Course detail

The History and Context of Photography 2

FaVU-DKFII-LAcad. 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

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

Basic knowledge of the 19th and 20th century visual culture. Completion of the course History and Contexts of Photography 1.

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

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Basic literature

Barthes, Roland: Světlá komora. Agite/Fra, Praha, 2005.
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

Anděl, Jaroslav: Česká fotografie 1840–1950: příběh moderního média. Praha: Kant, 2004.
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, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme DES_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    3 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Limits of the Act

2. History of the Male Gaze

3. The Female Voice in Art

4. The Origins of Documentary

5. The Human Family

6. The Americans

7. Documentary after Documentary

8. Between Documentary and Reportage

9. Out of the Game

10. The New Spirituality

11. Spaces of Art

12. How to Exhibit Photography

13. Visiting a Photography Exhibition / Analytical Seminar

 

Seminar

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer