1. Revision Session: Speaking Oral Presentation
BA Art Extension
Revision Session: Speaking
Oral Presentation

2. What are you supposed to do?
Give an academic presentation

3. analytical, not descriptive
related to your future studies
six minutes
a handout with references
academic research
a presentation not
given before
be prepared for questions
PowerPoint (on a memory stick)

4. How do I choose an appropriate topic?
What did you do in your Critical Studies class?
What has interested you in particular?
What is your future direction?
Ask yourself an interesting question.
Have a strong argument.

5. How do I make my presentation academic?
Follow academic conventions.
Remember what you have learnt about good presentations.
Analyse a concept / a theory.
Apply a theory / a concept to a piece of art.
Critically analyse the relevance of an art movement.
Demonstrate that you have done some research.

6. Examples for topics Feminism in my art work
Photography Cannot Be Considered Art
How does Anime reflect the Japanese Culture?
How has Marcel Duchamp’s childhood influenced his art?
How has German Expressionism influenced early German films?
How relevant are the YBA?
The Relevance of Freud’s Ideas in Surrealism
To What Extent Has x/y/z Influenced …?
A Brief Analysis of Xu Bing’s “Book from the Sky”.
Is eco-friendly art work the future?

7. Basic advice
Make sure there is academic content. Without it, it’s impossible to get a good mark;
Respond to the feedback given on last term’s presentation: it’s designed to help you develop your presentation skills.

8. Demonstrate that you have done some research and that you have understood the theory or concept.
Reference your sources – even the pictures on your powerpoint.
Use expressions such as:
According to xyz, photography is not art. He supports his argument with …
In Xyz’s view, the Surrealists were strongly influenced by …
Contrary to Xyz’s view, I argue that …, because …

9. Possible structure Opener Close
INTRODUCTION
Attention grabbers / background / structure / argument
POINT 1
BODY
Main substance sub-divided into further sections – each section also has a beginning, middle and end
POINT 2
POINT 3
Summarise what you said / repeat the argument / what next / invite questions
CONCLUSION
Close

10. Plan your content Figure out your main points
Select supporting information
Create an opening statement
Have a strong argument - Support your argument
Use link words to make the structure of your presentation clearer
Is there a counter-argument?
Is the next point related to the previous point?
How do you reach your conclusion?
Create a closing statement

11. Support your argument with examples.
Give an example.
If you use a picture, say what it shows.
Why is this example / picture relevant to your point?
Always comment on supporting evidence.
How is this linked to your next point?

13. Jan van Eyck: Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife (1434)

14. Why is this picture relevant?
For example:
Perspective
Illusion of depth
Mirror image
Colours
Significant details - show the details; comment on them.

15. Jan van Eyck: Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife (1434) - Detail

16. Create a handout (One A4 sheet) for the examiners with the following information:
Your name
Your programme of study
The date
The title of your presentation
Summarize the main points of your presentation
(bullet points are fine, maybe an example, maybe pictures)
Your sources / references
(including sources of pictures/diagrammes etc.)

17. References
Chilvers, I. and J. Glaves-Smith, 2009. A Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Danto, A.C., 2013. What Art Is. (New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Harrison, C. and P. Wood, eds.. Art in Theory : an anthology of changing ideas. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Heiser, J  All of a Sudden: Things that Matter in Contemporary Art. Berlin & New York: Sternberg Press.
Macey, D. 2000, 2001. Penguin Dictionary of Critical Theory. London: Penguin.

18. More basic advice
Make sure you’ve had some advice from your personal tutor;
Don’t try to include too much – it’s only 6 minutes long. Depth, not breadth;
Practise! Pay special attention to eye-contact;
Try to anticipate the kinds of questions we might ask.
Don’t memorise an extract of writing. You need to communicate naturally.

19. Watch this short video clip on youtube for more guidance:

20. What next? Think about a good topic for your presentation.
Talk to other students, your tutor, me about it.
What is your argument? What is your academic content?
Do some research.
Organise your points.
Prepare and practise.
Give us the title of your presentation by Wednesday 11th May at 9:30 am. Send it to

21. In groups of three or four:
Explain your idea for your presentation to the other members of your group.
Listen and give feedback according to the advice I’ve just talked about.