PHO 4060 - Documentary Photography

The Documentary Photography course explores the camera as a tool for the visual investigation of contemporary issues and examines the process and possibilities of telling stories through pictures. Students gain practical experience through a semester-long photo-documentary project and discussions of photography in the humanities, emphasizing documentary photography and its social and historical significance. The course examines the work of a diverse group of artists and discusses the methods they used to create bodies of work with visual and intellectual complexity along with analyzing contrasting styles as they are applied to similar themes (formal portraits, subcultures, family, cities, etc.) as ways of demonstrating how different interpretations can be equally effective. This course will also examine the relationship between words and images using books, magazines, film, and on-line resources. The class will also provide concrete feedback through group and individual critiques that will allow students to articulate ideas about their own work and fellow students’ work. Prerequisite: PHO1010 (101) (4 Credits) Formerly PHO406