Art In Field Research Articles

Language transfer in L2 academic writings: a dependency grammar approach

Dependency distance (DD) is an important factor in language processing and can affect the ease with which a sentence is understood. Previous studies have investigated the role of DD in L2 writing, but little is known about how the native language influences DD in L2 academic writing. This study is probably the first one that investigates, though a large dataset of over 400 million words, whether the native language of L2 writers influences the DD in their academic writings. Using a dataset of over 2.2 million abstracts of articles downloaded from Scopus in the fields of Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences, the study analyzes the DD patterns, parsed by the latest version of the syntactic parser Stanford Corenlp 4.5.5, in the academic writing of L2 learners from different language backgrounds. It is found that native languages influence the DD of English L2 academic writings. When the mean dependency distance (MDD) of native languages is much longer than that of native English, the MDD of their English L2 academic writings will be much longer than that of English native academic writings. The findings of this study will deepen our insights into the influence of native language transfer on L2 academic writing, potentially shaping pedagogical strategies in L2 academic writing education.

Rethinking assessment? Research into the affective impact of higher education grading

Assessment plays a central role in learning in higher education (HE), but often the impact of grading assessment on student motivation, behaviour and wellbeing is insufficiently considered in policy and practice. With the growing concern in the HE sector about student mental health, a consideration of the affective dimension of grading is timely. The discussion in this paper on the affective dimension of grading is based on research conducted during the pandemic on the ‘no-detriment’ implementation of pass/fail assessment at the University of the Arts London (UAL). Qualitative research was undertaken with first-and second-year undergraduate students in the fields of creative arts, design and communication to investigate the effects of the switch from letter grading to pass/fail and student views on grading more generally. Our findings suggest that grading affects student stress, anxiety, learner identity, motivation, student self-expression, creativity, and peer relationships. In the light of our findings, we bring together discourses about assessment, grading and student wellbeing to consider the longer-term implications for assessment practices in a post-pandemic world.

The Title of the Growth of New Dynasties in Spain Maghrib and Iran

This research aims to examine the birth and development of new dynasties in the regions of the Spanish Maghrib and Iran after the collapse of major powers such as the Umayyad Caliphate in Spain and the Abbasid Caliphate in Iran. Employing a literature research approach, this study traces the background of the emergence, expansion processes, consolidation of power, as well as the contributions of these dynasties to the intellectual and cultural development in the regions they ruled. In the Spanish Maghrib, the Almoravid and Almohad Dynasties emerged as new powers after the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate. Both dynasties succeeded in uniting the regions of Spain and the Maghrib, albeit with different methods and ideologies. Meanwhile, in Iran, the Ilkhanid, Jalayirid, Timurid, and Safavid Dynasties rose after the collapse of the Abbasid Caliphate, each exerting significant influence and contributions to the political, cultural, artistic, and scientific development. The research findings indicate that the birth and development of these new dynasties not only brought about political changes but also contributed significantly to intellectual and cultural advancements in both regions. The periods under their rule are known as golden ages in the fields of art, architecture, literature, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and other sciences. These dynasties fostered the exchange of ideas among various ethnic and religious groups and created a conducive environment for the growth of knowledge and creativity. Overall, this study highlights the importance of the new dynasties in the dynamics of history and civilization, as well as their contributions in shaping new political landscapes and catalyzing the growth of rich knowledge, art, and culture.

Re-Imagining Artistic Research

This special issue explores contemporary efforts in rethinking artistic research, especially in relation to its boundaries, methods, formats, and collaborations across fields of knowledge and practice. As artistic research sets itself firmly on its own scientific grounds, its relational and affective potential expands beyond the fields of visual arts. This potential is explored in this special issue as artist-researchers engage in re-imagining research in arts, architecture, photography, design, craft, and education. Through these collective efforts, we expect to contribute to understanding the impacts of artistic research and emphasize its importance in shaping research in a broader sense.

Research on the Cultivation Path of Innovative Talents of Art Design Specialty Group based on Multi-culture

In the current era of globalization, the integration of multiple cultures has become an ordinary and common phenomenon. For the field of art and design, this situation presents both opportunities and challenges. In this context, it is of great significance to explore the cultivation path of creative talents in the art design specialty group under the multi-cultural background. The process of multi-cultural integration provides a rich and diverse cultural background for the field of art and design. Artists and designers can draw inspiration from different cultures, combine and innovate, thereby creating more unique and outstanding works. This not only enriches the connotation and form of art and design, but also promotes the development and progress of the field. However, at the same time, the integration of multiple cultures also brings certain challenges. Different cultural backgrounds may lead to differences in values, aesthetics, and creative concepts, which requires art design talents to have a higher ability to understand and integrate different cultures.

