The aim of the unit is to enable you to acquaint yourself with current theoretical writings relating to your field of investigation and to identify the key visual arts practitioners and works of art and/or design that are relevant to your Honours project. This should include the work of contemporary visual artists and/or designers as well as those from the past, but with an emphasis on recent work.

For Honours (Professional) and Honours (Studio Research) candidates, this unit is important in enabling you to situate the concerns informing your practice in the context of current theoretical ideas and critical debate in the visual arts as well as defining the field of visual arts practice to which your work is making a contribution. For Honours (Studio Research) candidates, the research conducted for this unit will form the basis for your exegesis in second semester which will accompany your final studio submission.

For Honours (Theory Research) candidates, this unit is important in enabling you to define the field of art theoretical ideas and critical debate to which your work is making a contribution, as well as situating the concerns informing your theoretical investigation in relation to key examples of visual arts practice. The research conducted for this unit will lay the groundwork for your thesis submission in second semester.

You will initially receive assistance in identifying search terms and bibliographic references relating to your area of inquiry, and go on to develop a tailored programme of reading. The seminar programme provides opportunities for you to report on your progress in identifying key theoretical writings and works of art and/or design relevant to your Honours project.