I had my one-to-one with Janet on 20th June.

She kicked off by suggesting that I look at ‘autoethnography’ [a qualitative research method in which researchers use their personal experiences to examine and understand cultural phenomena] as well considering the Tao; an approach to life which is more of a wandering.

I should aim to have few references which are not apparently connected and find a new pathway from synthesis which is uniquely mine.

She ran through her notes.

• It has strong potential particularly its exploratory stance and willingness to probe instability
• There is a compelling central enquiry into mapping as a dynamic, active process
• Its strength is the questions it raises rather than its answers

I need to:

• Work towards refining the focus
• Tighten the language and clarify the relationship between the concepts eg what’s the relationship between Kierkegaard and Grayson Perry? Map/mapping, reality/memory
• The title is too long and general – need to specify the argumentative focus – although the title can come at the end
• Personal voice in the opening paragraph is authentic but need to transition more clearly into the critical voice – set down where I’m coming from to start to see it as a critical analysis of where I’m coming from rather than a ‘hello’
• Define what I mean by autobiographical mapping
• Consider the difference between mapping the self and representing the self.
• Consider psychogeography and subjective cartography – artistic tradition sits at the intersection of these terms
• Dodge & Kitchin – ontogenesis – links to autobiographical process lived and relived through memory
• Look at Carol Tills – a geographer
• Memory is VITAL ie alive
• Consider adding another disciplinary depth – so far have art, cartography, philosophy – inter-disciplinary is good. Have breadth, now need depth.
• Instability of memory related to instability of maps
• Good concepts and thoughtful reflection
• Need to read more in order to narrow down the focus and more rigorous integration of theory and artistic examples
• Philosophers don’t know much about material dimensions – when making something it gives information to you. Am I being me?
• Paul Ricoeur, Henri Bergeron