History of Photography Section JM

VHS Catalog 12-13

Course Title:	History of Photography Section JM
Course Code:	photogjm
MA NCES Code:	05167
Discipline:	Arts
Grade Level:	10, 11, 12
Level:	Honors
Offering:	Repeated Semester (Fall: 25 Seats; Spring: 25 Seats; )
Duration:	15 weeks
Prerequisites:	Students do not have to have a camera or a darkroom, but they should have access to a scanner.
Additional Requirements:
Accredited by:	Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools; Northwest Accreditation Commission
Course Requires a Media Kit to be Shipped to Students: No
Course Requires a Media Kit to be Purchased by Course Sponsor (see additional details below): No
Description: **Please Note: This course may not be appropriate for students with specific accessibility limitations as written. Please refer to the VHS Handbook policy on Special Education/Equity for more information on possible modifications. If you need additional assistance, please let us know at service.goVHS.org. This course will explore the use of photography as a record of visual history - not just the use of photography for documentation, but also as a reflection of technological developments, social trends, and as a means of personal expression. Students will examine the works of famous photographers, from its beginnings in the 19th century to contemporary times, and will develop an aesthetic vocabulary. In addition, they will have opportunities to exchange ideas and explore subject matter through class discussion forums and team work. They will also create studio assignments in order to gain an appreciation for how photography can be used as a means of personal expression.

MediaKit Contents:

Syllabus:
Week 1 - Introduction
Students will get acquainted with the instructor, the courseroom and each other. Students will learn about composition and will begin to look critically at photographs.
Assignment - Every Picture Tells a Story
Assignment - Composition Scavenger Hunt
Assignment - Virtual Field Trip

Week 2 - Early Beginnings
Students will begin to explore the early photographers and photographic techniques. Students will learn to use the Internet as a research tool.
Assignment - Photographers journal
Assignment - Early Processes

Week 3 - Early art photography
Students will learn about the introduction of photographs into popular culture and the early use of photography as a means of artistic expression.
Assignment - Photographer’s journal
Studio Assignment - Photogram
Discussion - Julia Margaret Cameron

Week 4 - The Chronicles of War (1860-1880)
Students will learn about the beginnings of documentary photography. Students will begin to discuss the nature of the photograph.
Assignment - Photographer’s journal
Discussion - Do photographs tell the truth?
Discussion - Should we photograph war?

Week 5 - New Technology (1880/ 1900)
Students will learn about how technological developments influenced the evolution of photography.
Assignment - Photographer’s journal
Studio assignment - Hand colored photographs

Week 6 - Photo-Secession
Students will look at work by two famous photographers and make personal connections with the work. Students will further explore what motivates photographers.
Assignment - Looking at a body of work
Discussion - Edward Steichen essay

Week 7 - Photography as social reform
Students will study the photography at the turn of the century and how it influenced social change.
Assignment - Photographer’s journal
Discussion - Changing the world: Riis vs. Hines

Week 8 - Photography as fine art (1920-1940)
Students will learn about the use of photography as fine art in the early 20th century and make personal associations with pictures they view.
Assignment - Photographer’s journal
Assignment - Truth, Beauty and Power

Week 9 - Avant Garde
Students will explore how the worldwide dada and surrealists movements influenced photography. Students will begin to prepare their final project.
Assignment - Photographer’s journal
Discussion - "Lies" (short story)
Studio Assignment - Photo-collage
Assignment of Final project - Photomontage
Studio Assignment - The art of kitsch

Week 10 - Photojournalism and the human condition
Students will look at documentary photography, post WW1) and how it was a vehicle for social change
Assignment - Photographer’s journal
Discussion - The Terror of War
Team Assignment - Sorting the work of 2 photographers

Week 11 - Photographers of the street
Student will research the nature of street photography and will expand their ability to speak about photographs
Assignment - Photographer’s journal
Discussion - "The Adventures of a Photographer” (Short Story)
Assignment - Visual Literacy (Part one)

Week 12 - Fashion Photography
Students will research the evolution of fashion photography and its influence on mass culture
Assignment - Fashion Review
Discussion - Richard Avedon

Week 13 - Portrait and self portraits
Students will research the concept of the portrait and the motivation of portrait photographers.
Discussion - Richard Avedon
Assignment - Fashion photography review
Discussion - The portrait as icon

Week 14 - Pop and conceptual art
Students will look at the work of contemporary photographers and explore the varied movements of contemporary photography
Assignment - Photographer's journal
Assignment - Visual Literacy (Part two)

Week 15 - The power of photographs
Students will present final project and will summarize the influence and nature of photography as well as concluding statements regarding the future of photography.
Assignment - Dreams or Making visible the invisible
Discussion - Current trends and unfinished business
Discussion - The portrait of the photographer
Discussion - Wrapping things up

Course Objectives:
Students will:
1. Understand the basic technology of the photographic process
2. Understand photography in relation to history
3. Reflect upon and assess the characteristics of photographic works
4. Participate in class discussions and team work
5. Make connections between photography and other disciplines
6. Develop an appreciation for the evolution of photography as an art form
7. Learn to use photographic images as a means of personal expression

This catalog description was last modified on 06/01/2012