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

This module explores the relationship between photography, history, and the interpretation of knowledge, examining how photographic archives shape cultural memory and artistic practice. You will engage with archival theory and methods, considering how images function as repositories of knowledge, evidence, and creative intervention. A key focus will be on the materiality of the photographic image—both analogue and digital—and the evolving role of archives in shaping contemporary visual culture.Alongside this theoretical inquiry, you will develop a creative practice that critically engages with the archive as a conceptual and material framework. Emphasis is placed on producing new photographic work in response to archival themes, whether through direct engagement with existing collections, reinterpreting historical narratives, or constructing new archives through image-making. You will consider how historical contexts, institutional structures, and archival processes inform artistic decision-making and shape the ways in which images are contextualised, presented, and understood.

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Analyse the relationship between photography, historical representation, and the interpretation of knowledge and memory.

LO2: Critically evaluate the role of archival practices, visual collections, and curatorial strategies in shaping contemporary photographic and artistic discourse.

LO3: Develop and articulate a critical response to themes of archives, memory, history, and visual culture, using research to inform creative and conceptual decisions.

LO4: Produce a body of photographic work that demonstrates an informed and reflective engagement with archival or historically-informed methodologies.