Storytelling, 120 credits

Today visual communication faces a number of challenges: technological, theoretical, visual and contextual. Storytelling offers a venue for practical and theoretical exploration of the subject area.

The Master's Group is intended for those who have previous experience of visual narrative. The aim is to provide you with the prerequisites needed to extend your own artistic context and to formulate your professional role in relation to the surrounding community.

We place great weight on rendering the relationship between form, content and context visible. The Master's Group is imbued by critical and reflective discussion about visual communication in general and your own work in particular. The inclusion of a perspective in which norms are challenged in both practical and theoretical studies makes Storytelling a unique education in this area.

The different narrative profiles are reflected by the fact that many courses are optional. The final semester is devoted to the degree project, corresponding to 30 credits.

The admission process places great weight on critical thinking as well as practical skills in graphic design and/or visual narrative and/or illustration and/or moving media and/or other related media. You should be familiar with the most frequently used software for image processing and layout. Knowledge of typography, web design, video editing and animation is desirable.

Specific requirements
You can apply to the Master's Group Storytelling, if you have an approved Bachelor's degree from a university in Sweden or abroad, or the equivalent education in the field. Documented proficiency in English. Read more about requirements and selection here.

Selection
Selection is made on artistic grounds and is based upon a portfolio of artwork, a statement of intent and interview. Read more about requirements and selection here.

Language of instruction
Lectures in which international students participate will be conducted in English. Seminars will be given in English if the student group consists of both Swedish and international students. Individual tutoring is given in Swedish when both advisor and student speak Swedish.

Portfolios are submitted digitally
In addition to the application via www.universityadmissions.se, you submit your portfolios digitally. If you are applying to more than one Master’s Group at Konstfack, you must submit portfolios for each group you’re applying to.
Note! This means that you cannot send in or submit physical portfolios to Konstfack. Portfolios that differ from our instructions will not be processed. Read more about submitting portfolios.

Applicant assignment 2013/14

Your work samples must include the following three (3) compulsory parts to be considered complete:

1. Your own selection of works
The absolute total of images/films may not exceed 20 and they can be divided, for instance, between six different works.  A film counts as one image.  All of the works are to be combined to form one PDF document. Write your name in the top left-hand corner of each page. All of the work samples may employ the technique of your choice.

On pages 1–5 assemble the images/films in any way you choose. (The films are to be presented in the PDF document with one image plus the title).

On page 6 create a table of contents listing all the images in the document including “2. A visual narrative”. The table of contents should serve as a clear summary of your work samples with miniature images measuring about 3 x 3 cm. of all the works, including the compulsory tasks. The table of contents will be used by the admissions committee to provide a quick survey of the applicants and to assist their memories when discussing admissions.

2. A visual narrative
Create a narrative that in one way or another is linked to the theme below. Use the materials, media, discourses or narrative techniques that are appropriate for the way you work. Do not be afraid to visualise your position as narrator by reflecting on how the finished work relates to a broader social, cultural or community context.

Theme: The Other
The Other is a philosophical concept that describes how the Ego constructs individuals who differ from oneself (The Same) as dissimilar and divergent. In the social sciences the concept has been used to understand the processes through which a society excludes the Other in different ways in order to subordinate or objectify.

According to the philosopher Friedrich Hegel the self-awareness of the Ego arises through its awareness of the Other. Simone de Beauvoir uses Hegel’s concept of the Other in her description of how a male-dominated culture treats women as the Other in relation to men. The Other has therefore become an important concept in gender studies.

In the American television series The Others the title refers to a group of characters who live on an island. Most of the island’s original population are depicted as opponents or enemies of the protagonists in the series.

This task comprises one (1) to a maximum of four (4) PDF pages in A3 landscape format. In all the work samples you may use any techniques you choose.

3. A written statement of intent
By statement of intent we mean a description of your personal goals, interests and focus in your studies at Konstfack. The work samples you submit should be enhanced by your written explanatory statement. Note that the Storytelling Master's group does not want a specification of the work you plan during the program. Maximum extent one (1) double-spaced A4 page, with a maximum of 2,000 characters (including spaces).

Film, videos and animations
If you submit films, videos and animations the total combined length may not exceed 15 minutes (including the task “2. A visual narrative”). Provide a brief synopsis/trailer or choose your own clip if your films are longer.

Page references for the PDF document
Each applicant must submit ONE (1) PDF document with a maximum of eleven (11) pages:

• Six (6) pages with your own choice of works including a table of contents: pages 1–5 presenting the works you choose and page six (6) providing a table of contents, possibly with explanatory captions.

• A maximum of 4 pages illustrating Task “2. A visual narrative”, on pages seven (7) to max. ten (10).

• One (1) page with your written explanatory statement: the final page of a maximum of eleven (11) pages.

Technical specifications
In order to be able to assess the work samples properly, it is important for all the applicants to comply with these technical specifications.

File format for the PDF document
Page format for the PDF document: A3 landscape
Resolution for the PDF document: 300 dpi
Colour setting: RGB

The PDF document must not be password protected.
Give the PDF document your own name using the format: forename.surname.pdf

File formats for films, videos and animations
AVI, MOV or MPEG4 (H-264 compression).
Max resolution 640 x 480.
The table of contents on page 6 should clearly state the film’s name, format and length.