Lesley University Library: MFA Visual Art Research: Planning an MFA Thesis

Thesis Writing: An Overview

Mind Mapping an MFA Thesis

Dissection of an MFA Thesis

Download Taylor's thesis here

Thesis Outlines

If you aren't sure how you want to organize your thesis, try reading other MFA theses to see how other people do it! I've linked some below, but click on Find Dissertations & Theses under Resources in the menu on the left for ways to find and publish theses.

Abstract vs. Practical

Notice how all the examples below compare in their organization (check out their table of contents!), even when dealing with a similar topic or medium!

Example: Practical Organization
This MFA thesis, written by Robert Bradley at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is organized practically, with a section for each medium, a section on process, and a section on influences.
Example: Abstract Organization
This MFA thesis, written by Jin Lee at Illinois State University, is broken up by abstract headings. Instead of practical headings like "Materials" "Process" "Influences" the artist uses abstract ideas as her organization, like "Beginnings" and "Being Seen".

Art & Trauma

Notice how the two theses below both center around art and trauma, but how they organize their thesis is different.

Ceramics MFA Thesis, written by Alex Bailey at Southern Illinois University
This one has a more practical organization. It is organized based on the artist's life and the chronology of healing, with sections called "One: Lived Experience", "Two: Trauma, Damage", "Three: Mending, Coping", "Four: Restoration".
Visual Arts MFA Thesis, written by Angel Estrella at Clemson University
This thesis has a more abstract organization, with sections called 'Seeing Feeling", "The Body Remembers", and "Inside-Out". The more practical information, like clay recipes, is includes as an appendix.

Process-Based Art

If your art is very focused on your process, you may want to find a way to put more focus on that in your thesis. You can have a section of your thesis about your process but for some people their work is very process-based so they speak to process throughout the thesis.

Digital Production Arts MFA Thesis, written by Thomas Scott Rapp at Clemson University
This thesis has a very practical organization, but it's focused on the preparation and process of creating. There is a section for background, one for influences, and one for production, and the results aren't discussed until the end. This puts the focus on the process and technique while still designating space to discuss the final product.
The Pain that Love Produced Moton, Barrymore A. Illinois State University
Check out the section "MEANING OF MATERIALS & RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FORM AND PROCESS"
My Culture Art in Healing Action Chavarria, Fabian. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley,
Process is discussed thoroughly in specific sections like: PROCESS AND MEDIA,
MIX MEDIA, SCULPTURE, & INK ON CANVAS
Curating Memories; Art as a Collection of Loss and Nostalgia Feagin, Christle Dawn. Azusa Pacific University
There are intrinsic relationships between artists, their collections, viewers, cultures, and nostalgic memories resulting from loss. This thesis probes these deep-rooted connections by examining how early traumatic experiences inform not only the objects an artist collects and uses in their art, but also how viewers and culture perceive these creations.

MFA Visual Art Research

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