MCCCD Program Description

History of Photography

Course: ARH115

First Term: 2023 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: Survey of history of photography from beginning to present. Emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between the medium’s development and reception, society, and other visual arts. Technical developments, photographic practices, and sociocultural themes are studied.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe various techniques and materials used in photography. (I) 2. Attribute photographs to artists, photographic practices, and movements. (I, II) 3. Use the history of photography’s terminology in written and oral communication. (I, II, III) 4. Debate art historical scholarship, issues, and controversies. (I, II, III) 5. Compare and contrast stylistic characteristics of photographic practices and movements. (II) 6. Analyze photographs from different artists, photographic practices, and movements. (II) 7. Analyze ethical considerations in the creation, use, and interpretation of photographs. (II) 8. Explain how photographic practices affected the development of art throughout history. (II, III) 9. Evaluate the impact that the socio-political and cultural context has on the creation and reception of photography. (II, III) 10. Critique the effects that photography has had on society. (II, III)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Processes A. Proto-photography B. Non-reproducible processes C. Reproducible processes D. Other printing processes E. Color photography F. Digital photography G. Other processes identified in current disciplinary research II. Practices A. Portraiture B. Recording the world 1. Landscape photography 2. War 3. Travel photography C. Styles/movements 1. Early photography 2. Interwar photography 3. Post war photography 4. Current styles/movements D. Regional photography - Photography in Africa, India, Latin America, and Japan E. Other practices identified in current disciplinary research III. Concepts/Themes A. Conquest/Imperialism and its effects on travel, landscape, and war photography B. Effects of photography on modern seeing 1. Industrialization, democratization, and consumption of images 2. Visual photographic effects, e.g., clear focus, cropping C. Photography and meaning 1. Photography as visual truth 2. Photography as representation D. Photography as art 1. Debates on photography as an artistic form 2. Debates on the value of photography a. Clarity vs. artistic effect b. Black and white vs. color c. Chemical vs. digital 3. Photography as a hybrid of practices like art photography, advertising photography, and photojournalism E. Ethics of photography 1. Photographic truth as moral truth 2. Ethics of photographing cultures and people F. Representing difference 1. Photographs of medical and psychiatric patients 2. Picturing and valuing race and ethnicity G. Other themes/concepts identified in current disciplinary research

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: February 28, 2023

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.