Course detail
The History and Context of Photography 1
FaVU-DKFI-ZAcad. year: 2024/2025
The course consists of lectures on history and contemporary tendencies in photography (with considering its position within both fine arts and non-artistic visuality). Students will be introduced to the development of the medium not in chronological retrospect but in thematic blocs. This way they will be able to understand particular problems within broader philosophical and medial context. Students will learn how to “read” language of photography, to understand its expressive potential and they will learn the main theoretical frameworks within which photography is interpreted.
Language of instruction
Number of ECTS credits
Mode of study
Guarantor
Entry knowledge
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
The following conditions are set for the award of the examination:
- active participation in the class (75 % participation) or replacing it by writing an essay
- written test (min. 50 % success rate).
Teaching takes place in the classrooms of the FFA BUT in the hours determined by the schedule. Attendance is compulsory (3 unexcused absences allowed). Higher number of absences can be compensated by submitting an alternative assignment after agreement with the teacher.
Aims
The aim of this course is to reflect on the actual position of photography in a context of its historical developments. Introduction of new media and social thematics into photography will be of particular interest, as well as a crossing of borders of traditional genre of photography. Photography will be introduced not only as artistic medium but more broadly defined tool for visual communication as well (as in family, science, commercial etc. photography).
Students will gain an insight into both development of photography and its contemporaneous trends. They will be able enrich insight into their own photographic practice, they will learn more about the language of photography and the basics of its gallery presentation.
Study aids
Prerequisites and corequisites
Basic literature
Císař Karel: Co je to fotografie? Herrmann & synové, Praha, 2004.
Grygar, Štěpán: Konceptuální umění a fotografie. AMU, Praha, 2004.
Láb, Filip, Lábová, Alena: Soumrak fotožurnalismu. Manipulace fotografií v digitální éře. Karolinum, Praha, 2009.
Láb, Filip: Postdigitální fotografie, Karolinum, Praha, 2021.
Scheufler, Pavel: Teze k dějinám fotografie do roku 1918. AVU, Praha, 2000.
Silverio, Robert: Postmoderní fotografie. AMU, Praha, 2007.
Sontag Susan: O fotografii. Praha, 2002.
Recommended reading
Baatz, Willfried: Fotografie. Praha: Computer Press, 2004.
Berger, John: O pohledu, Agite/Fra, Praha, 2009.
Birgus, Vladimír; Mlčoch, Jan: Česká fotografie 20. století: průvodce. Praha, KANT, 2005.
Cartwright, Lisa; Sturken Marita: Studia vizuální kultury, Portál, 2010.
Hájek, Václav: Jak rozpoznat odpadkový koš, Labyrint, 2012.
Kuneš, Aleš, Pospěch, Tomáš. (ed.). Čítanka z teorie fotografie. Opava: Slezská univerzita, 2003.
Pospěch, Tomáš, Fišerová; Lucia L.: Role fotografie. Rozhovory o různé fotografii. PositiF, 2019.
Pospěch, Tomáš: Myslet fotografii. PositiF, 2014.
Warnen Marien, Mary: Photography. A Cultural History. Laurence King, 2010.
Classification of course in study plans
- Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective - Programme DES_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, elective - Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective - Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
- Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
- Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
3 year of study, winter semester, elective
Type of course unit
Lecture
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
1. The Language of Photography
2. Medusa's View
3. Me is Someone Else
4. Portrait of the 19th Century
5. Statesmanlike Portrait
6. Landscape Concept
7. Idyll and Elegy
8. Where my Home is
9. The Life of Things
10. Images of the Banal
11. Contemporary Still Life
12. Melancholy in Photography
13. Analytical Seminar