Category: CS Assignments

‘no man sees what things are, that knows what they ought to be’ (Gombrich, 1996:10) is the quote I used to entitle assignment 1 – a short diagnostic essay, but a theme that has carried through to the current draft dissertation of 5,000 words. Part-time studying over a long duration, means there is the challenge of remembering the ground previously covered, in this module or earlier ones. I’ve noted here a short chronology:

• A1 – diagnostic essay, but concerned with my misreading of the canal and semiotics. Gombrich’s aphorism is echoed in A4, superseded by Berger’s ‘the relation between what we see and what we know is never settled. The framing narrative for the dissertation evolved into the attachment of meanings to place and how even banal locations ‘conspire to avoid simple definition and understanding’. I highlighted important advice from my tutor’s A1 feedback – ‘... at this point you should focus on unpacking and making sense of canals as distinct physical spaces that provide sites for an array of cultural practices.‘ I believe my dissertation has achieved this.
• A2 – this was a literature review. I struggled a little with the linearity of the process set out in the course from this point. My research folder (Zotero) was bulging with ideas, but I hadn’t shaped them in to dissertation but only a loose set of ideas to explore creatively once I began writing. Yet, I was asked to write about the main literature used in the essay, before writing the essay. I later found that good practice for literature reviews is to treat them as a work in progress that would evolve with the essay itself. This how I’m treating it, with ongoing rework – this way I can make sense of the process.
• A3 – essay plan. The concept of the required written essay plan didn’t fit with my way of working. My approach was to mindmap some ideas and directions and then work through creatively while writing the dissertation. I did refer to the ideas in my written plan, but its flow carried little resemblance to the dissertation I ended up writing. My intention is to rework this assignment as a mindmap of the structure, ideas and key references of the dissertation. I think this will help me internalise what I have written and may also help shape A5.

And to A4 itself. I’ve not appended the work itself to avoid any complications in relation to plagiarism/self-plagiarism that I mentioned in a previous post.

Demonstration of subject based knowledge and understanding – Broad and comparative understanding of subject content; knowledge of the appropriate historical, intellectual, cultural or institutional contexts (25%).

My research folder contains over 200 references to various books and other media that have all been considered in the dissertation. While academic materials in relation to cultural geography were readily available, canal specific materials were challenging to find – other than engineering based ones. However, with some determination, I did track down a PhD dissertation based around living on a boat as a main dwelling; research into social / health concerns of travelling communities (including boatees); and a book of essays concerned with ‘thinking with water’. I’ve also drawn in broader cultural references to illustrate the difficulties in locating meaning.

Demonstration of research skills – Information retrieval and organisation; use of IT to assist research; ability to evaluate IT sources; the ability to design and carry out a research project, locate and evaluate evidence from a wide range of primary and secondary sources (visual, oral, aural or textual) (25%).

I continued using Zotero to organise and retrieve information. However, I took some time to restructure my folders to fit the various framed narratives in my work; eg canal, visual culture, industrial heritage (originally around essay chapters, which enforced a linearity to thinking and blocked creativity). I also, increased the level of tagging of material to aid retrieval and came up with the idea of ‘meta-tagging’ to flag items that might be included as quotes for example. Zotero has also acted as a store for my reading notes.

Because it is such a large element of my academic activity, I’ve reintroduced a separate page about my research folder to this blog.

Demonstration of critical and evaluation skills – Engagement with concepts, values and debates; evidence of analysis, reflection, critical thinking, synthesis, interpretation in relation to relevant issues and enquiries (25%). 

The dissertation is critiques hegemonic perspectives on space and how power is used to shape meanings. It evaluates representation and the filters at work when meaning is attached to place. I believe it brings in relevant cultural and sociological materials concerning the specific us of a canal as space, but these also have a wider application.

Communication – The ability to communicate ideas and knowledge in written and spoken form, including presentation skills (25%).

Assignment is in draft written form. I have yet considered how this might be formally presented – something to start thinking during A5 work.

I’m not sure if ‘formative feedback’ is the correct term in the context of an essay plan – it feels more like an ongoing dialogue with my tutor on my evolving thoughts in the run up to A4, which is a draft of the essay itself. As with previous CS assignments, I’m not publishing the work itself on the blog to avoid and complications around self-plagiarism/citation of my own work. Or, less-likely, other researchers coming across the work on this blog.

