8.1 Academic Research Methods in Curatorial Studies

Academic research methods in curatorial studies blend art history, critical theory, and practical skills. Curators use primary and secondary sources to develop exhibitions, analyze artworks, and create compelling narratives that engage audiences and contribute to art discourse.

Effective research involves evaluating sources, synthesizing information, and developing themes. Curators must critically assess credibility, relevance, and context of materials while crafting narratives that illuminate artistic practices, historical contexts, and cultural significance.

Primary vs Secondary Sources

Defining Primary and Secondary Sources

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• Primary sources are original materials that have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation by a second party
  • Include artworks, artifacts, archival materials, photographs, letters, interviews, and other first-hand accounts
  • Examples: original paintings, sculptures, historical documents, artist interviews, exhibition catalogs
• Secondary sources are one step removed from primary sources, often describing, discussing, interpreting, commenting upon, analyzing, evaluating, summarizing, or processing primary sources
  • Include scholarly books, articles, essays, documentaries, and other critical interpretations of primary materials
  • Examples: art history textbooks, journal articles, critical reviews, curatorial essays

Selecting and Using Primary and Secondary Sources in Curatorial Research

• Effective curatorial research draws upon a combination of primary and secondary sources to develop a comprehensive understanding of an artist, artwork, exhibition theme, or art historical context
• The selection of primary and secondary sources should be guided by the specific focus and scope of the curatorial project, as well as the availability and accessibility of relevant materials
  • Consider the research question, target audience, and intended outcome of the project
  • Assess the feasibility of accessing and utilizing specific sources based on location, permissions, and resources
• Curators must be able to identify and locate primary and secondary sources through a variety of research methods
  • Library and archival research, online databases, scholarly networks
  • Direct communication with artists, collectors, and other art world professionals
  • Examples: searching museum collections databases, contacting artists for interviews, visiting archives to examine original documents

Evaluating Research Materials

Assessing Credibility and Relevance

• The credibility of a source refers to its trustworthiness, reliability, and authority
  • Factors to consider: author's expertise, publication's reputation, use of evidence and citations, presence of biases or conflicts of interest
  • Examples: peer-reviewed journals, established art historians, well-documented research
• The relevance of a source refers to its applicability and usefulness to the specific research question or curatorial project
  • Factors to consider: source's content, scope, timeliness
  • Examples: recent publications on the specific artist or theme, sources that directly address the research question
• Curators must critically assess the credibility and relevance of each source, considering its strengths and limitations in relation to the research goals and context

Strategies for Evaluating Research Materials

• Examine the author's credentials and affiliations to determine their expertise and potential biases
  • Look for academic degrees, institutional affiliations, previous publications, and professional experience
• Assess the quality and consistency of the arguments and evidence presented in the source
  • Evaluate the logic, coherence, and persuasiveness of the author's claims and conclusions
  • Check for the use of reliable evidence, such as primary sources, data, and examples
• Compare the source with other reliable sources to identify consistencies, contradictions, or gaps in the information
  • Look for consensus or debates among scholars on the topic
  • Consider how the source fits within the broader context of the field or discipline
• Consider the intended audience and purpose of the publication to understand its perspective and potential limitations
  • Differentiate between scholarly, popular, and trade publications
  • Assess whether the source is aimed at informing, persuading, or entertaining the reader
• The evaluation of research materials is an ongoing process that requires curators to continuously refine their search strategies, reassess the quality and relevance of sources, and adapt their research approach as new information and insights emerge

Citation Methods for Curatorial Writing

Importance and Elements of Citation

• Citation is the practice of acknowledging the sources used in research and writing by providing references to the original materials
  • Essential for giving credit to the authors of the sources, enabling readers to locate the sources, and demonstrating the credibility and integrity of the research
• The choice of citation style depends on the discipline, publication, or institution
  • Common citation styles in the arts and humanities: Chicago Manual of Style, Modern Language Association (MLA), Harvard referencing
• Key elements of a citation typically include the author's name, title of the work, publication date, publisher, and page numbers (for specific quotes or references)
  • The format and order of these elements vary depending on the citation style
  • Example (Chicago style): Smith, John. "The Art of Exhibition Making." Journal of Curatorial Studies 12, no. 3 (2022): 123-145.

In-text Citations and Bibliographies

• In-text citations are brief references within the body of the text that direct readers to the full citation in the bibliography or reference list
  • Typically include the author's last name, publication year, and page number (if applicable)
  • Example (MLA style): (Smith 123)
• Bibliographies or reference lists are comprehensive lists of all the sources cited in the text, usually appearing at the end of the document
  • Provide full bibliographic information for each source, allowing readers to easily locate and access the original materials
  • Organized alphabetically by author's last name or by the order in which they appear in the text, depending on the citation style
  • Example (Harvard style):
    • Smith, J., 2022. The Art of Exhibition Making. Journal of Curatorial Studies, 12(3), pp.123-145.
    • Jones, A., 2021. Curating Contemporary Art. London: Museum Press.

Synthesizing Research for Themes

The Process of Synthesis in Curatorial Research

• Synthesis involves combining and integrating information from multiple sources to create new insights, arguments, or narratives
  • In curatorial research, synthesis is the process of drawing connections between disparate sources and ideas to develop cohesive themes and narratives for exhibitions or publications
• Effective synthesis requires curators to identify patterns, relationships, and tensions among the research findings
  • Critically evaluate how these elements contribute to the overall understanding of the subject matter
  • Examples: identifying recurring motifs in an artist's work, tracing the influence of historical events on artistic movements
• Strategies for synthesis:
  • Creating visual or conceptual maps to organize and connect key ideas
  • Writing summaries or annotations to distill the main points of each source
  • Using comparative analysis to examine similarities and differences across sources

Developing Curatorial Themes and Narratives

• The development of curatorial themes and narratives involves selecting and arranging the synthesized research findings to create a meaningful and engaging story or argument
  • Consider the intended audience, the physical or virtual space of the exhibition, and the desired impact or message of the project
  • Examples: organizing an exhibition around the theme of "identity in contemporary art," creating a narrative that traces the evolution of a specific artistic technique
• Successful synthesis and narrative development result in exhibitions or publications that present a clear and compelling perspective on the subject matter
  • Acknowledge the complexity and diversity of the research findings
  • Engage the audience intellectually and emotionally
  • Contribute to the broader discourse and understanding of the topic in the field