The aim of the session was to prepare for the draft literature review and to make sure each research topic was becoming more focused and achievable.
We were asked to identify our research area, any possible questions or problems we might investigate, and a short statement explaining the purpose and intentions of the study. We were also asked to find at least five relevant academic publications that could support the research. This helped me understand that I need to move from a general idea into a clearer academic direction.
A key resource from this week was the guideline document for the draft literature review. It explains that the assignment is due on Friday 17th April 2026 and that it is an important step towards building the proposal for next semester. The task is to test the research topic by developing a research question, a short outline of the research objective, a draft literature review and a bibliography of books or journals reviewed and cited.
For my own FMP thesis, my current area of interest is how stylised 3D animation can represent the contrast between media narratives of war and the lived experience of civilians affected by conflict. At this stage, I need to make sure this question is not too broad. I can begin by focusing on how animation uses visual storytelling, metaphor, atmosphere and character perspective to communicate emotional distance or civilian experience.
A possible short purpose statement for my research could be: This study investigates how stylised 3D animation can represent the contrast between mediated narratives of war and the lived experience of civilians. It aims to explore how visual storytelling, animated documentary, memory and media framing can inform the development of an FMP animation that communicates emotional distance and civilian perspective.
The guidelines also reminded us that the draft literature review must follow an academic approach. This includes using Harvard referencing, avoiding plagiarism through careful quotation and paraphrasing, using recognised academic sources, and formatting the work in 12 point Times New Roman or Arial with 1.5 or 2.0 line spacing.
Another important point was that the literature review should not include unreliable sources such as personal blogs, film reviews or YouTube references unless they are being used for a very specific reason. Instead, the research should be grounded in peer-reviewed books, journals and scholarly articles. This is important for my topic because I am dealing with serious subjects such as war, propaganda, media framing and civilian suffering, so the academic foundation needs to be credible and balanced.