To acknowledge the varied historical traditions from which Cinema and Media Studies has emerged, and to appreciate the breadth of subjects, theories, amd methods this heterogeneous heritage offers to us
To develop strategies for mapping the contemporary field of study (and its intersections with adjacent fields), identifying dominant and emergent areas of research, and determining where we would like to fit in: what conversations and communities we’d like to join and what contributions we’d like to make
To think capaciously about what constitutes theory and method, to appreciate the politics of such generous thinking, and to recognize that inclusivity does not imply the lack of standards for evaluation
To discern which methods are best suited for particular projects, and to understand how various methods work in tandem to constitute a methodology that embodies our epistemological convictions and ethical commitments
To recognize that all phases of our research — from choosing and designing research projects; to conducting secondary and primary research; to expressing, evaluating, and sharing our work — have a method, ideally informed by theories about which we must make principled choices
To recognize the broad values and applicability of media studies research, both within and beyond the academy
To identify the resources, tools, and communities that exist to support our research — and to know how to conduct the “meta-research” to find what we need
To appreciate that research is social and personal, methodical and emergent, hard and fun, exhausting and exhilarating, exacting and immensely creative
