BASIC HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The course is part of the related or integrative courses in Art History of the Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation of the Cultural Heritage and Management of Cultural Activities. It therefore intends to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the history of photography, from its origins to today, in a constant and indispensable comparison with the contemporary visual arts and image theory.

Excellent knowledge and understanding of the history of photography and its theoretical, aesthetic, technical, and social developments between the 19th and 21st century. Ability to apply the knowledge and understanding of the texts and topics (authors, works, ideas, themes) examined during the course by elaborating, with the appropriate language and the subject-specific terminology, an autonomous, articulate and coherent discourse, in both oral and written forms. Ability to formulate a personal critical judgment, also thanks to the methodological example and the tools provided during classes, by establishing an open and enriching exchange with the teacher and classmates.

Good knowledge of the major historical events and the main movements of thought between the 19th and the 21st century, as a general framework in which the history of photography and of the visual arts are included.

During the course some of the major theoreticians that with their writings have investigated fundamental questions of the history and status of images between the 20th and 21st century will be examined (among others, Walter Benjamin, Siegfried Kracauer, Roland Barthes, Susan Sontag, André Bazin, Vilém Flusser, John Berger, Pierre Bourdieu, Clément Chéroux, Georges Didi-Huberman, Philippe Dubois). Particular attention will be paid to the problem of the identity of photography, which suspended between its scientific and artistic origin, social and cultural history, commercial and media use, public and private memory, documentary and fictional value, analogue and digital language, is constantly changing.

To acquire the necessary theoretical knowledge:

1. Jean-Claude Lemagny e André Rouillé (eds.), "A History of Photography", Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987 (1st ed. 1986) [it is highly recommended to accompany the study of the handbook with André Gunthert, Nathalie Boulouch, and Michel Poivert (eds.), "L’art de la photographie", Paris: Citadelles & Mazenod, 2007, see selected pages of the Italian edition].
2. Claudio Marra, "Che cos’è la fotografia", Roma: Carocci, 2017.
3. Geoffrey Batchen, "Burning with Desire: The Conception of Photography", Cambridge (MA): MIT Press, 1997.

In addition to the three texts mentioned above, during classes the teacher will provide a series of critical texts –also required for the exam– whose list will be available at the beginning of the course.

The exam will consist of a written test, for attending and non-attending students, with questions based on both the study of the reference books and on the topics discussed during classes -- for non-attending students, the test will also include questions on the additional chosen book.

During classes the interpretative reading of critical texts and of images will be carried out as methodological exercise to facilitate learning. The critical texts discussed by the teacher, as well as the selection of images that will be projected in the classroom, will be made available to students on the online platform Moodle during classes (for copyright reasons both the images and the texts can not be made available in any other way).

Italian

Class attendance is recommended to all students and is required to those who wish to apply for a thesis in History of Photography, especially in relation to contemporary art and to visual production and culture. Students who are not able to attend classes can choose one of the following books to be added to the programme for attending students:

- Walter Benjamin, "Aura e choc: Saggi sulla teoria dei media", edited by Antonio Somaini and Andrea Pinotti, Turin: Einaudi, 2012.
- Graham Clarke, "The Photograph: A Visual and Cultural History", Oxford-New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
- Charlotte Cotton, "The Photograph as Contemporary Art", London: Thames & Hudson, 2004.
- Rosalind Krauss, "Teoria e storia della fotografia", Milan: Bruno Mondadori, 1996 (First ed. in French, "Le Photographique", 1990).
- Antonio Somaini, Andrea Pinotti (eds.), "Teorie dell’immagine: Il dibattito contemporaneo", Milan: Cortina, 2009.

Non-attending students are advised to contact the teacher to confirm the exam programme, particularly if there are special requests or interests that are not part of the bibliography listed above but are coherent with their curricula and the preparation of their thesis.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development