I wrote my 1000 word plan as a framework for the essay, with the idea that it is likely to change as the writing itself begins. I suppose a general direction. I’ve avoided formulating a conclusion at this stage as I want the research and writing to lead me to that. This may make the essay plan appear unclear in some respects – I don’t find it helpful to be certain at this point. The most important thing to me is to use these preliminary assignments in a way that is useful to me.

The main learnings from my video discussion and points from written feedback are summarised here:

• My tutor found the plan as a document/work in its own right a bit ‘bitty’, though acknowledged my intention. I’m conscious that it may receive some attention as assessment (so even though a draft, it is not just for me), so will refresh it as my work progresses. This will assist me in refining the direction of the essay as well as providing something more digestible for others reading it.
• Observed that some areas of the plan came across as a little abstract and not easy to make sense of – I just need to be mindful that this is avoided in the writing itself.
• Noted that references to Eastern philosophy would need to be clearly explained / referenced if used. I’ve reflected on this and think I will leave these are personal thoughts, rather than include in the essay.
• Noted that 5,000 words is not lengthy and what I leave out will be as important as what I put in. As photography can be about everything, I intend to apply a strong filter as the work progresses.

As usual, my tutor offered some useful suggestion for further reading:
– Guy Julier, Economies of Design
– Places on the margin: alternative geographies of modernity, Rob Shields.
– ‘After-images of steel: Dortmund’, Dan Swanson
– ‘Space’ is the primary theme here, but canals also seem to be about ‘time’ in lots of ways. Take a look at Tim Edensor’s essay ‘Reconsidering National Temporalities’ and see if this gives you any ideas. He’s a cultural geographer, so plenty of his other writing is also worth a look. nb, his Industrial Ruins might also have its uses. Although we’ve not discussed canals in such a way, they can definitely be read in this context.

For the first time, I am writing about feedback received without sharing the work itself on my blog. Following discussions in a photography 3 hangout, some long-standing students pointed out the risk of plagiarism and self-plagiarism when publishing writing that might form the basis of a future essay submitted for formal assessment. The irony of conscientiously maintaining a study blog, only to be undone by it at a later date!

A2 was a literature review – an overview of literature that will shape the direction of my L3 essay, but without yet taking a critical position. Overall, encouraging feedback was received; that the work has moved on and is developing much more focus and confidence. In this short post, I note areas of attention for upcoming work.

1. Continue to keep intros clear and to the point.
2. Open up the discussion of things / events that may have changed the meanings of canals; ‘de-industrialised’ them.
3. Good to expand the use of texts beyond the non-academic, but be sure to make the most of them in the essay.
4. A couple of journal articles shared by my tutor concerning ‘nature’ and ways of thinking about the imagined and the constructed. I’ll read and reflect on these separately.

We discussed A3, which is an essay plan for the substantial essay. This potentially becomes an anchor-point for further substantial writing and research. It is something I’ll move onto quickly to allow time for refinement before moving forward – I presently have very little time for photography, but significant commuting time that I can use for reading and note taking. I’m targeting the end of October for my A3 tutorial.

My own notes are included in the tutor feedback – pdf is linked below. I won’t replicate what is said in here, but note points for upcoming research and work.

• Research the concepts of cultural heritage and cultural politics. Look widely to draw inspiration and consider the role of the CRT as a key stakeholder in respect of canals in the UK.
• Look at tourism (including the tourists’ gaze) as one of the key uses of canals in the 21st century. Even if I’m not immediately drawn to this aspect as subject matter for images, the research could draw out something beyond the obvious.
• ‘ Canals as an industrial artefact that are subsumed in the tourist gaze and the urban-pastoral? ‘ My own description of how I’m begin to see the canals. Remember this as a potential theme during research. Look at other photographic works taking this as a theme (ie beyond the canal) – the High Line and Petrochemical America (Mishrach) for example.
•  Look at for signs of subcultures around the canal – visit at different times of the day.
• Read into ‘geography of heritage’ and look at Rob Shields’ Places on the Margin: an alternative geography of modernity. Examine the changing use of the canal / peripheral industries that support the tourist industry for example.

I quote my tutor’s closing advice, as a reminder to self:

... at this point you should focus on unpacking and making sense of canals as distinct physical spaces that provide sites for an array of cultural practices. With this, I’m confident that you’ll have more than enough to go on.

I was feeling more optimistic about making some headway this morning during my long daily commute … until I lost internet connection and the words! Perhaps drafting should be in Word during train journeys.

PDF of feedback.