BA Stage Management Dissertation

[howie163]

Hey guys, im in my final year at drama school, studying Stage Management. I have to write a 10,000 word dissertation to pass and complete

the course, and a little stuck on what to base my disseration on. Does anybody have any ideas what I could base it on, something to do with

stage management... Has anybody written a dissertation? What did you base it on, and how did it go?

 

 

Thanks Everyone!

H

[paulears]

A Treatise into the location and facilities available to the DSM during the running of a show

 

An analysis of the technical communication process used during a production

 

Managing Heath and Safety for production

 

The changing role of stage management from 1950 to date.

 

By far better to find something that you know something about, and use that.

[Ken Coker]

Do you think you should ask your tutor/course leader/supervisor?

No diss, but these are the people who know your strengths, your academic level and have knowledge of the facilities and resources open to you. For example, I could suggest:

 

Lighting Designers and "The Book": Does Stage Management Mediate Lighting Design?

 

How would you research this? Would you interview LDs and SMs? How would you set this up? What form would your questions take? How would you analyse the data collected? How much time would it take?

 

These are all questions that your academic staff should have answers to - and they should also ask you many more. While your at it, go and look in the library and check out what previous students have done; not only will this give you some idea of previous areas of study, but it will give guidance on how to approach this piece of work - hopefully!

 

Ken

[paulears]

Ken's advice, as ever makes perfect sense - I do wonder, though, if other places do things as well ordered and properly (in the traditional sense) as his university do. I haven't been to his place, but I have noted over the years that their standards and results are veryhigh compared to some. The level of supervision of final year students in some other places is not, perhaps, quite in the same league. Some that I have experience of do seem a little lacking in guidance. Some dissertions I have read that were well received would not, I'm sure, get past Ken's office door! Personally I reckon this has to be a good thing, although I am sure this difference is exactly what our Government would like to standardise, probably downwards!

[Ken Coker]

Err......thanks.

I should point out that I no longer have an office.

I can't really claim credit for this kind of thing, all of my colleagues had already built the system of which I was a small part.

Levels of supervision vary depending on the tutor/student relationship and the subject of the dissertation. I think the key thing is to make students understand he nature of a final year dissertation and exactly what resources it will entail.

Mr. Lewis will have more to contribute I'm sure - and he's much better at that kind of stuff than I am.

 

 

Ken

[Sarah Q]

When I was writing my dissertation, many moons ago, there was a temptation to do a "worthy" topic - something that seemed to be highbrow, extremely intelligent and would impress the tutors....

 

What occurred was that I wrote a much better dissertation on an area I was interested in, and found the research easier. Wading through text books and websites on some weighty topic was not much fun. (Always remember to reference things properly though!!)

 

I had to have a viva exam on my dissertation, and was able to pass it easily, because I knew my topic well. What my tutors were looking for was an understanding of the topic, to demonstrate that I hadn't just copied it out of a book but had actually read it!

 

Hope this helps in some small way

[Simon Lewis]

Does anybody have any ideas what I could base it on...

 

The other posters make excellent points...

 

I'd simply add:

 

a) If you can base it on something you have a passion for, it may be easier. However, do not discount tackling a subject that isn't your first choice... The discipline of learning and research is well worthwhile.

 

b) The subject isn't necessarily the most important issue. Your tutors will hopefully be looking for evidence of research skills, independent learning, ability to self manage a major project with planning, goal setting and on-time delivery, and evidence that you can demonstrate the higher learning competences of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

 

College and University isn't just about the subject you study (although that's a crucial part!). It's also about you learning how to learn for yourself - which should provide skills that last you for life.

 

Simon