LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course deepens the student ́s knowledge about the theory of photography, its central themes and main debates. Students become aware of the established key thinkers and their theories, as well as more controversial ones, and learn to contextualize the theories within their time and in relation to phenomena of contemporary photography. The course develops the student's ability for theoretical thinking and seeing the connections of theory to their own photographic practice. The course supports MA master thesis work and its cognitive processes, aiming at good knowledge of theoretical discourses of photography. The student's writing, research and critical thinking skills are developed in the course assignments.
Credits: 6
Schedule: 11.01.2024 - 11.04.2024
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Harri Laakso
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: Finnish, Swedish, English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
The course explores the key concepts of photography theory, its central themes and main debates. The canonical key photography theorists and writers are introduced (e.g. Walter Benjamin, Roland Barthes, Vilém Flusser, Susan Sontag) as well as a variety of other theoretical approaches (e.g. psychoanalysis, deconstruction, theories of simulation, non-human photography). Both theories related to particular photographic practices as well as philosophies about photographic ontology are addressed. The shifts from the traditional and representational theories of photography to the fragmented contemporary ones are acknowledged. In the course attention is also given to alternative ways of theoretical writing (e.g. autoethnography, fictocriticism) and to questions of artistic research in relation to photography theory.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Participation in teaching, completed assignments.
Minimum 80% attendance.
See MyCourses for more detailed information on evaluations methods and criteria.
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
6 ECTS ≈ 162h
Lectures 3h/week
Groupwork 18h
Workshop and practice-based work 30h
Independent reading and writing 40h
Other 6hLectures, reading, writing, assignments, group work.
DETAILS
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Language : English
Teaching Period : 2022-2023 No teaching
2023-2024 Spring III - IVEnrollment :
The course is available only to Photography major students, and by application to 1-2 JOO-students from other universities.
Minimum amount of participants: 8
Maximum amount of participants varies according to the implementation of the course.Registration for Courses: Sisu.
Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture:
https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-at-aalto-arts