Future-making through eventing human-machine listening

Reverb-Resonate: Sounding the Affective Frequencies of Migration operates at the intersection of art, science, and technology to articulate an emotional landscape of migration and exile. Rooted in the methodology of research-creation (RC) and grounded in the interdisciplinary field of Art, Science, and Technology Studies (ASTS), the project transcends conventional disciplinary boundaries to offer speculative possibilities through human-machine listening. Drawing on the body is an already augmented site, the project makes audible physiological sensors that capture micro-level intricacies responsible for stress regulation. Listening, is, thus, foregrounded as the core public engagement strategy, creating a layered sound collage that interweaves somatic registers of recorded breathing samples and physiological sensor values with machine listening to recreate new forms of sound. Engagement with ASTS is, hence, in the form of a method that traverses transforming sensor application, generating technicized sound and composing an acoustic experience capable of affective engagement. Through machine learning—a subfield of artificial intelligence—the notion of ‘machine listening’ extends beyond human hearing limitations, introducing non-normative structures to challenge and expand habitual forms of human listening. Reverb-Resonate, hence, leverages artistic strategies and techno-augmentations to address the crisis of imagination that hinders opening up to realities far from the familiar and the personal to imagine ‘what could be’ as a way of future-making. It underscores the critical edge of RC and ASTS in addressing complex critical issues, proposing a speculative space where the human-machine hybrid puts forth a socio-technical assemblage of listening to understand 'otherly' experiences. The project, thus, advances a critical inquiry into the mediation and augmentation of listening to imagine new possibilities for embodied engagement with unfamiliar emotional spaces and experiences.

Research on the Development Status and Influence of Zhengzhou Primitive Celadon in the Context of Artificial Intelligence

In today's environment where the development of artificial intelligence is clearly accelerating, the research on traditional Chinese ceramics has also been influenced by it. Through artificial intelligence technology, we delve into exploring the developmental status and influence of Zhengzhou primitive celadon in Chinese ceramic culture, and conduct analysis and research through big data screening. At the same time, this provides a theoretical basis for the protection and inheritance of Zhengzhou primitive celadon. Zhengzhou primitive celadon. Through artificial intelligence means, we obtain relevant data from literature and archaeological discoveries related to China's primitive ceramics, and then conduct systematic research to deeply explore the cultural connotations of Zhengzhou primitive celadon. As a part of ancient Chinese ceramic culture, although the history of Zhengzhou primitive celadon can be traced back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, due to geographical and historical reasons, its status and influence are relatively low. Under the conditions of artificial intelligence, the in-depth analysis of its unique value through big data analysis helps to better understand and inherit this unique variety of celadon, Zhengzhou primitive celadon. It provides theoretical support and guidance for the protection and inheritance of Zhengzhou primitive celadon. By utilizing artificial intelligence means to participate in the revival and development process of Zhengzhou celadon, it has positive significance for promoting the greater development of Zhengzhou primitive celadon in the field of ceramic art.

Using machine learning to predict artistic styles: an analysis of trends and the research agenda

AbstractIn the field of art, machine learning models have been used to predict artistic styles in paintings. The foregoing is somewhat advantageous for analysts, as these tools can provide more valuable results and help reduce bias in the results and conclusions provided. Therefore, the objective of this research was to examine research trends in the use of machine learning to predict artistic styles from a bibliometric review based on the PRISMA methodology. From the search equations, 268 documents were found, out of which, following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 128 documents were analyzed. Through quantitative analysis, a growing research interest in the subject is evident, progressing from user perception approaches to the utilization of tools like deep learning for art studies. Among the main results, it is possible to identify that one of the most used techniques in the field has been neural networks for pattern recognition. Also, a large part of the research focuses on the use of design software for image creation and manipulation. Finally, it is found that the number of studies focused on contemporary modern art is still limited, this is due to the fact that a large part of the investigations has focused on historical artistic styles.

