Photography. Social Uses and Abuses

elective courses

(in Polish) Moduł: media

Moduł: problemy

The purpose of this seminar is to analyse a social history of photography with regard to some key questions concerning the production of the modern social order.The history of transformations of photography can be analysed through the critical moments in its struggle for relative independence. In its beginnings, photography was a means of surveillance. Portraits and family albums, in turn, became an expression and, at the same time, a means of transformation of intimacy patterns and everyday life. Finally, artistic photography was claimed to make art democratic. In this seminar, we will study various uses of photography in order to trace the changes in the cultural patterns and mores of middle classes.

The purpose of this seminar is to analyse a social history of photography with regard to some key questions concerning the production of the modern social order.The history of transformations of photography can be analysed through the critical moments in its struggle for relative independence. In its beginnings, photography was a means of surveillance. Portraits and family albums, in turn, became an expression and, at the same time, a means of transformation of intimacy patterns and everyday life. Finally, artistic photography was claimed to make art democratic. In this seminar, we will study various uses of photography in order to trace the changes in the cultural patterns and mores of middle classes. We will analyse main topos reletad to the photography: sociogenesis of photography, modern forms of surveillance, representations and classifications, documentary and art, currrents in photography, iconic turn, counter-representation and counter public spheres, photography in global capitalism.

H. Bond, Twardy dowód

C. Cheroux, Wernakularne. Eseje z historii fotografii

Ch. Cotton, Fotografia jako sztuka współczesna

R. Drozdowski, Obraza na obrazy

N. Mirzoeff, Jak zobaczyć świat

W.J.T. Mitchell, Czego chcą obrazy?

J. Rancière, Estetyka jako polityka

A. Sekula, Fish Story

A. Sekula, Społeczne użycia fotografii

A. Rouillé, Fotografia. Między dokumentem a sztuką współczesną

S. Sontag, O fotografii

S. Sontag, Widok cudzego cierpienia

Ł. Zaremba, Obrazy wychodzą na ulice. Spory w polskiej kulturze

K_W01 Knows and understands basic sociological concepts

K_W08 Is aware of social differentiation and existing social inequalities, as well as their impact on the life of individuals and the functioning of social groups

K_W14 Has basic knowledge about cultural diversity of Poland and the modern world

K_W34 Knows the most important processes and ideas of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, which have shaped the face of the modern world

K_W35 Is aware of the consequences of choosing a particular theoretical perspective

K_U01 Can record and observe social phenomena in a methodologically correct way

K_U20 Can comprehend a scientific text and identify its main theses and the author’s arguments, as well as discuss them

1. Frequency (2 permissible absences) 2. Discussion 3. Photo album (complited alone or in small team)

revision exam: photo album