Research Fellow in Yugoslav Video Art, 1969/91 (30 months fixed term)

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University (RGU) offers staff and students alike a distinctive, professionally-focused academic environment in which our demand-led teaching helps individuals to develop and prosper. Underpinning this are, of course, our first-class research capabilities and facilities, with internationally recognised strengths across a wide range of educational areas.

Applications are invited for a fixed-term Postdoctoral Research Assistant (0.5 FTE) to work on the AHRC Standard Grant project Rewind Yugoslavia: Artists’ Video in the former Yugoslavia, 1969/91 led by Dr Jon Blackwood.

This project will investigate former Yugoslav artists' early video experimentation from late 1960s to the early 1990s. This project will retrace artists' stories, their video artworks, and their achievements, and recover rare and marginalised videos and materials and bring them to international attention.

Our project will assess centres and hubs of video art in the former Yugoslavia and highlight their pioneering activities, and broadcasts. These include Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, and Skopje. The project will bridge gaps in our historical knowledge of the evolution of video as an artist’s medium, and address the marginalisation or loss to the canon of international art history of a significant body of work from the period. The project will provide an authoritative source on early Balkan artists' experimentation of videotape as a new medium and language for their artworks.

You will be based at Gray’s School of Art, RGU and will work with Drs Blackwood (Project Lead, Gray’s School of Art) and Laura Leuzzi (Co-Lead, Gray’s School of Art), and with Adam Lockhart (Co-Lead; DJCAD, University of Dundee) at the Rewind Media Preservation Lab, established in 2004 and one of only a few such facilities in Europe that specialises in the preservation of artists’ media.

We are looking for a motivated and adaptable researcher who will conduct archival and bibliographic research, help in setting up and conduct the interviews and carry out editing and transcriptions, write reports, contribute to publications, present at conferences as well as work on the collation and population of the database which will include bibliographic analysis, interviews, ephemera and documents.

RGU's ultra-modern campus, located on the outskirts of the vibrant and prosperous city of Aberdeen, offers a superb place to live, work and develop your career. You’ll enjoy working in one of the most impressive university settings in the UK, with first-class educational infrastructure and outstanding sporting and leisure facilities, all set against a stunning rural backdrop on the banks of the river Dee.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week and also benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits.

To apply please submit the following:

• A two-page Curriculum Vitae (including a list of publications)
• A covering letter outlining your experience, strengths and capabilities for the position.
• Two samples of academic writing (e.g. research article, dissertation chapter) - please use the 'other attachment' option for this

 

Employment is conditional on candidates, if deemed necessary, passing a pre-employment medical and undertaking ongoing health surveillance throughout the course of their employment. This is required in order to support our duty of care under health and safety statute and to ensure that the candidates are able to carry out the functions required by the role.

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. For more information visit: https://www.mygov.scot/basic-disclosure/

JOB DESCRIPTION

RESPONSIBLE TO: Dr Jon Blackwood

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No Supervisory Responsibilities

PURPOSE OF POST: To work with the team in Aberdeen and Dundee and travel in the former Yugoslav space. To collate and assess data under the Lead and Co-Lead and communicate information that is of specialist nature.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

• Bibliographic and archival research.
• Supporting the preparation and conducting selected interviews on video and audio.
• Edit, collate and populate the database.
• Take part in round tables, events.
• Present at research events and conference in the context of the project.
• Author, co-author and publish original research.
• Video editing.

 

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Membership

Completed PhD in the Arts or Humanities that demonstrates research expertise and experience pertinent or related to this project.

Knowledge

Knowledge of at least one of the following languages: Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian (mother-tongue or at least C1 Level).

Knowledge and understanding of Contemporary Art Production and Ecologies in the former Yugoslavia in the socialist period.

Experience

Some experience of interviewing techniques and wide research method competence.

Experience in utilising audio/video equipment.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Experience

Relevant academic publications an advantage.

 

Behaviours

Behaviour 1: Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner

Behaviour 2: Analysis and Research - Experience of developing hypotheses and concepts to explain data, events and phenomena, and reporting findings to a wider community

Behaviour 3: Pastoral Care and Welfare - Experience of calming and reassuring those with work/study related problems who may be experiencing distress and dealing with difficult welfare situations or confidential matters 

Behaviour 4: Liaison and Networking - Experience of  circulating information in an accurate and timely manner,  working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships and leading and developing internal networks to pursue a shared interest

Behaviour 5: Initiative and Problem Solving - Experience of using initiative and creativity to resolve problems, identifying practical and suitable solutions.

Behaviour 6: Decision Making - Experience of using own judgement to make decisions, making collaborative decisions with others to reach conclusions and providing advice or information that will influence the decisions of others