The Interplay of Religion and the Visual Arts: A Bibliometric Network Analysis (1991–2023)

Since the emergence of digital media in the 1990s, a new realm of interaction between the visual arts and religion has been forged and evolved. The spread of visual media technologies has significantly influenced the study of religious visual art worldwide after the 1990s. Despite this, the field of religious visual art during the digital era is still relatively uncharted, with a notable absence of comprehensive theoretical frameworks. To address this gap, the present paper employs bibliometric methods, conducting a thorough review and analysis of 2544 pieces of international academic literature in the domain of religion and visual arts post-1990s. The analytical framework is structured into three primary sections, each dedicated to answering key questions: (1) what constitutes the inherent relationship in the study of religion and visual art?, (2) what disciplinary context do these interplays occur within?, and (3) in which domains and regions does this interplay predominantly unfold? The outcomes of this rigorous analysis offer valuable insights into interdisciplinary influences and evolving research trends within the realm of religious visual art. These findings stand to benefit art researchers and practitioners, providing a comprehensive overview of potential avenues for the exploration of visual arts with religious themes. Through a systematic investigation, this research endeavors to heighten scholars’ awareness of the significance of visual arts in the field of religion and illuminate the interdisciplinary trends at the intersection of religion and visual arts.

Dynamics of male makeup artists in Indonesia: navigating entrepreneurship in the middle hegemonic masculinity

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how Indonesian males who are entrepreneurs in make-up artists navigate their businesses in a society that relies on hegemonic masculinity. This goal is reached by concentrating on male make-up artist entrepreneurs in five Indonesian provinces and investigating how they actively rewrite their gender and inherent vocations by societal norms.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts a qualitative phenomenological approach with methods. In-depth interviews and observations were conducted with 28 informants in five provinces of Indonesia.FindingsThese findings show that, aside from self-concept, family support is the most crucial determining factor that pushes men make-up artists to become businesses in the face of so many rejections. Persistence in battling for their fate is also critical in efforts to erase themselves, who are constantly subjected to hegemonic masculinity. Aside from that, it appears that the government's role in attempts to promote gender equality in all fields of business in Indonesia remains limited.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the gender and entrepreneurship literature by providing a broader exploration of male entrepreneurs working in the field of female make-up artists in a society that still adheres to hegemonic masculinity.

Governor’s and governmental prizes of the Irkutsk region for architects

In 2023, prizes of the Irkutsk region were awarded to members of the Union of Architects of Russia. Sergey Demkov was awarded in the nomination “Works of Architecture, Urban Planning and Landscape Art” of the Irkutsk Region Governor’s Prize to creative workers for achievements in the field of culture and art. Vladimir Stegailo was awarded the prize in the field of architecture and landscape art named after Vladimir Pavlov, an outstanding figure of culture and art of the Irkutsk region. The article describes the merits of the laureates and reveals information about the architect V. A. Pavlov.

The synthetic nature of N. Lvov’s lyrical works in the focus of the “holiday” concept

This article examines the embodiment features of the dialogue of arts in N. Lvov’s creative heritage (1753-1803) based on the lyrical works of the writer intended for vocal performance (“Winter” (1796), “Duets. To the Music of Zhirdini Printed in London” (1791), “Words to the Finished Music of Seidelman. Duet” (1793), “A Song for Gypsy Dancing” (1789). The research uses the biographical, historical-functional and historical-typological methods. In the course of the study, we found that the synthesis of arts is a semantic and formative element. The writer managed to combine the literary code with the genome of a number of other, sometimes even antonymous, fields of art, which ultimately contributed to the creation of a unique work whose hallmark is eclecticism. Thus, through the active use of the musical art code in his work, N. Lvov managed not only to integrate two areas of art, but also to create a qualitatively new format of musical and literary art with powerful aesthetic potential. A clear example of this is his lyrical work with the concise title “Winter” (1796). In addition, as the analysis showed, the writer managed to organically introduce the festive concept of pagan extraction into the work, in many respects this is due to the genre nature of the text. Realizing the multiplicity of contact points between literature and painting, Lvov sought to develop various mechanisms of rapprochement. For example, he used the tools of fine art when creating the verbal fabric of a poetic text, thanks to which his poetic works acquired a special color and picturesqueness. We can observe this phenomenon in the “Duet. To the Music of Zhirdini Printed in London” (1791) and in “Words to the Finished Music of Seidelman” (1793). Being an innovator, N. Lvov made an attempt to combine various types of art – dynamic (literature) and spatial-temporal (choreography). An example of this kind of experiment is his “A Song for Gypsy Dancing” in whose genome the festive motif characteristic of N. Lvov’s work is traced again.

