ARTH 359 Studies in Contemporary Photographic Art

• Tuesdays, 8:45-11:15 am
• Course delivery TBA
• Instructor: Dr. Martha Langford

This course examines ways of thinking about photography and photographic experience. How does photography deliver knowledge? How does it express or prompt memory? How does it stimulate the imagination? What are the strengths, what are the limitations of the medium? Each week will be composed of three elements: an assigned reading; a pre-recorded lecture; and a participatory meeting of the class via Zoom. Participatory because in this forum, on rotation, we will be sharing photographic images that strike us as relevant to the reading and lecture, and explaining how they work – whether to illustrate, expand, or challenge the ideas we are considering. Designed to expand our understanding of photographic discourse and to instill confidence in our ability to analyze a photographic work – critically, respectfully, and empathetically – this course is ideal for photography practitioners, researchers, communicators, and thinkers. Halfway through the course, students will decide whether to produce an essay or a curatorial proposal as their final project – both will involve research, argument, and clear expository writing, with the aim of developing these academic and professional skills.