107-262 History and Theory of Photography

Usually 12.5 points of first-year art history.

This subject traces the history of international and Australian photography from the medium's invention to the 21st century. It also examines the theories that accompanied photography's evolving place as an art form and as a medium that was continually and profoundly affected by changing technologies. The subject will investigate photography's role as a document, as a witness to events and to changing ideas of the body, race and gender. Students will encounter the evolution of the medium, its intersection with existing artforms, and the documentation of the modernising city, the frontier and distant colonial possessions by travelling photographers. They will look at the impact of 20th century modernism in the creation and legitimisation of the new art form, and consider the recording of nation-building by Australian photographers, the indispensability of photography to propaganda and advertising from the 1920s onwards, the snapshot revolution of 1970s conceptualist photography, the avant-garde and then postmodern artists who appropriated photography as the medium most suited to critical art practices and then to the simulation of 'reality', and the emergence of new digital photography at the start of the 21st century.

• be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays;

• be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations;

• be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion;

• be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision;

• be able to participate in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.

Written work which may comprise class papers, an essay and a take-home examinations totalling 4000 words. All pieces of written work must be submitted as a hurdle requirement for this subject.

A subject reader will be available from the Bookroom at the beginning of semester