During the module you will engage in a series of practical workshops and encounters exploring key concepts, ideas and methodologies specifically designed to free and release the creative imagination and encourage creative thinking. Typically, you will be asked to respond to artifacts, images, sounds, materials, and work both individually and collaboratively on a series of creative tasks associated with these.

The workshops will be led by a variety of staff drawn from different disciplines across Media, Performance and Communication.

During teaching week 6 of the module you will present ideas for a performance project to a nominated member of staff and be allocated into groups accordingly. You will ‘negotiate’ and agree on the source materials which should provide a stimulus for the development of their project. You will then work independently, with supervision as required, to produce a project within a series of prescribed guidelines and circumstances. In creating a project you will be encouraged to work in a variety of chosen media, exploring cross-disciplinary practice – although this is not a prescribed requirement.

Finally, you will reflect upon the efficacy of their work through participation in an oral examination, drawing upon your individual curated portfolios to justify and substantiate your analysis through reflection and discuss how you have embraced creative collaboration.

All individually assessed:

ASSESSMENT 1: Continuous Assessment – approaches to rehearsal and workshops in relation to openness and responsiveness will be assessed [LO 1,2]

ASSESSMENT 2: The Project – a negotiated 15 minute short performance/live project [LO 2,3]

ASSESSMENT 3: The Reflective Discussion – concentrating on process and problem solving, as well as critical frameworks [LO 1,3,4]

You will be encouraged to ‘play’, respond and explore, both individually and in groups, during the practical workshops and seminar discussions for the module. After week six of the module, there will be additional ‘self-led’ independent classes for the module to facilitate the project work.

You will also be required to keep an ideas notebook (virtual or physical) and generate a portfolio of work which you will refer to when analysing the efficacy of the creative achievements.

The teaching team will also recommend several podcasts and short videos to support and develop your learning.

1. Develop your knowledge and understanding of imaginative concepts, methodologies and processes associated with creative play.

2. Encounter and engage with a series of individual and group creative challenges drawn from a variety of media.

3. Participate and co-operate effectively in a group context, conceiving and devising a performance project in response to a set of ‘negotiated’ stimuli.

4. Curate an annotated creative portfolio of work and critically analyse and reflect upon the efficacy of choices made.

AV equipment in teaching spaces

Library

Internet

Drama Studios

VLE

Berger, J. (2008) Ways of Seeing: Penguin Classics

Blouwers, S. (2021) Creatives on Creating.

Carson, S. (2012) Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximise Imagination, Production and Innovation in Your Life. Jossey-Bass Publishing

Gilbert, E (2014) Big Magic: Creating Beyond Fear. Belinda Publishing

Hasel, R and Carter ,M. (2016) Creative Block Play. Redleaf Press

Kanford, S and Gregoire, C (2016) Wired to Create. Penguin.

Kaufman, J and, Sternberg R (2019) The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity. Cambridge University Press.

Koestler, A. (2014) The Act Of Creation: One 70 Press

Smith, A. (2021) Just Doodle You’ll: 30 Props to Help You Find Freedom in Your Creative Play.

This module will develop important core creative industry skills associated with successful imaginative and creative practice. It is specifically designed to stimulate and free the creative imagination, encouraging experimentation, innovation, risk and ‘blue sky thinking’. During the workshops you will be invited to ‘dare to dream’ and encounter and develop creative and critical skills, methodologies and ways of thinking which challenge existing norms and conventions.