PhD Study : ‘The Way it Was, Never the Full Story’: Creative practices in the geo-humanities that manifest alternative stories and positions to the dominant narratives

Summary

​​Creative practices have always played a central a role in constructing narratives of history and place. In Human Geography, the growing study and appreciation of this phenomenon has been termed the Cultural Turn. Much of what we understand of our sense of place is informed by the creative contributions of art, film, music, theatre and literature. However, the presence, and often the agenda, of a dominant narrative, driven by the conditions of global capitalism with its tendency to polarise, exclude and nationalise discourses, acts to deny or overshadow the alternative or other stories that then rarely see the light. Within this also, is the creative industries’ complicity towards constructing place as a site of consumption (Urry 1995). The need to examine the construction of dominant spatial narratives and generate counter or other narratives is vital but nuanced.

With the growing appreciation and acknowledgement of artistic research in the Geo-Humanities (Hawkins, 2021), this topic looks closely at the roles and methods of such practices in telling stories that situate beyond the dominating story. It draws from counter-hegemonic theory (Mouffe / Laclau, 1985. Kioupkiolis, 2019), decolonial thinking (Mignolo et al, 2018) and emancipatory geographies (Springer, 2017) to pose; What role does, or can, art practice have in addressing or countering the issues of the dominant narrative? What methods might be developed to empower the stories (micro-histories, micro-geographies) that are lesser told? What is the position, value and ethic of speculative strategies, fiction and creative licence within this process?

Furthermore, the prevalence of the ‘archive’, sometimes explicitly in the form of a ‘national’ archive, as being the legitimising source or repository of “data” has also underwritten the claims of dominant narratives and the official memory. This prompts launching stages for questions asking; what role does the historical and geographical archive play in constructing the dominant narrative? What other forms of ‘archival record’ might we understand as valuable repositories of information and source material for creative research?  What other techniques of ‘archival method’ might be brought to the archival record to manifest an ‘an-archival method’ - a method that seeks to address the inherent hierarchies of dominance?

This project will explore and manifest the role and method of art practice which draws from material, vernacular and archival histories and/or geographies in unearthing and generating counter-narratives within or against the narrative of a dominant hegemony.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• Research proposal of 2000 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• For VCRS Awards, Masters at 75%
• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living