Sound Art of Internet of Things Explore: Sound Sensors in the Fusion of Painting and Music

INTRODUCTION: The combination of sound art and Internet of Things (IoT) technology offers new possibilities for artistic creation. With the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT), sound sensors have become a powerful tool for capturing environmental sounds. This study aims to explore the application of suitable sensors in the fusion of painting and music by utilizing IoT technology to create more prosperous and interactive artworks for artists. OBJECTIVES: The study's primary purpose is to explore the potential uses of sound sensors in art creation, especially in integrating painting and music. By deeply analyzing the interaction between sound and visual art, the researchers aim to discover new creative possibilities, thus expanding the boundaries of artistic creation. METHODS: The study utilized a comprehensive methodology that included a literature review, field research, and artistic practice. First, the literature on sound art, IoT, and art fusion was extensively reviewed to provide a theoretical foundation for the study. Second, through field research, the researchers collected practical examples of sound sensors applied in the field of art. Finally, through hands-on art creation in the artist's studio, the researchers verified the potential applications of suitable sensors in the fusion of painting and music. RESULTS: The study found that sound sensors have many applications in painting-music fusion. By embedding suitable sensors into painting tools and music devices, artists can capture the sounds of their surroundings and transform them into visual and auditory artistic expressions. Examples from practice demonstrate how this technological innovation can bring a richer, more sensual experience to artistic creation while engaging the audience in interactive participation. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the combination of sound sensors and IoT technology offers new possibilities for artistic creation. By integrating proper elements in painting and music, artists can create more profound and engaging works. This innovation expands the boundaries of art and provides the audience with a more intimate and interactive experience with the artwork. In the future, further research can delve into the application of sound sensors in other artistic fields, thus promoting the integration of art and technology to move forward.

The perspectives of visual arts teachers on postmodernism

<p>Postmodernism has evolved in the field of art, and its presence and definition have been the topic of several studies. The overall perspectives of the visual arts teachers on postmodernism are important for incorporating postmodernism issues into the high school curriculum in Turkey, as they are teaching art history and conveying the practice of visual arts. A review of the literature reveals that there are no comparable studies that take visual arts teachers’ perspectives on postmodernism into account. Therefore, this study aims to discover the perspectives of visual arts teachers on postmodernism. This article presents the findings and conclusions of the first research question of the Master’s thesis, titled “examination of the reflections of postmodernism on art education”. The study used a case study design, one of the qualitative research approaches. The sample of the study consisted of four visual arts teachers working in one of the central and three district schools in Yalova, Turkey. In the current research, two semi-structured interview forms and document analysis were utilized as data collection tools. The qualitative data were analyzed by the thematic analysis method. The themes of “teachers’ general perceptions”, “teaching process” and “reflection on students” were identified through the thematic analysis. This article includes a detailed analysis of the theme of “teachers’ general perceptions”. The results of the research identified the artistic and intellectual perspectives of the participating teachers toward postmodernism as outstanding features.</p>

Avant-Garde Inspirations in the Art of Ukrainian Monumentalists of the 1960-70s:

The purpose of the research is to introduce into scientific circulation the results of documentary reconstruction and art analysis of the lost monumental panel, which was created by a tandem of talented artists in the Palace of Culture of the BilotserkivMAZ plant in Bila Tserkva. The research methods involve a combination of art analysis with methods of documentary reconstruction and interviews with the author of the studied artifacts. Scientific novelty consists in the introduction into scientific circulation of a previously undescribed and destroyed monument of monumental art – a panel in the Palace of Culture of the BilotserkivMAZ plant in Bila Tserkva. For the first time, the stylistics of the execution of an unexplored object of monumental and decorative art were analyzed. Through a personal interview with Oleg Yerzhikivskyi, a direct participant in the process, the circumstances of the order and execution of the work were recorded. For the first time, a photo from a private family archive was made public, and an attempt was made to reconstruct the panels based on individual photos. Conclusions. As a result of the artistic analysis of the work, the ideological inspirations that manifested themselves during the execution of the large-scale panel were established. Despite the isolation of the Soviet artistic environment from world artistic currents, the dosage of information coming from the West was enough for Ukrainian artists to create their own interpretations of seen foreign or banned domestic samples. Sensing this on an intuitive level rather than being in the full context of theoretical and art history discourse, the best representatives of the process managed to create a work of decent quality, the execution of which was financed by the state of that time. Despite the presence of Soviet symbols in the work (as a tribute to the totalitarian system for the opportunity to work in the field of art at all), the monumental panel is made at a high artistic level and is valuable for its innovative approach. As it follows from the results of the research, the effort to adapt samples of Western European art to the realities of the orders of the Art Fund of the Ukrainian SSR was not the least important in this process. This became possible thanks to the high level of specialized art education in higher educational institutions, as well as the personal self-improvement of each author-performer and his personal giftedness. In addition, the mentioned works were created by Ukrainian artists on Ukrainian territory and they are far from glorifying the regime.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS IN CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE IN IRAQ

