Theory and Contemporary History of Photography

The course deals with photography's visual evolution from mid 20th century to our days through presentation of important photographers' work regarding either personal expression or belonging to photography's professional field (photojournalism, documentary and/or advertisement photography). The means is examined within the broader area of visual arts through analysis of photography or art critics' work. For what concerns visual experimentation, the student is asked to submit a personal photo project, to be elaborated throughout the semester, accompanied by written analysis. Apart from this, two or more theory texts are handed out in order to be analyzed

Acquaintance with photography's contemporary evolution. Introduction to the means' theoretical analysis. Advanced level of personal visual experimentation

1st Week:  Presentation of the course's syllabus and aims
2nd Week:  Overview of photography's first 100 years of evolution, pointing out to important visual turnpoints
3rd Week:  Introduction of amateur photography directed to unspecialized users and its visual influences to contemporary photography
4th Week:  The work of Robert Frank, its importance and influences to photography
5th Week:  Düsseldorf School, equivalent trends in the USA and influences to photography 
6th Week:  Visual Arts after the end of modern movement 
7th Week:  Presentation and group critique of students' photo projects
8th Week:  "Postmodernism" and photography
9th Week:  Photoghraphy in Japan from post WWII up today 
10th Week: The work of Anders Petersen and its importance with regard to the means' contemporary vision
11th Week: Contemporary trends in photojournalism and documentary photography. Post Doc
12th Week: Blogs, 'Social Networks' and relative use of photography
13th Week: Presentation and group critique of students' photo projects

Wells, Liz (ed., 1996, 2009). Photography – A Critical Introduction. Νέα Υόρκη: Routledge

Ian Jeffrey (1981). Photography, A Concise History. London: Thames and Hudson.

Michel Frizot (1989, 2005). Histoire de voir. France: Actes Sud

Iraklis Papaioannou (2006). Post Doc. Thessaloniki: Photography Museum

Mary Warner Marien (2014). Photography, A Cultural History. Pearson

Walter Guadagnini (ed., 2012). Photography, A New Vision of the World 1891-1940. Milano: Skira

Walter Guadagnini (ed., 2013). Photography, From the Press to the Museum 1941-1980. Milano: Skira

Walter Guadagnini (ed., 2014). Photography, The Contemporary Era 1981-2013. Milano: Skira

Terry Barrett (1996). Criticizing Photographs, an Introduction to Understanding Images. USA: Mayfield

Benjamin, Walter (1931). "Kleine Geschichte der Phoyographie". In Die Literarische Welt.

Benjamin, Walter (1935, 1939). Das Kunstwerk im Zeitalter seiner technischen Reproduzierbarkeit. 

Szarkowski, John (2009). Looking at Photographs. New York: MOMA

Szarkowski, John (2007). The Photographer’s Eye. New York: MOMA

Sontag, Susan (1980). On Photography. New York: Delta

Barthes, Roland (1980). La chambre claire, Note sur la photographie. Paris: Gallimard

Berger, John and Jean Mohr (1982). Another Way of Telling. New York: Pantheon

Burgin, Victor (1982). Thinking Photography

Lectures through use of visual and audiovisual material. Group discussion. Group critique of students' personal photo projects. Analysis of theory texts

Enhanced by multimedia content.
The learning process is supported by the asyncrhonous e-learning platform e-class.

Evaluation of personal photo projects, theory texts analysis and final written test