Elements of History and Theory of Photography
People
Course director
Description
During the course, aspects of documentary photography, portraiture, urban and landscape photography will be explored by analysing the eye of some of the most important photographers in the modern and contemporary periods. Attention will also be drawn to the relationship between photography and other forms of expression, such as cinema and literature. Equally important will be the acquisition of theoretical and interpretative tools to understand the photographic language and the historical, artistic, philosophical and cultural implications of pictures and their production. Together with the visual itinerary, the course will thus propose a textual approach based on the assumptions of the major theorists, such as Walter Benjamin, Susan Sontag and Roland Barthes.
Objectives
The course offers an introduction to the history and theory of photography, focusing on some of the most significant approaches and artists from the medium's origins to the present day.
Teaching mode
In presence
Learning methods
Lectures
Examination information
Oral during the exam session
Bibliography
- Barthes, Roland. La camera chiara. Nota sulla fotografia (1980). Torino: Einaudi, 2010. (Selezione di brani indicata durante il corso)
- Benjamin, Walter. Piccola storia della fotografia (1931), in L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica: Arte e società di massa. Torino: Einaudi, 2000.
- Sontag, Susan. Sulla fotografia: Realtà e immagine nella nostra società (1977). Torino: Einaudi, 2009. (Selezione di brani indicata durante il corso)
- Grespi, Barbara, Villa, Federica. Il postfotografico. Dal selfie alla fotogrammetria digitale. Torino: Einaudi, 2024. (Selezione di brani indicata durante il corso)
- Ritchin, Fred. Dopo la fotografia (2009). Torino: Einaudi, 2012. (Selezione di brani indicata durante il corso)
Education
- Master in Storia e teoria dell’arte e dell’architettura (120 ECTS), Lecture ex cathedra, Elective course, Elective, 1st year (3.0 ECTS)
- Master in Storia e teoria dell’arte e dell’architettura (120 ECTS), Lecture ex cathedra, Elective course, Elective, 2nd year (3.0 ECTS)
- Master in Storia e teoria dell’arte e dell’architettura (90 + 30 ECTS), Lecture ex cathedra, Corso a scelta (Arte e Architettura), Elective, 1st year (3.0 ECTS)
- Master in Storia e teoria dell’arte e dell’architettura (90 + 30 ECTS), Lecture ex cathedra, Corso a scelta (Arte e Architettura), Elective, 2nd year (3.0 ECTS)
- Master of Science in Architecture, Lecture ex cathedra, Elective, 1st year
- Master of Science in Architecture, Lecture ex cathedra, Elective, 2nd year
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Corporate Communication, Lecture ex cathedra, Thematic Area: Visual and Material Culture, Elective, 2nd year (3.0 ECTS)
- Master of Science in Communication and Economics in Marketing and Transformative Economy, Lecture ex cathedra, Thematic Area: Visual and Material Culture, Elective, 2nd year (3.0 ECTS)
- Master of Science in Communication in Media Management, Lecture ex cathedra, Thematic Area: Visual and Material Culture, Elective, 2nd year (3.0 ECTS)
