Curriculum
MFA Interactive Media and Environments provides a two-year study programme consisting of four consecutive terms. The first two form a knowledge-acquisition year, whereas the second half of the programme is an output year primarily oriented toward the final review and the theoretical thesis.
Three thematic areas
In the vision of FMI Masters, the artistic practice consists of three thematic areas: the categories of ‘work, ‘think’ and ‘share’.
Work
In the category of work we refer to the studio and/or design practice of the artist. The production and development of the student’s own work is the starting point of the research process. The starting points, the context and the research framework with the accompanying methods are formulated by the student himself in the studio programme. In this context, the student is supervised by a team of core tutors, term tutor(s), theory tutors, and guest tutors. A staff of technical instructors provides technical supervision.
Key words: make, design, medium, experiment, act, empirical, processes, procedures, artwork, performance, technology, technique
Think
The Think category includes the reflective and theoretical part of artistic practice, reflection on and analysis of one’s own work, the development and formulation of an own artistic system, reflection on the theoretical context of one’s own research.
The reflective and theoretical part consists of the ArtPrac lecture series, seminars, round table discussions (MOHRaliveTHANdeadSOCIETY), tutorials, theoretical supervision in the studio and individual in-depth studies. The issues arising from one’s own artistic practice and the topicality of one’s own work domain are directive in this context.
Key words: analysis, reflection, knowledge, language, writing, interpretation, literature study, source study, thesis
Share
The Share category includes doing or presenting (the results of) research in a specific project-oriented context. Presentation forms a part of the study and may assume the form of an exhibition. This part concerns the way in which the student’s work is displayed and articulated.
In the project part of the educational programme, under the ‘share’ denominator, the students develop projects based on their own programme (such as guest tutor programme, excursions and symposiums, for example) as well as projects set up covering the entire FMI Masters. In addition, they can participate in research workshops or projects initiated by the lector / lectors and the AMP project office.
Key words: collective, presentation, context, critical, workshop
For the entire duration of the FMI Master’s degree programme, the three thematic areas are part of the research and development process.
Artistic development and research
Besides the three thematic areas, the FMI Masters has four distinct research and development stages:
play and experiment; collection of meaningful material; formulation of the artistic system; communication and presentation of research results.
In all semesters, all these components are covered to a greater or lesser extent, but the programme is structured in such a way that, in each semester, special emphasis is placed on one of the stages. This global division does justice to the notion that artistic research processes often do not have linear progression but are typified by a circling or network character.
First year
Semester 1: play and experiment
In this term, the emphasis lies on play and experiment and on reflecting on the results obtained. In various parts of the programme, the student puts his own starting points and beliefs up for discussion, both in relation to his own work and with respect to the role of art in society. By laying and experimenting with new contexts and conditions, by speculating on the possibilities available, and by reflecting on the outcomes, the student can ultimately determine his own field of research.
Semester 2: collecting, combining and transforming meaningful material
By playing and speculating in the first semester, a provisional research framework is formed. The student continues the research in the second semester, in which information relevant to the defined domain (visual, theoretical or otherwise) is compiled. This material encircles, as it were, the questions and issues formulated in the research proposal. The collected material is subjected to transformations, combinations and analyses, with the aim of developing one’s own theme and vision.
Semesters 1 and 2: study modules
The first year offers a programme with practical and theoretical workshops in the domain of Interactive Media & Environments, and includes themes such as: computer technology, software programming, 2-D and 3-D and media theory. The number of workshops and courses gradually decreases in the second term, and the formulation of the final graduation project is initiated. The first year is concluded with a clear presentation of the plans for the final graduation project.
Second year
Semester 3: formulating an artistic system
In the first year of study, the student is challenged to put his own vision on his artistic premises up for discussion, and to seek new meaningful material. In the third semester, this research must take shape in an own artistic system. The student develops the germ of an artistic theory that is visible in a recognizable, associative and poetic coherence in the work.
Semester 4: communication and presentation
The last semester is largely devoted to the development of the final exam work. In this semester, work and artistic theory are formulated and the form in which these are to be presented to the public is decided upon. This means that, in this semester, more emphasis lies upon communication and the presentation of work and research results.
Semesters 3 and 4: study modules
In the third and fourth term, students work on their final graduation project and thesis under the supervision of core and term tutors. The necessary technical support usually takes place in the lab.
The thesis helps formulate and sharpen the students’ artistic vision in terms of content. An optional subject at the University of Groningen, specifically aligned with the chosen final graduation project, ensures theoretical deepening.
The students present their work (work in progress) to fellow students at regular intervals. They are expected to present their work on internet and, if possible, also in an exhibition.
The programme of workshops and lessons is obligatory. Besides this, there is an optional-subject programme of lectures in art and media history, projects at the University of Groningen, and workshops or projects organized by the advanced programmes of MFA Painting and MFA Scenography. In consultation, a part of this programme may replace a part of the obligatory programme.
The obligatory workshops cover the competences and content-related areas relevant to the study programme. The workshops are always oriented toward practical skills and the acquisition of in-depth knowledge and insight. In addition to the obligatory programme, there is also scope for participation in master classes and (joint) visits to at least two media festivals.
The programme is concluded with the result of the studio research project and a theoretical thesis.
During the final review, the students give an oral elucidation of their work to the exam committee. An exhibition of the work of graduates from the FMI Masters is presented after the final review.