This session was led by David Mollin, who introduced the two final year routes: Dissertation (route A) and an audio paper (route B). He also went through the proposal document we need to submit, breaking it down in a way that quite open rather than overly strict.

We spent a lot of the session working in groups, talking through the proposal questions together. This actually helped more than just writing on my own, because saying ideas out load made them clear. One thing that stuck with me was thinking about a research question sounds like, not just how it looks written down. It made the whole process feel a bit more creative.

Some notes I wrote down from what David was saying:

• Art is all interpretation
• People will always interpret your work in their own way
• Because of that, its important to understand your own intentions

I also noted down a question: Can movements and memories be changed? Im not fully sure where it will go yet but it feels like a starting point. It links to the idea that memory isn’t fixed and that could shape how I approach my project.

We also reviewed some audio papers, which helped me understand that route more. It showed how research doesn’t just have to be written it can be experienced through sound and voice. That made me feel more interesting and less traditional.

Overall, the session felt more about exploring ideas than just completing a task. Im still figuring out my direction but I feel like I’ve started to form the beginning of a research idea.

This session also made me reflect further on my interest in Inverse Effectiveness and how it could connect to my research project. The idea that unclear or weak sensory information can create a stronger overall perception when combined links closely to the theme I am already interested in particularly memory and active listening.

As I develop my ideas, I want to explore how sound can encourage people to focus more carefully on their environment. Rather than creating something immediately obvious, I am more interested in subtle sounds that slowly build meaning overtime. I think this could create a more personal and reflective experience for the audience, where listening becomes more active rather than passive.

At the moment, still feel like I am at the beginning of developing this idea but inverse effectiveness is becoming an important framework for how I think about perception and audience experience within my practice.