The Enactment of Thinking: creative practice research degrees

Abstract

This editorial serves to introduce the papers from the conference ‘The Enactment of Thinking: creative practice research degrees’, University of Plymouth (2001). It examines several critical debates arising from the conference, and in particular, highlights the two central themes which were consistently addressed: the material positioning of the artist (i.e. subjecthood) and ontological speculation about ‘being in the world’. We cite examples of these themes through doctoral papers dealing with the question of research methodology; ontological and subjective spatial research paradigms and mimesis in practice. We give philosophical precedence to the phenomenological and ontological speculations of artist/researchers through the work of Merleau-Ponty whose work not only brings philosophy much closer to art, but also provides a specific framework which both enlivens and validates the material and ontological positioning of the artist/researcher. The paper responds to our research which defines an understanding of visual intellectuality, its rigour and integrity, within this doctoral field.