How to do Research Like an Artist: Contemporary Methods, Theories, and Practice

Description from DukeHub

This seminar presents research methodologies employed by contemporary artists who are active in major global movements including conceptualism, performance, environmental, and social practice art. At the border between theory and practice, the course invites students to experiment with these methods, and to consider how their academic study of art history and visual studies can learn from these research-based artistic practices. Final research projects combine scholarly research on these methodologies with experimental uses of them. Students that enroll in this course at the graduate level have differentiated assignments and assessment.

Skills

• research methodsdescription: "research methodologies" and 1 more

AI-resilient: 1 of 5 1/5

• No: Physical, lab or field work
• No: Live work with people
• No: Judgment someone is accountable for
• No: A craft you practice with your hands or body
• ✓Yes: Small, in-person format · seminar, 12 seats per section

The checks lean on Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025), which found generative AI applies least to physical work and hands-on work with people. A signal, not a promise. How the score works

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All ARTHIST courses · All of Graduate School