So to Speak - Interview as Method and Artistic Practice.

The one-semester transdisciplinary and practice-oriented seminar focuses on the interview as a social science methodology and an artistic strategy. Rooted in the principles of practice-led research, this seminar encourages you to explore the multifaceted character of interviews, not merely as a method of data collection but as an artistic form. Engaging with interviews as an artistic strategy, you will discover dialogic ways to communicate ideas, evoke emotions, and connect with audiences.

Hands-on Engagement with Artistic Practice: This course offers the tools and guidance to transform conversations into artistic research. You will be empowered to produce and edit interviews using professional audio equipment and transcription software. You will learn the theoretical underpinnings through readings, discussions, and a hands-on approach and actively engage in the production process, reflecting on integrating theory and practice.

Artistic Research: We will foster a productive environment where you can experiment, reflect, and evolve. The emphasis on practice-led research encourages you to approach interviews with a new perspective, exploring how this method can be adapted to create resonant research. By fostering a collaborative and supportive learning atmosphere, we invite all students to work with each other in peer processes, enhancing the collective learning experience.

Cooperation with Klasse für Alle: For the focused development of the research and the interviews, there is a collaboration with Klasse für Alle, a program by the University of Applied Arts Vienna. We will produce a set of connected interview-related works within the context of themes of gardens and nature.

The work of Klasse für Alle emphasizes the garden as a communal space and focuses on its eco-social dynamics. Through hands-on engagement, participants will transform conversations into resonant research, reflecting the principles of global, anti-colonial, and queer-feminist ideas of care and repair in relation to gardening. More Info here: Klasse für Alle (Website).

Language of instruction: English. There will be five in-person classes, 1.5 hours each (plus a 15 min break), to introduce the main conceptual and practical issues. The students must read and write a short research journal to prepare for the classes. The final assessment consists of continued participation in the seminar (circa 50%) and the preparation of several short Interviews  (or similar works), including a one-page executive summary/essay (circa 50%). The results will be summarised, edited, and self-published in a small magazine.

Learning Outcomes:

After completion, you will demonstrate (1) basic knowledge and skills to design and carry out an interview-based study. (2) Knowledge and skills to independently assess and critically evaluate interview data (3) write and edit an interview suitable for publication (4) Have a practical understanding of current ethical guidelines for social science research / artistic research.