A Critical Reflection Of Professional Practitioner Inquiry.

A Critical Reflection Of Professional Practitioner Inquiry.

Module 2 has been a very insightful and interesting module for me.  It has allowed me to explore a topic I am very passionate about, and discover ways that I can research and evaluate this topic.

Reader 4 helped me to discover the ways in which I research within my industry.  It helped me to determine that as a performer I am always researching and gaining knowledge through everything I do.  I began to think of a topic that is often spoke about amongst performers and workers within the industry and noticed a pattern amongst my conversations and readings.  The question arose about why performers work for free and I began to brainstorm ideas about my views and opinions on this topic. (Appendix A).  I also researched what is already known about this topic and found some very interesting articles that helped me to progress with planning my inquiry.                                                                  ‘Trueman.M (2013) (http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/dec/13/half-equity-actors-pay-under-5k-survey)’, (http://www.spotlight.com/news/archive/2012/07/04/equityrsquos-guide-to-the-issues-around-low-no-pay-for.aspx).  After discussing my inquiry question with my Advisor Alan Durrant, I was very enthusiastic to begin my plan.

I began studying all the inquiry tools that are available to use. I decided I was going to make a pilot survey for my friends to take on my chosen topic.  This was to see if the topic had a good amount of interest amongst friends in the industry. (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?PREVIEW_MODE=DO_NOT_USE_THIS_LINK_FOR_COLLECTION&sm=K0cxGiA9qOQu6hViozBocv0rA42JVgcgcAQrQOaDkJQ).  I found this survey very useful and it helped me to determine that I will use a survey within my inquiry to gain statistics and patterns.  I also looked into the benefits of other inquiry tools, such as interviews and literature reviews and found that all three tools will create a good balance when reviewing for evidence in my inquiry.  I blogged about the different advantages and disadvantages of the tools explored in reader 4 and decided these were the best 3 for my inquiry. (Appendix B. LIZZYROWDEN.BLOGSPOT.CO.UK).  I also found that my SIG on Facebook helped me to gain others opinions on inquiry tools and create conversation on the work we were all planning.

Through the tasks in reader 5 I was able to identify how important professional ethics are to my inquiry.  I found this reader very interesting as ethics are there to keep us safe and set boundaries, but there are arguments that they can stand in the way of human instincts and characteristics, ‘If the development of civilization has such a far-reaching similarity to the development of the individual and if it employs the same methods, may we not be justified in reaching the diagnosis that, under the influence of cultural urges, some civilizations, or some epochs of civilization -- possibly the whole of mankind -- have become "neurotic"?’ (Freud.S (1930) Civilization and Its Discontents).  A question I asked myself, is should we allow ethics to overrule our emotions and instincts?  This question arose from the photograph in reader 5 of the Sudanese girl that ‘Kevin Carter’ photographed in 1993. (http://www.cincyworldcinema.org/press/carter2_545x588x300dpi.jpg)  In this instance I believe that ‘ethical duties as a photojournalist’, ‘Nottingham.P (BAPP (Arts) WBS 3630 Module 2, Reader 5)’, shouldn’t have been more important than a human life.  However I do realise that in circumstances such as an inquiry, ethics play an important role and are there to protect those participating.  I found this a very fascinating topic as there is so much debate amongst it.

In conclusion, I have had a very interesting time whilst planning my inquiry and believe that I can take a lot of new knowledge and findings into Module 3, and build my inquiry to become a piece of work that develops knowledge of my topic.

References

‘Trueman.M, (2013) (http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/dec/13/half-equity-actors-pay-under-5k-survey)’,

http://www.spotlight.com/news/archive/2012/07/04/equityrsquos-guide-to-the-issues-around-low-no-pay-for.aspx.

(http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?PREVIEW_MODE=DO_NOT_USE_THIS_LINK_FOR_COLLECTION&sm=K0cxGiA9qOQu6hViozBocv0rA42JVgcgcAQrQOaDkJQ). 

Freud.S (1930) Civilization and Its Discontents.

http://www.cincyworldcinema.org/press/carter2_545x588x300dpi.jpg

‘Nottingham.P (BAPP (Arts) WBS 3630 Module 2, Reader 5)’

Award Title Proposal

Passion and love for what I do, is what has driven me to develop and nurture my talent and skills within Performing Arts.  When someone asks me what I am best at, I cannot answer.  As I feel my strength lies in Performing as a whole, singing, acting, dancing and choreographing.  I believe that my skills work together and not individually and that I am a better performer and teacher for this.  This is why I have chosen the proposed title of Performing Arts as what I do doesn’t fit into one single category.  It fits into the Arts as a whole and has many segments and attributions within it.  For me to single out one skill, such as dance or dance teaching, I would be neglecting my other skills, and not portraying a true and fulfilling description of my talents.  I also feel I have worked hard in my life whilst studying and training to develop all of the relevant skills required within performing arts to just push some aside.  I want the chance to pass on my knowledge to others through teaching and performing and I don’t want to restrict myself to doing this through one genre of the Arts.  I want to teach Performing Arts and everything that is categorized within it and I feel this title will allow me to go on to do so.