students.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Ma seminar (English):

    Academic writing, research and management of materials:

    Biggs, M. A. R. and Karlsson, H. eds.,2011. The Routledge companion to research in the arts. London: Routledge.

    Kershaw, B. and Nicholson, H. eds., 2011. Research Methods in Theatre and Performance. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press

    Murray, R., 2011. How to Write a Thesis, 3 rd Edition. Berkshire: Open University Press / McGraw-Hill.

    Nelson, R. (ed.)2013. Practice as Research in the Arts: Principles, Protocols, Pedagogies, Resistances. UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

     

    Theatre/Film Scenography and Costume:

    Bleeker, M., 2011. Visuality in the Theatre: The Locus of Looking (Performance Interventions). Reprint edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

    Collins, J. and Nisbet, A. eds., 2010.

  • applies in this implementation

    Course materials will distributed during contact meetings and also via the materials page on my courses.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course can be taken either in English or Finnish seminar group.

    Minimum number of students for the MA seminar in English 2

    Credits are accumulated during two academic years.

     

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021

    (2021, 2022) - No teaching

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=ELO-E500102

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

    WebOodi registration. Check the registration period. There is a separate teaching event and registration for 1st year students (autumn and spring semesters) and for 2nd year students (spring semester).

     

    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.

Details on the schedule
  • applies in this implementation

    Autumn 2021 

    For first-year MA students only:

    13.9.2021 at 15:15 – 17:00  Introduction to the course content and schedule + Task 1

    15.11.2021 at 15:15 – 17:00 Thesis guidelines and finding a topic + Task 2

    13.12.2021 at 15:15 – 17:00 Introduction to artistic research and steps for writing a thesis plan + Task 3

    Spring 2022

     For first- and second-year MA students:

     31.1.2022 at 15:15 – 17:00 Styles of academic writing and thesis structure + pre assignment for intensive week

     21.2.2022 at 15:15 – 17:00 Writing practices and Q&A on pre-assignment

     14.3.2022 at 15:15 – 17:00 Turnitin and referencing skills

     21.-25.3.2022 Intensive Week: Monday – Friday 9:15 – 17:00, exact schedule given late February / early March