Core Module Information
Module title: Contemporary Debates in Photography Theory and Practice: A Global Historic Perspective

SCQF level: 11:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10

Module code: DES11151
Module leader: Lei Cox
School School of Arts and Creative Industries
Subject area group: Art Design and Photography
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

Description of module content:

This module approaches photography as a set of problems and concepts, as a modality of thinking and a way of producing new models of visibility. It takes a focused look at critical and theoretical debates in contemporary photographic practices from the global historical perspective of the medium. This module will equally sources traditional references as well as festivals and exhibitions (catalogues) that are significant to the medium historical and theoretical development. The discussion on the technical and conceptual development of photography before and after the WWII will include photography practices in the colonies and its postcolonial reading: from revisiting 19th century calotype and carte de visite to colonial lens in the imperial project; from modernist dogma and new documentary to Pushpamala N and the postcolonial archive; from Robert Frank and Diane Arbus to Daido Moriyama and Seydou Keïta. The survey of the contemporary practice is a comparative analysis of the medium global development: from Nobuyashi Araki and Ragu Rhai to Robert Adam and Bern and Hilla Bechers, from Dusseldorf School of photography to the studio portrait tradition in South Asia. Lastly, the module will cross-reference the non-western display in Euro-America photography institutions with the burgeoning of international photography festivals in Asia such as Singapore International Photography Festival and Dhaka’s Chobi Mela and how they influence the contemporary debates in photographic practice.

Learning Outcomes for module:

LO1: Understand and engage in contemporary debate in photography practices within and beyond Europe and North America.
LO2: Understand the relevant critical and contemporary debates informing photographic practices and vice versa.
LO3: Critically analyse the interconnection between photographic practices and their global historical and theoretical contexts.
LO4: Expand research skills and articulate knowledge.

Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2023/4, Trimester 1, FACE-TO-FACE, Edinburgh Napier University
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: FACE-TO-FACE
Location of delivery: MERCHISTON
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Lei Cox
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Seminar 24
Face To Face Lecture 12
Independent Learning Guided independent study 164
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Essay 50 1,2,3 14/15 , WORDS= 3000
Report 50 1,4 14/15 , WORDS= 2000
Component 1 subtotal: 100
Component 2 subtotal: 0
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
Contact your module leader