Photographs in Society

Course Catalog Description

Course designed to introduce students to a wide array of photographs for a wide array of uses in society while introducing systematic methods for historic, cultural, and academic analysis. Final project chosen on individual basis following consultation between student and instructor (e.g., create a swipe file, design a photograph book or magazine, self-publish a book or website of own photographic work, make a photograph essay—anything that would be of high value in student’s portfolio post end of course).

Course Overview

Photographs in Society is an immersion in the myriad of ways photographs have been and are used to communicate ideas and serve as evidence when shared among society as photojournalism, advertisement, memory aid, historic document, and photo-realistic fantasy.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students apply systematic visual analysis methods to an array of photographs to learn to go beyond casual viewing to intentional seeing to the ends of both deeply appreciating the work and intentions of photographers (and other visual recording and communication means) and applying developed seeing abilities to their own vision for their photographic, artistic, visual design, and visual communication work.

  • Visual analysis

    Beyond looking—seeing

    Evidence and Excess

    History

    Social Media

    Culture

    Home

    The Far Away Other

    Us as the far away other

    War

    Art

    Environment

    Portrait

    Fantasy

    Wedding

    Album cover

    Posters

    Home decor

    Advertising

    Photo-realistic Photoshop