The use of raw materials in contemporary sculpture is a practice aimed at maintaining indicators of the development of work in the field of art. A variety of materials are used in the manufacture of contemporary sculpture, and this includes the use of sustainable wood obtained from well-established forests that contribute to the availability of a variety of Wood sources, in addition, the possibility of using recycled materials such as iron, glass and recycled plastic in unique construction work, all in reducing loss and making better use of available resources. It includes the research of the problem, importance, goals, limits of the research and its methodology, the research objectives, the search for products, results, recommendations, suggestions and sources, where the main options in contemporary sculpture are with the questions: What are the materials that have the ability to survive and endure, and is the artwork affected by various environmental factors such as resistance to water, humidity, heat and light? ? The importance of research and the need for it is to shed light on many of the materials that can be used by students, including sports waste wood, environmental glass, organic patents such as wool and reeds, and since with materials, it reflects an awareness of multiple issues and continues to capture the masses and find creative solutions. challenges, and artists can experience joint creative work through the use of important or shared materials. The aim of the research is to use functional materials in contemporary sculpture that reflects concern for the environment and natural influences. Artists exploit re-engineered materials and other basic elements, especially wood, as they participate in Awareness of the issues. The research also includes the opening words, which were represented by sustainability linguistically, terminologically, and procedurally, as well as language, terminologically, and procedurallyب

“The Development of Jazz in China and Its Intercultural Influence on Chinese Pop Music, from the 20th Century to the 21st Century”

Abstract What is the intercultural significance of jazz for the development of Chinese pop music? The main content of this dissertation is to study and discuss the period when jazz music entered China and how it affects the development of past and present Chinese pop music. In today’s society, intercultural research is ubiquitous. Since the birth of civilization, people from different disciplines and artistic fields have been trying to build cultural bridges.1 China has a long history of culture and music development. With the changes of the times, China’s music civilization has been continuously developed and changed with the replacement of various dynasties in the past. In addition, Confucius’s Confucianism has influenced the development of Chinese music and music education. The history of jazz music is not very long, but it has become an indispensable element of today’s social music culture. Perhaps it is because jazz has rich musical style features, such as improvisation and unique jazz scales. In addition, the musical content of its expression is democratic and free. The musical form of Jazz music originated in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is a combination of African black culture and European white culture. It is a kind of “hybrid” music form that affects the development of Chinese music with deep-rooted civilization, especially some Chinese pop music. The dissertation will study how jazz integrates Chinese music to produce Chinese pop music, as well as the intercultural influence of jazz, and how Jazz affects the pop singers of Chinese pop music.

