Module 3 - Initial Thoughts

Starting on on module 3 has been a bit tricky for me, as it has been such a long time since I completed module 2. I decided to start, as suggested, by reviewing my inquiry plan from the previous module and sending my advisor my thoughts and ideas, including any changes that I plan to make. I have decided to share this on my blog, in case any other students/advisors have any comments. I'd love to hear from you if you do!

I am still satisfied with the inquiry question I proposed in my professional inquiry plan, ‘Actors as polymaths: Is finding multiple forms of expression the key to creative fulfillment and career longevity, or does the creative polymath risk becoming ‘the jack of all trades and the master of none?’. This is a question that interests me more than ever, and it seems an increasing number of my professional peers are turning to ‘polymathy’ as a way to control their creative development and earn a larger portion of their income from creative pursuits. I have identified this as a trend which is backed up by the media; everywhere I turn there are articles about people who choose to start their own businesses, or multi-task in their careers, and the arts are no exception. Just this week at the BAFTA awards, we saw Ben Affleck nominated in the best actor and best director categories, for ‘Argo’, a film also produced by an actor polymath, George Clooney. This is a high profile example of how actors are increasingly taking control of their own work and multi-tasking. The digital age has made it easier for people to create, edit and promote their own work, as well as providing solutions for flexibility, which enable people to pursue multiple interests and manage their own time. I am keen to find out what the benefits and problems are of this approach to work in the arts, especially for people like myself, who are at an early stage of their career.

As I have had a long break between modules 2 and 3, I am acutely aware of the need to reassess my research methods and tools of inquiry, as changes are happening so quickly, especially where social media and technology are concerned. When I first began the BAPP course, web 2.0 platforms, youtube and blogging were all very new to me, but I now find myself using them on an almost daily basis, both for professional and personal reasons. I have therefore decided that I would like to explore ways I might be able to utilise multi-media tools in my inquiry, particularly in my final professional artefact. However, I must first carefully consider the ethical implications this may have on my research.

My chosen primary research tool is the interview, which I still believe to be the best way of gaining a detailed insight into the world of polymaths. In my professional inquiry plan, I stated that I would protect the identity of my subjects, granting them anonymity. I now recognise this as a potential problem, as in order to use any multi-media approach, such as video or podcasts, I would have to identify my sources in order for the presentation of my findings to be meaningful. It’s a difficult ethical dilemma, for two main reasons; the first is simply that an actor’s image/voice ‘are’ their business, and as such they may not take too kindly to those being used without financial remuneration. This I take very seriously, as I know from my own experience that actors are often expected to give up their time for free in fringe productions etc. It’s a sensitive subject but I do feel I have enough polymaths who are personally known to me as friends, to get around this issue by appealing to their goodwill. The second problem is that if my subjects know that their interview will be recorded for publication, they may be less open and my research findings could therefore be biased or invalid. As figures in the public eye, I believe actors to be unlikely to speak completely openly about negative experiences, for example, particularly if this would involved naming industry peers.

So, my first task will be to review my ethical planning and whether or not it will be possible for me to use a more multi-media approach. I plan to do this by both referring to the ethical frameworks studied in module 2, and ‘sounding out’ people within my professional network to see what their thoughts are. Needless to say, respect for and protection of my sources is at the forefront of my mind. The second task I plan to be getting on with is finding more literature sources to review; in module 2, I identified that there was something of a lack of books relating to polymathy specifically, and that the best information may be found in actors biographies, as well as magazine/newspaper interviews. These are a little trickier and more time-consuming to find, so I must get on with that swiftly, in order that it may not delay my time-management plan.