Research Methodology Proseminar: Body and embodiment issues
In the past, the human body was perceived as an innate biological entity whose characteristics and functions were determined primarily by physiological processes. Today, however, the prevailing view in the human sciences is that the body is not merely a natural given but also the product of social, cultural, and historical processes that continuously shape it.
At the beginning of the course, each student will select an artwork as a starting point for the research and writing process. This work may originate from the fields of art, architecture, jewelry making or design, if it embodies a significant connection to the body or raises issues related to the body and embodiment.
Course Structure
Learning throughout the course is based on hands-on practice; the final project takes shape gradually from one lesson to the next through cumulative writing assignments that eventually form the complete body of work. This approach allows for close guidance at every stage of the project, ensuring its completion by the end of the course. While this offers distinct advantages, participation requires consistent work and steady progress on assignments from week to week.
It is also important to note that research and writing activities take place throughout the year exclusively in teams (pairs or groups of three). This format fosters dialogic thinking and helps distribute the workload; however, it requires students to demonstrate a willingness and ability to collaborate, listen, remain open-minded, and engage effectively with others.
A significant portion of the first semester will be dedicated to observing, describing, and analyzing the aesthetic and design characteristics of the selected work. Subsequently, we will expand upon the work's iconographic contexts and semiotic meanings, analyzing it through historical, social, and cultural lenses. By this stage, each student will have a short list of sub-topics—centered on the study of the body and corporeality—that emerged naturally from engaging with the work; this will facilitate a seamless transition from the study of the work itself to theoretical realms.
At the end of the semester, students will submit the first chapter of the paper. The second semester will be dedicated to writing the second chapter, which will focus on a theoretical discussion based on three position academic papers regarding the chosen issue, while applying these perspectives to the interpretation of the work. This discussion will bring the students' positions and insights concerning the issue and the work to their culmination.