THE INFLUENCE OF THEOSOPHY ON MODERN PAINTING

An interesting subject that delves into the junction of spirituality, philosophy, and creative expression is the effect of Theosophy on contemporary painting. In the late 19th century, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky established the spiritual movement known as Theosophy. Theosophy is a belief system that seeks to discover the truth about the oneness of all faiths and delve further into the secrets of life, positing the existence of concealed realities beyond the material world. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Theosophy wielded a transformative influence on the field of contemporary art. Its principles were not just influential, but potent enough to reshape the work of even the most prominent painters. Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky is a testament to this; his journey was not just instrumental, but transformative in the ascent of abstract expressionism.Theosophical teachings resonated deeply with Kandinsky, echoing not just his profound spirituality, but his personal quest to uncover art's hidden significance. Theosophy posited the existence of concealed realities beyond the material world, placing not just a premium, but a profound importance on the spiritual facets of life. For Kandinsky, art was not just a portal, but a profound conduit for these higher realms, a conduit for the cosmic spirit to manifest. This profoundly impacted Kandinsky as he veered away from realistic imagery and delved into the realm of abstract painting. He aimed to articulate spiritual experiences and emotions through the medium of color and shape. For instance, in his painting 'Composition VII, 'Kandinsky used vibrant colors and dynamic shapes to convey a sense of spiritual energy and movement. Driven by the belief that art could convey profound, transcendent truths, his work progressively shed its symbolic nature. Famous for his geometric abstract paintings, Piet Mondrian was another artist impacted by Theosophy. Theosophy's principles of spiritual progress and cosmic oneness resonated with Mondrian's search for inner peace and a sense of cosmic order, which were crucial to his creative process. For instance, in his painting 'Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue, 'Mondrian used primary colors and straight lines to represent the harmony and balance he believed existed in the universe, a concept aligned with philosophical ideas. Beyond specific artists, the influence of Theosophy on contemporary art might be seen in more systemic currents like Abstract Expressionism and Symbolism. Some artists, like the symbolists, drew inspiration from the theosophical tradition's emphasis on introspection and mystical themes. Theosophy had not just a significant but a lasting impact on contemporary painting. It inspired painters to seek not just new ways but innovative ways of expressing themselves that went beyond traditional depictions. Modern painting's enduring legacy is not just profoundly rooted but intricately intertwined with theosophical ideas of spirituality, oneness, and inner change, which fostered not just the emergence but the flourishing of abstract and emotionally charged art forms, such as Wassily Kandinsky's abstract expressionism and Piet Mondrian's geometric abstraction, which aimed not just to convey, but to evoke spiritual and emotional experiences through non-representational forms.

Trends in the study of the image of a modern man in the art of Russia at the beginning of the XXI century

The subject of the study is the consideration of modern trends in the study of fine art, in particular Russian portrait and narrative painting of the beginning of the XXI century. The object is scientific works related to various fields of the humanities, namely: art history, aesthetics, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, psychology, etc. Using their material, it is possible to show not only the difference in approaches to understanding the essence and role of the image of a modern person in the art process, but also to demonstrate the specifics of the artistic interpretation of this figurative system in the context of art criticism, cultural and philosophical issues. Such a study allows us to systematize existing ideas about the peculiarities of the development of anthropological subjects in the mainstream of contemporary fine art in modern Russia, to identify the main directions. The main methodological basis of the study was a systematic approach that allowed us to consider contemporary Russian art as a single system. This helped to compare the approaches of modern researchers analyzing the place and role of the human image in it. Through the postmodern paradigm of perception and interpretation of anthropological topics, to identify the essential features of the ideas of Russian scientists. Methods of art historical analysis were also used. The starting point of the research is that at the moment in Russian science there is a body of art history and cultural studies devoted to the development of contemporary art in the country. However, there are no works summarizing the existing experience of scientists and defining the main directions of scientific thought. In light of this, the scientific novelty of the article lies in expanding the understanding of the methodological apparatus necessary for the analysis of the anthropological trend in the visual arts of our time, which is a promising path for future research in this area. The most demanded conceptual philosophical and historical-cultural foundations for the analysis and solution of practical problems in the field of contemporary art in relation to the representation of the human image are identified. Empirical research material has been collected and analyzed.

Understanding careers as translations: the importance of Bruno Latour for the study of careers

PurposeThis paper argues that Bruno Latour’s work on translation provides an alternative to dominant anthropocentric, individualistic and managerial approaches in career studies by considering careers as precarious effects of networks instead of the implicit assumption of individual strategic career actors in extant career research paradigms.Design/methodology/approachThe article first compares the three main current approaches to studying careers – structural functionalist, interpretivist and critical – illustrated by three exemplary empirical studies. Subsequently, three concepts from the sociology of translation that are relevant for the study of careers are introduced: career making as translating interests, careers as effects of networks and career action as dislocated and overtaken. Taken together, these three concepts allow us to conceive of careers as practices performed by human and nonhuman actors. Finally, an example from an ethnographic case study in the field of contemporary art illustrates how a Latourian approach can be used.FindingsLatour’s work on translation provides conceptual and methodological tools to investigate career processes and practices in an era of unpredictability.Originality/valueThe paper introduces Bruno Latour’s work on translation to the study of careers.