Where does my work belong academically?

As part of the MA I need to define where my work stands in relation to academic content within animation practice. Finding other professionals and academic studies in animation will help inform my own practice. To do this I need to first research different areas that may link to my own work and ideas. 

I first read some books about practice related research to define which type of practice related research my idea would follow. As my project will use different processes to generate a new understanding of animation practice within stop motion and VR, I identified that my own project would fit into the practice-led category. In Practice based research - A Guide, Linda Candy defines practice led research as:

“Practice-led Research is concerned with the nature of practice and leads to new knowledge

that has operational significance for that practice. The main focus of the research is to advance

knowledge about practice, or to advance knowledge within practice. In a doctoral thesis, the

results of practice-led research may be fully described in text form without the inclusion of a

creative outcome. The primary focus of the research is to advance knowledge about practice,

or to advance knowledge within practice. Such research includes practice as an integral part of

its method and often falls within the general area of action research. The doctoral theses that

emerge from this type of practice related research are not the same as those that include

artefacts and works as part of the submission.”

I then looked at areas within animation and academics that I could link my practical idea into, I found that the premise of my project would fit well within these areas:

• Haptic processes 

• Value of hand made

• Relationship between digital and hand made

• Stop motion vs 3D digital

This has allowed me to situate my work in an academic context.