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Advertising Photography

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:8.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:26:15
Study Course Information
Course Code:KSK_026LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Communication SciencesTarget Audience:Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Alnis Stakle
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)6Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures12
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours20
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)5Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures10
Classes (count)3Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes6
Total Contact Hours16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
None.
Objective:
To promote an improvement in professional competence of students, which is characterised by the ability to autonomously evaluate, critically discuss and construct advertising photographs, being aware of historical development and contemporary diversity of advertising photography.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introduction to the study course topic: theory of photography and advertising photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Reality and phantasy in early advertising photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Discussion on ideas for students’ personal advertising projects.Classes1.00auditorium
4Depicting of objects in advertising photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
5Discussion on the first performed home assignment (subject in advertising).Classes1.00auditorium
6Human body in advertising photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Contemporary trends in aesthetics of advertising photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Discussion on the second home assignment (use of body in advertising ideas).Classes1.00auditorium
9Advertising photography as a collectively created product.Lectures1.00auditorium
10Discussion on latest trends in advertising photography based on readings.Classes1.00auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introduction to the study course topic: theory of photography and advertising photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Reality and phantasy in early advertising photography.Lectures0.50auditorium
3Discussion on ideas for students’ personal advertising projects.Classes1.00auditorium
4Depicting of objects in advertising photography.Lectures0.50auditorium
5Discussion on the first performed home assignment (subject in advertising).Classes1.00auditorium
6Human body in advertising photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Contemporary trends in aesthetics of advertising photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Discussion on the second home assignment (use of body in advertising ideas).Classes0.50auditorium
9Advertising photography as a collectively created product.Lectures1.00auditorium
10Discussion on latest trends in advertising photography based on readings.Classes0.50auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
The portfolio to be submitted for assessment consists of: • Series of architectural works – one building or conceptually related architectural object should be selected and photographed using the same style. Works should show an object in a landscape, its details and interiors. Works should be implemented in an aesthetically same style (composition, camera angles, colour set design). Scope of completed series from 8 to 15 works. • Still life in advertising – specific products and specific concept/idea should be selected, which should be depicted using objects. The goal of work may be advertising of some specific product or depicting of some decorative or social idea. Works should be implemented in an aesthetically same style (composition, camera angles, colour set design). Scope of completed series from 8 to 15 works. • Body in advertising – certain idea or product should be selected, which would be depicted using a body. The goal of work may be advertising of some specific product or depicting of some decorative or social idea. Works should be implemented in an aesthetically same style (composition, camera angles, colour set design). Scope of completed series from 8 to 15 works. An examination work cannot be submitted in a portfolio with: 1. use of inappropriate technologies, for example, photographs from a telephone, 2. photographs created before the beginning of the course, 3. images taken from others, 4. incomplete sketches/ideas for advertising projects.
Assessment Criteria:
Study course test – examination. In order to receive the final assessment, it is necessary to perform all home assignments and they should be presented at seminars or during consultations. The assessment of the examination is given for the portfolio of works, which includes a series of architectural works, a series of still life works and a series of body works. In order to receive an assessment for the examination, the portfolio should be fully completed. Assessments ‘excellent’ and ‘with distinction’ can be received only if the examination work and home assignments considerably exceed course requirements.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:Students gain, evaluate and demonstrate their knowledge about the constructed nature of the message of advertising photography and regularities in its use. Students demonstrate their understanding of interactive links of advertising photography with urban landscape, social environment, printed and digital media, analytically describing and creatively constructing information.
Skills:Students plan an advertising photography project. Students identify and classify the reasons and mechanisms of creation of different commercial images.
Competencies:Students professionally implement their advertising project in photography demonstrating their own understanding of contemporary trends in the advertising sector. Students autonomously generate ideas for the needs of advertising and practically implement the conceptual and the practical part of an advertising project.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Robert A. Sobieszek (2010). The art of persuasion: a history of advertising photography. H.N. Abrams
2Johnston, P. (2000). Real Fantasies: Edward Steichens adwertising photography. Berkeley: University of California press
3Barett, T. (1990). Criticizing Photographs: an introduction to understading images. California. Mayfield Pubishing Company.
4Bate, D. (2009). Photography: Key Concepts. Oxford & New York: Berg
5Benjamins, V. (2005). Iluminācijas. Riga: Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs.
6Flusser, V (2005). Towards A Philosophy of Photography. London: Reaktion Books Ltd.
7Roland, B. (1980). Mythologies, London: Paladin.
8Rolāns, B. (2006). Camera lucida. Piezīme par fotogrāfiju. Rīga: Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs.
9Wells L. (ed) (2004). Photography: a critical introduction. London & New York. Routledge.
10Zontāga, S. (2008). Par fotogrāfiju. Riga: Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs.
11Judith Williamson, Decoding Advertisements: Ideology and Meaning in Advertising (London: Marion Boyars, 1978). 6.
12Raymond Williams, Advertising: TheMagic System, Problemsin Materialism and Culture (London: Verso, 1980), p 184.
Additional Reading
1Bodrijārs, Ž. (2000). Simulakri un simulācija. Rīga: Omnia Mea.
2Manovičs, L. (2006). Jauno mediju valoda. Rīga: Jauno mediju kultūras centrs RIXC.
3McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media. New York: Signet Books.
4McLuhan, M. & Fiore, Q. (1967). The medium is the message. Singapore: HardWired.
Other Information Sources
1Contacts I, II, III, 2005
2Genius of photography 1-6, BBC
3Moment of Impact, 1999