Bournemouth University Seeks Misty Comic Fan for Research Work

Misty Annual 1979
(Updated 23/1/2016 with amended job description): A research assistant is needed to conduct a data analysis project studying page layout and lexis in the comic book Misty at Bournemouth University.

The post is part-time at 8 hours a week. The salary is £10.01 per hour. The project is intended to run for 10 weeks (Monday 21 March – Friday 27 May 2016).

Full details are below. If you are interested in applying please send a brief CV and covering letter to jroundATbournemouth.ac.uk by 1 February 2016. Your covering letter should indicate your background and expertise and how you would approach the below project.

Interviews will be held at Bournemouth University or via Skype in February and invited candidates will be asked to present a strategy for producing the required results.

MISTY VISUAL AND LEXICAL ANALYSIS PROJECT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PART TIME (8 hours per week, over 10 weeks)

A research assistant is needed to conduct a data analysis project studying page layout and lexis in the comic book Misty (101 x 32-page issues, which will be provided as pdf files).

As research assistant on this project you will be solely responsible for analyzing visual and lexical elements from the entire series of Misty, including:

• Cover and inside cover image and text (characters, pose, background, lexis)
• Page layouts and panel shapes/sizes
• Story titles and types

in order to draw meaningful conclusions about lexis, visual layouts, panel shapes/sizes, common themes and so forth.

The successful candidate will have experience of projects of this type and will set out a clear proposal for their methodology. This might involve using text recognition software packages and (if practical) document layout analysis software or other visual analysis software (which will be provided on request) to produce the below outputs. However, non-digital approaches are also welcome and there is no requirement for software to be used. It is more important that you have a clear plan of how you would approach this project manually, e.g. by using a meaningful sample group or identifying a key selection of particularly striking layouts.

Outputs required at end of project:

–  Table and graph or other representation of quantitative data that summarises impactful page layouts, and common panel shapes used in the comic.

–  Table and graph or other representation of quantitative data that analyses cover and inside cover imagery, e.g. character, pose, background, etc.

–  Table and graph or other representation of quantitative data relating to common language features, e.g. most-used words and phrases from cover, inside cover, and story titles.

–  Table and graph or other representation of quantitative data reflecting the various story ‘types’ (this can be taken from existing annotations/notes on story content that have already been produced).

–  Clear visual and tabular representations of this information.

You will also be encouraged to co-present on the project at a national conference, if desired.

Person specification and qualifications:

Essential:

–  Able to present a clear and practical plan of how to approach this project.
–  Able to take initiative in devising data collection and representation strategies as required.
–  Experience with content analysis, archival research or working on a project of this type.

Desired:

– An interest or background in comics studies.
– Knowledge and experience of appropriate software or other proposed methodology.

This position will be supervised by Dr Julia Round. It is part-time at 8 hours a week. The salary is £10.01 per hour. The project is intended to run for a total of 80 hours, across 10 weeks (Monday 21 March – Friday 27 May 2016).

There is no requirement to be based in Bournemouth however brief weekly meetings/progress reports will be required (to be held in either Bournemouth, Bristol or via Skype).

If you are interested in applying please send a brief CV and covering letter to jround@bournemouth.ac.uk by 1 February 2015.

Your covering letter should indicate your background and expertise and how you would approach the below project. Interviews will be held at Bournemouth University or via Skype in February and invited candidates will be asked to present their strategy for producing the required results.

For all queries related to this job advert please contact Dr Julia Round at the above email address.

Bournemouth University is a Disability Two Ticks Employer and has signed up to the Mindful Employer charter. Information about the accessibility of University buildings can be found on the BU DisabledGo webpages



Categories: British Comics, Comics Education News, Comics Studies, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

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