Methods of Research in Art History

Catalog description

Preparation of graduate students for professional careers in academia and museum work, involving creation of publishable articles and grant writing. In the academic world, and particularly in the humanities, the publication of articles and books is understood to be a marker of success and, along with teaching skills, the basis on which appointments are made and tenure granted. Essential to this body of production is the execution and placement of one's research undertakings, skills that the "Methods Seminar" is designed to hone. No less valued by those who make appointments and offer promotion are the grants and fellowships that a candidate has won. Indeed, since research in art history involves travel to and residence at museum, library and archive sites- whether these be in North America or abroad-financial support is a necessity for most aspiring professionals and is regarded as evidence of external validation of their investigations. Training in "grant writing" is also covered in the seminar. Even before field work is undertaken, the investigator must be aware of the "state of research," work normally undertaken at one's own university library. In this domain there are better and worse ways of taking notes. The seminar discusses these methods and goes beyond them to consider the optimum means by which such records are organized and assembled prior to the delivery of papers and the production of articles. The nature of an oral presentation and a publishable paper are distinct activities and this difference needs to be learned. The more complex skills involved in the writing of articles, the securing of photographs and concomitant permissions, and the choice of the journal to which the "finished" piece should be submitted are dealt with at even greater length.