Critical Reflection Portfolio

To begin the module I made a spider diagram to highlight topic areas relating to me. (Appendix A) I then formed some questions relating to areas that I felt I could write an inquiry on. I found it difficult to find a subject that I had an interest in, have enough contact with the relevant community, which would help to move my own professional practice in the direction I am seeking and that a wide audience will benefit from. Blog 1 (Task 4a)
I created a Special Interest Group to encourage discussions around my inquiry topic via LinkedIn. BAPP (Arts): How to survive the performance industry. With hindsight, I do not think I had a strong enough idea in the direction of my inquiry to create a SIG. I found it hard to juggle the other aspects of the module and a SIG and so it suffered, although I am glad that I did create one as it solidified my line of inquiry.
My Inquiry question: "How to survive the resting period with the aim to create some sort of helpful guide, possible book for others"; interested me as I felt it was quite an unexplored subject.
I then looked at Ethics, firstly my initial understanding and my personal ethics, Blog 2 (Ethics, Task 5a). Initially I believed that ethics was about stating the obvious and about covering oneself. It was not until I read in Reader 5, case study 2, that I realised that ethics is a lot more complicated and sometimes professional ethics do not necessarily go hand-in-hand with personal ethics. Blog 3 (Professional Ethics, task 5c).
I then conducted a pilot interview with two professional colleagues. Pilot Interview. I found the use of the interview extremely helpful not only to gather the data for my inquiry, but once the interviewee was talking, she bought new ideas to the table that I had not previously thought of using. For this reason, interviews will be the primary tool for my inquiry and I have now developed categories for my interviews to gain a broader understanding of my inquiry subject. I set up a pilot survey. Hannah KM, Survey. Initially I had high hopes for the data I could collect from the use of surveys, but I did not get many who completed the survey. I think it is easier to secure people for a coffee and an interview than to rely on the completion of something without your involvement. I believe I can gain enough data from a well-designed set of interviews and therefore surveys are no longer necessary to my inquiry.

Though at first I struggled to find a line of inquiry that I could pursue whilst not being employed in the performance industry it highlighted how important my professional network is, and enabled me to look at the issues within it. I believe I have become passionate about my line of inquiry and look 
forward to the rest of the inquiry process.


Appendix A:

Key = 

Orange: Past

Blue: Present

Green: Future

Literature

Finding suitable literature is hard. I always find the most useful pieces in the most surprising places. But how do you search surprising places. 

The first book I've reviewed is one that I actually already owned, but had never read. 

Being an Actor, Simon Callow is a book suitable for all. As its split between a biography and a guide, professionals and non-professionals can enjoy the journey of an extremely successful actor. Highly recommend a read!

Any feedback on review welcome :)

Review 1: Being an Actor, Simon Callow 

Surveys

Over the last few weeks I've been going through and trying to do as many of your surveys as I can. As my topic is aimed at quite a specific group initially I struggled to come up with questions that would suit a wider audience. I still think it's something I need to work on, but I realised that on every survey I've completed I had opinions, no matter the topic and hopefully gave helpful feedback. 

The general topic of my inquiry is How to survive the performing arts industry. (Post professional industry) Below is the link to my survey, please complete and all comments welcome!

Hannah K-M: Pilot Survey

Delicious

I have set up a delicious. Still getting to grips with it, is it just me or is all this technical stuff getting more complicated?! Am still discovering things on LinkedIn.

Heres the link; Hannah K-M's Delicious

It's really helpful to have all of your 'go-to' websites in one place and accessible to others. I've already had a look at Eithne's and followed a link she's posted to a website where you can by new sheet music and found some sheet music that I've been searing for! I've posted mostly articles at the moment, hope you find them of interest!

Questions, questions, questions!

I Had a chat with Paula last week and one of the things she got me thinking about was the correlation between my inquiries in task 2d and the inquiry questions I've been thinking about recently. Below I've linked in my previous work from task 2d:

Task 2d

The last thing I talk about is how prepared Performing Arts students are with how life will be in the industry. I think this links in well with the topic of inquiry that I've been progressing with at the moment of 'How to survive the industry'. As I ask in my document, is it something you can be taught, or that you have to experience. I'd like to try and include this in my inquiry.

Professional Ethics- Some thoughts.

Before I'd read reader 5 I hadn't really understood how much professional and personal ethics can clash.

What really bought my attention to this was Case Study 2 where a documentary photographer took a photo of a Sudanese girl struggling to crawl to water. A vulture lands nearby and he waits for a good shot and then leaves, leaving the girl to die. The professional ethical role and duty of a photographer is to observe and not interfere, but surely the ethical role of a human being is to try and preserve life and help to stop pain and suffering. Yes, he's taking shocking pictures that will help to educate the masses to highlight the issues, but is the sacrifice of this little girl worth it? 

From the evidence that follows I believe not.

A year later the photographer committed suicide. He could no longer deal with the guild of letting the little girl die. 

This shows me that sometimes your personal ethics have to take precedence to your professional ethics; otherwise you lose a part of yourself that you might never be able to recover. 

Codes of Practice

Following on from task 5a, which are personal ethics that I follow, I then went on a hunt to find legislation to support my ideas. It's hard because it's an audition and I'm not actually contracted to follow any particular rules, so actually they are personal codes of conduct that if I break, harm me personally more than anyone else. So there aren't any particular codes of practice that MUST be followed, but they are certainly what is expected from you as a professional. 

On my search I did find out lots of useful sources that support my theories.  Jonathan Vickers wrote an article for the Spotlight website as part of 'Dancers month'. He says:

"As with any job interview, the more information you have about you new potential place of work the better... Find out through whatever means possible what the style of the show is"

Sandy Moffat says:

“Always dress appropriately so that the panel have an easy time imagining you in their show. You'd never turn up to a Chicago audition wearing baggy trousers and a hooded top; you'd wear tight black clothes and probably jazz trainers, because it's of that ilk.”

Annie Powell who’s written an article called 'Tips for Spotlight Grads' says:

"Act confidently, be prepared and proactive, and take pride in what you do"

Though these aren't official legislation, I think they support what I consider to be my ethical responsibility. 

I've also spent some time researching Equity, as they are a Union for Performers and Creative practitioners.  Once you're in a job they are there to support you and some of the roles they specialise in are:

·         Fair payment and fees for artists

·         Health and safety regulations

·         Royalties and Residual structure

·         Member’s pensions and insurance schemes.