【44th Talk】Professor Dr. Su Jincheng: “Research Methodology and Thesis Writing in Art Studies”
Upcoming Event
| Introduction | The 44th session of the “Tan Lark Sye Lecture Series,” organized by the Institute of International Education and the Tan Lark Sye Institute at New Era University College (NEUC) is now open for registration. This lecture features Prof. Dr. Su Jincheng from the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, to explore academic research in the field of art studies. He will provide a systematic introduction to core research methodologies and academic writing standards. In terms of research methods, the lecture will cover literature analysis, field investigation, image analysis, comparative analysis, statistical analysis, semiotics, and interdisciplinary research. Literature analysis serves as the foundation among these, constructing the research context by reviewing historical materials and theoretical works; field investigation focuses on art sites such as cave murals, art museums, and intangible cultural heritage workshops to gather firsthand data; Image analysis emphasizes interpreting the visual elements of artworks to uncover historical and cultural connotations; while semiotics explores the signifier and signified of artistic symbols to reveal deeper meanings. In terms of thesis writing, he highlights the importance of adhering to scholarly norms: research topics should be both innovative and feasible; the structure must be logically clear, including introduction, main body, conclusion, etc.; arguments should be evidence-based, avoiding subjective assumptions; language must be precise and concise, adhering to academic standards; meanwhile, citations should be properly formatted to acknowledge previous studies and ultimately forming research outcomes that are both intellectually thoughtful and rigorous. |
| Speaker | Prof. Dr. Su Jincheng (Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University) Prof. Dr. Su Jincheng holds a PhD in Art Studies from Southeast University and was the first postdoctoral fellow to complete his study at the China Academy of Art. He has been a visiting scholar at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and the School of Arts, Peking University, as well as a guest researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, the University of Tokyo. He is currently a Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and Postdoctoral Cooperation Mentor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University. Prof. Dr. Su is a member of several national academic committees and art associations, and serves as an expert reviewer for major national research funds and academic evaluation bodies. He has been appointed as a Guest Professor and Graduate Supervisor by multiple institutions, including Hebei University, Yunnan University, and Qingdao University, and serves as a PhD Supervisor at the New Era University College in Malaysia. Prof. Dr. Su has led two National Social Science Fund projects, one Ministry of Education Social Science Fund project, and one China Postdoctoral Science Foundation project, while participating in over twenty national and provincial-level research projects. He has published more than 200 academic papers and authored over 10 monographs and textbooks. His calligraphy and painting works have been exhibited and collected in countries such as the United States, Japan, Italy, Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Tanzania. |
| Moderator | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pua Shiau Chen (Institute of International Education, NEUC) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pua Shiau Chen, received her Ph.D. in Literature from Zhejiang University, China, in 2012, with research interests in literature, aesthetics, and Chinese culture. She currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Institute of International Education of New Era University College. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pua has published over ten articles in international academic journals, including topics such as “A Study of ‘Qing’ and ‘Qing’ Music,” “Elegies of the Han Dynasty and Values of Life and Death,” and “The Poetic Construction and Meaning of Qu Yuan’s ‘Wandering’.” She has also presented more than ten papers at domestic and international academic conferences. With extensive experience in academic speaking, she has delivered over 30 academic lectures. |
| Information | Date: 24 September 2025 (Wednesday) Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Venue: ZOOM (ID & password will be sent to your mobile number and email) Registration Form: https://bit.ly/3seNHqc Registration is free. Please complete your registration by Tuesday, 23 September 2025. |
Trailer (Video)
Lecture Postscript
The 44th Tan Lark Sye Lecture Series organized by the Institute of International Education, New Era University College was held on 24th September 2025. The lecture featured Prof. Dr. Su Jincheng, Professor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, as the speaker, who delivered a talk titled "Research Methodology and Thesis Writing in Art Studies". During the talk, Dr. Su systematically outlined the core research methods and academic norms in the field of art studies.
Dr. Su Jincheng currently serves as a Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and Postdoctoral Cooperation Mentor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University. With extensive research experience in art studies, Professor Su also holds multiple positions, including Member of the Expert Committee of the National Art Museum of China, Tutor at the Freehand Painting Institute of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, and Review Expert for the National Social Science Fund, National Art Fund, and the Academic Degree Center of the Ministry of Education. He is also a Specialist for the National Professional Degree Graduate Education Level Assessment, a National Thesis Sampling Expert, Standing Director of the Central Calligraphy and Painting Institute of the Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party, and Vice President of the Shanghai Calligraphy and Painting Institute of the Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party. Additionally, he is a member of the China Artists Association, China Calligraphers Association, China Literary and Art Critics Association, and China Sculpture Society. He serves as a Member of the Shanghai Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee, Member of the Academic Committee of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association, Director of the Shanghai Creative Design Workers Association, and Vice President of the Public Art Design Branch of the International Society of Design Science. Furthermore, Dr. Su is an editorial board member of journals such as Chinese Art Research (CSSCI), Studies in Chinese Art History, Journal of Oriental Design, and Shandong Ceramics, and has been appointed as a Guest Professor and Graduate Supervisor at several universities, including Hebei University, Yunnan University, and Qingdao University. He also serves as a Doctoral Supervisor at New Era University College in Malaysia.
During the lecture, Dr. Su drew on his academic research and practical experience to guide the audience through traditional approaches to art historical writing, emphasizing that art historical research requires not only a solid documentary foundation but also an interdisciplinary perspective and methodological awareness. Professor Su further systematically introduced research methods in art studies, such as textual analysis, field investigation, image analysis, comparative analysis, statistical analysis, semiotics, and interdisciplinary research. He stressed that while literature analysis forms the cornerstone of constructing a research context, scholars must learn to gather firsthand materials through field investigations and deeply interpret the cultural connotations of visual works based on these primary sources. Integrating documents, artifacts, and living evidence to approach the authenticity of artistic phenomena is the most crucial aspect of art studies. Dr. Su also took the opportunity to caution against the use of generative artificial intelligence to avoid academic misconduct.
Following the lecture, the audience and moderator engaged in a lively Q&A session with the speaker, raising in-depth questions on interdisciplinary research in art studies, image analysis, and semiotic theory, to which Dr. Su Jincheng provided detailed responses. The lecture was moderated by Dr. Pua Shiau Chen, Associate Professor at the Institute of International Education of New Era University College, and attracted nearly 120 participants.
