Module VISU3141: Special Subject: Photomodernities (20 credits)

Department: Modern Languages and Cultures (Visual)

VISU3141: Special Subject: Photomodernities (20 credits)

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To develop advanced understanding of photography, modernity, and the relationship between them across a range of national contexts.
• To develop students’ ability to analyse individual images and groups of images.

Content

• Indicative topics covered may include:
• The avant-garde: Dada, Surrealism and beyond
• Photoreportage and the rise of the illustrated press
• Photography and social reform:
• Modernity, gender, and sexuality
• Colonialism and race
• War
• Politics and propaganda
• Art photography and exhibitions
• Within these broad parameters, the precise syllabus will develop in line with the interests of individual students and the group as a whole, who will take increasing responsibility for the course content as the module progresses and as they begin to formulate the research questions that will animate their own research projects.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of this module students should:
• Have a comprehensive understanding of photographic culture and its relation to salient features of modernity
• Have a secure grasp of photography history and theory

• On completion of this module students will develop:
• an ability to demonstrate knowledge of a range of image types and critical approaches
• the ability to analyse images
• an ability to articulate knowledge and understanding of concepts and theories relating to visual studies
• the ability to both use and critique theoretical approaches in the process of image analysis
• the ability to relate a specific form of cultural production (photography) to the broader socio-historical environment modernity
• command of a broad range of vocabulary and an appropriate critical terminology
• awareness of photography as a medium through which values may be affirmed and contested

• visual and verbal analysis
• critical analysis and reasoning
• independent research
• academic writing, including argumentation and structure, presentation, referencing, and bibliographic skills
• personal organisation and time management
• presentation skills and the ability to deal with questions from an audience
• IT skills: word-processing; online databases and other web-based resources; powerpoint

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• This module will be taught weekly.
• Weekly seminars (2 hours) will facilitate in-depth and sustained discussion of the module’s key topics, developing students’ grasp of historical and theoretical material as well as practising image-analysis on a weekly basis. Seminar will be interactive, so students will also develop their verbal communication skills, and skills in critical reasoning. As the module progresses, students will take responsibility for presenting topics and leading the discussion.
• Small-group tutorials (1 x 1 hour, in groups of 4) will allow students to explore and develop their research questions and plans, responding to questions from the group and giving and receiving peer feedback.
• The assessment will allow students to develop their skills in academic writing, as well as demonstrating directly or indirectly all other skills and knowledge that the module seeks to develop.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Through presentations and contributions to class discussion, students will receive regular feedback from both teaching staff and their peers as part and parcel of the module’s pedagogy.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.