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Photography as Communication

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:7.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:26:08
Study Course Information
Course Code:KSK_087LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Communication SciencesTarget Audience:Communication Science; Information and 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)8Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures16
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours24
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:
Not required.
Objective:
To promote the upgrade of students’ professional competence, which is characterised by the ability to autonomously evaluate, critically discuss and construct messages based on the tradition of the medium of photograph, being aware of historical development and contemporary diversity of photography. Students should learn, evaluate and confirm their knowledge about the constructed nature of messages based on the medium of photography and regularities of their use. Students should certify their understanding of the medium of photography as a part of communication in society, analytically describing and creatively constructing information, problems and creative solutions in photography. Students should professionally implement their project in photography based on communicative aspects of the medium of photography.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introduction to course content. Photography and photo journalism: origin and definitions.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Development and boom of photography.Lectures2.00auditorium
3Discussion and planning of the creation of a series of photographs based on the tradition of documentary photography (all home assignments should be included in the student’s professional blog).Classes1.00auditorium
4Subject as an object: photography and human body (practical home assignment on the portrayal of the human body).Lectures1.00auditorium
5Assessment of the home assignment based on the tradition of documentary photographyClasses1.00auditorium
6Transformation of media photography in the age of digital display.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Photography in contemporary art.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Discussion on practical home assignment (the portrayal of the human body).Classes1.00auditorium
9Photographer’s “survival kit” – links between commercial, documentary and art photography and a photographer as a provider of services nowadaysLectures2.00auditorium
10Discussion on views of S. Sontag, L. Manovich and A. Cramerotti.Classes1.00auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introduction to course content. Photography and photo journalism: origin and definitions.Lectures0.50auditorium
2Development and boom of photography.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Discussion and planning of the creation of a series of photographs based on the tradition of documentary photography (all home assignments should be included in the student’s professional blog).Classes1.00auditorium
4Subject as an object: photography and human body (practical home assignment on the portrayal of the human body).Lectures1.00auditorium
5Assessment of the home assignment based on the tradition of documentary photographyClasses0.50auditorium
6Transformation of media photography in the age of digital display.Lectures0.50auditorium
7Photography in contemporary art.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Discussion on practical home assignment (the portrayal of the human body).Classes0.50auditorium
9Photographer’s “survival kit” – links between commercial, documentary and art photography and a photographer as a provider of services nowadaysLectures1.00auditorium
10Discussion on views of S. Sontag, L. Manovich and A. Cramerotti.Classes1.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
During the semester the student reads recommended readings and internet sources. Students should share the existing and obtained knowledge among themselves during lectures, during discussions outside lectures, thus developing their own and joint knowledge about the medium of photography. Students should read at least 300 pages of text from required readings. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
The availability of all practical works and successful participation in seminars. One documentary photo story should be created during the course. Assessments ‘excellent’ and ‘with distinction’ may be obtained only for examination works, which are classified for professional media use, as well as evidence of profound understanding of the medium of photography.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:Will name and characterise the main stages and drivers of the development of photography. Will describe theoretical approaches and the main authors of photography. Will describe the impact of photography on society. Will explain communicative properties of photography.
Skills:Will be able to recognise main paradigms and types of messages of photography. Will be able to evaluate a message of photography.
Competencies:Will be able to critically analyse the messages and aesthetic qualities encoded in the photography language. Will be able to interpret regularities in photography communication. Will be able to autonomously lead and produce a creative photo story for the needs of photo journalism and business.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Badger, G. (2000). The Art that Hides Itself - Notes on Photographys Quiet Genius in How You Look At It. (pp. 61 – 81) NY: D.A.P., Inc.
2Barett, T. (1990). Criticizing Photographs: an introduction to understading images. California. Mayfield Pubishing Company.
3Bate, D. (2009). Photography: Key Concepts. Oxford & New York: Berg
4Benjamins, V. (2005). Iluminācijas. Riga: Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs.
5Doy, G. (2005). Picturing the self: Changing views of the subject in visual culture. London: I.B. Taurus & Co Ltd.
6Flusser, V (2005). Towards A Philosophy of Photography. London: Reaktion Books Ltd.
7Jeffrey, I. (1999). Revisions: An alternative history of photography. Bradford, England: National Museum of Photography, Film & Television.
8Liesbrock H. (2000). The Barely Visible Perspectives on Reality in Photography and Painting in How You Look At It. (pp. 39 - 59) NY: D.A.P.
9Roland, B. (1980). Mythologies, London: Paladin.
10Rolāns, B. (2006). Camera lucida. Piezīme par fotografiju. Rīga: Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs.
11Sonesson G. (2000). Post-photography and beyond: From mechanical reproduction to digital production. Lund University.
12Wells L. (ed) (2004). Photography: a critical introduction. London & New York. Routledge.
13Weski T. (2000). No Scrawling, Scratching, and Scribbling on the Plate in How You Look At It. (pp. 19 - 37) NY: D.A.P.
14Zontāga, S. (2008). Par fotogrāfiju. Riga: Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs.
Additional Reading
1Bodrijārs, Ž. (2000). Simulakri un simulācija. Rīga: Omnia Mea.
2Liotārs, F. (2008).Riga: Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs.
3Lury C. (1998). Proesthetic Culture: Photography, memory and identity. London: Routledge (pp. 134 - 183)
4Manovičs, L. (2006). Jauno mediju valoda. Rīga: Jauno mediju kultūras centrs RIXC. 5. 5. 5. McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media. New York: Signet Books.
5McLuhan, M. & Fiore, Q. (1967). The medium is the message. Singapore: HardWired.
6David L, S. (2020). Photography and Belief New York, New York: David Zwirner Books
7Mark Sealy Chadwell Heath (2022). Photography: race, rights and representation: Lawrence and Wishart Ltd.
8Mark Sealy (2019). Decolonising the Camera: photography in racial time, London: Lawrence & Wishart Ltd.
9Sunil Gupta (2022). We Were Here: sexuality, photography, and cultural difference, New York: Aperture Foundation.
Other Information Sources
1Dokumentālās filmas:
2American Photography: A Century of Images, 1999 Contacts I, II, III, 2005
3Dying to tell the Story, 1998
4Genius of photography 1-6, BBC
5Moment of Impact, 1999 Reporters, 1981
6The Impassioned Eye, 2003 War Photographer, 2001
7Mākslas filmas
8Blowup, 1966
9City of God, 2002
10Rear Window, 1954 Salvador, 1986
11The Killing Fields, 1984 The Public Eye, 1992
12Tiešsaistē pieejamie resursi
13A Search Into the Future of Photography http://www.foam.org/whatsnext
14American Suburb X www.americansuburbx.com
15Aperture www.aperture.org
16Blind Spot www.blindspot.com
17BW Magazine www.bandwmag.com
18CameraArts Magazine www.cameraarts.com DoubleTake www.doubletakemagazine.org
19European Photography www.european-photography.com EYEMAZING www.eyemazing.com
20Foto-Video www.foto-video.ru
21foto8e www.foto8.com
22LensWork www.lenswork.com
23Kwartalnik Fotografia www.fotografia.net.pl
24Next Level www.nextleveluk.com
25Private www.private.it
26Source www.source.ie
27Editorial Photographers www.editorialphoto.com
28Fotokvartals www.fotokvartals.lv
29Lens http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com
30Magnum www.magnumphotos.com
31Photographer.ru www.photographer.ru
32The Digital Journalist http://digitaljournalist.org
33The Photographic Universe Conference http://photographicuniverse.parsons.edu World Press Photo http://www.worldpressphoto.org
34Zone Zero www.zonezero.com