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Student Learning Outcomes -

• A successful student will identify the artistic style of contemporary photographers covered in course materials.
• A successful student will synthesize course material and describe how the themes explored by a photographer relate to broader social issues.

Description -

Survey of contemporary issues in photography. Critical theory and other issues surrounding contemporary photographic practices are explored through the style and content of work by selected contemporary photographers. Censorship, copyright, appropriation, and other current issues affecting the contemporary photographer are discussed. The interplay of traditional and digital photography and how it affects our concepts of truth, reality, society, and culture. The honors course offers an enriched and challenging experience for the more talented student, including deeper content, more rigorous grading, and more demanding and creative assignments requiring application of higher-level thinking, writing, and communication skills.

Course Objectives -

1. Compare and contrast various contemporary trends in photography and their effect on aesthetics and techniques in the visual arts.
2. Trace the effects of other visual media on photography, and the effect of photography on other visual media.
3. Recognize the major photographic artists and gain insight into how contemporary photography has been influenced by their vision.
4. Understand better one's own abilities and potential in relation to current photographic styles and techniques.
5. Demonstrate understanding of the changing nature of photography that has accompanied the advent of electronic imaging.
6. Recognize the contributions made in this field by people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and the contributions of photographers who work outside normal academic and artistic environments.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment -

1. Lecture room equipped for computer projection with web access.
2. When taught via 17³Ô¹Ï Global Access, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address.

 

Course Content (Body of knowledge) -

1. The relationship of aesthetics and technology in photography.
1. An overview of early 19th century photographic vision and processes.
2. The evolution of photographic vision and technology in the 20th century.
3. The development of photographic processes as industrial and manufacturing tools.
4. Electronic imaging and future trends.
2. The integration and use of photographs in other media.
1. Photographic exploration and documentation in the sciences.
2. Trends in photojournalism, the single image and the photo essay.
3. Creative, expressive, and experimental photography.
3. Introduction to contemporary photographic issues:
1. Contemporary photographic technology.
2. The nature of photographic style.
3. Relevance and relationship of technology to aesthetics and creative art.
4. The role of the photographic artist in society.
1. Documentary and journalistic photography.
2. Photography as art.
3. Multi-media, video and alternative processes.
4. The depiction and expression of current philosophical and cultural concerns through the photographic image.
5. Visits to institutions, museums, galleries, industrial and commercial sites, as appropriate.
6. Contributions to photography by artists from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
5. Selected issues in photographic ethics and aesthetics.
1. Censorship.
2. Electronic alteration of photographs.
3. Right of privacy, freedom of expression and political correctness.
4. Copyrights and appropriated imagery.
5. Current issues.

Methods of Evaluation -

1. Written papers or project on selected topics in photography.
2. Instructor's review of student's contribution to class discussions.
3. Final examination.
4. The honors course requires additional in-class portfolio, consisting of lecture notes, individual responses to discussion prompts, and personal reflections; expository essays, requiring research, integration, and synthesis; and choice of creative project reflective of course content, such as creation of photographs, webpage design, or class presentation.

Representative Text(s) -

Disciplines -

Method of Instruction -

1. Lecture presentations to prepare students to evaluate and compare works by different contemporary photographers and identify the photographs' place in the social, cultural and artist climate of our time.
2. Classroom discussion and electronic discussions/chat, as appropriate, demonstrating skill in the use of the language of photography and art history.
3. Field trips to museums and galleries to see and critique examples of contemporary photographic imagery.

Lab Content -

1. Students will view and then analyze work by contemporary photographers.
2. Students will watch and then analyze selected films on contemporary photographers.
3. Students participate in online discussions based on questions posed in weekly lessons. This participation consists of students posting answers to written questions provided by the instructor and/or posting responses to other student comments in an online discussion forum.
4. Students will attend exhibitions (both independently and as a class). Students will then write descriptive/analytical/experiential summaries based on their exhibit attendance.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing and Outside of Class Assignments -

1. Reading assignments: Reading of one or more textbook essays for each of the lecture topics, plus online lecture.
2. Writing assignments: Three 1000-word essays responding to a prompt, such as:
1. Address the following in a 1000 word essay on Sandy Skoglund's image titled "Radioactive Cats?"
1. Definitions of Art
1. Is the work of art the photograph, the installation, or both?
2. If this were a documentary photograph taken by Skoglund of an actual situation, would the photograph have the same status as art as Skoglund's photograph of the installation?
2. Artist-Centered Issues
1. Had Skoglund used mannequins instead of models for this work, how would it be different?
3. Audience-Centered Issues
1. If you hate this kind of green or gray, do you have to hate this piece?
2. Does the artist tell you something you already know about cats or does she give you new information about them?
4. Cultural Context
1. What does this work tell you about men and women in this society?
2. How might people from other societies view these pets?
5. Criticism and Interpretation
1. What does the title tell you about this work's meaning? Do you have to know the title to have the same interpretation?
2. Would a cat lover be likely to like this work or think it is good art? Would someone who is allergic to cats?
6. Values in Art
1. Does this work teach us a lesson about people and animals? About how life should be?
2. What kind of place besides an art museum would be a good place to show this work? Why?