Instructor: Kris Paulsen - contact
This course addresses the photograph in its art historical, technological, and philosophical contexts. The course will proceed both chronologically and thematically: beginning with the invention of photography in the early nineteenth century and continuing into the digital age, we will consider the photograph in its various incarnations as a scientific tool, an index of the real, a document of actions and events, a means of appropriation, as well as an agent of misinformation and manipulation. Our primary concern will be to track the shifting discourse on the ontology of the photographic image. We will explore how photography has functioned in various artistic movements such as Dada, Surrealism, Conceptual art, Feminist art, Performance art, Appropriation art, and New Media. Students will read classic art historical and philosophical texts on photography, as well as artists' writings. We will visit the exhibitions of Jeff Wall and Lee Friedlander at SFMOMA, as well as exhibits at BAM. The students will write three papers of increasing complexity and length - analyzing a single work, comparing two works, and a research paper on a specific artist or theme - as well as shorter writing assignments, such as reviews of the BAM/SFMOMA shows and responses to the readings.
How do mechanisms of perception structure responses to visual art? What is at stake when words describe images? By means of intensive looking, thinking, speaking, and writing, this course introduces the student to a series of problems and issues in the description and analysis of works of art. Because the course is also an introduction to the historical study of art, it is intended for students with no previous course work in the field. Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement.
Coursework: Reading: Students are responsible for all assigned reading and will be expected to have completed the reading for the day before coming to class. Readings may be added or removed from the syllabus. Changes will be announced in class and on the course blog.
Response Essays (Homework): Students will post response essays to the course Blog several times throughout the semester. These essays will be responses to assigned texts. Responses must be posted by 10 pm the day before we discuss the text in class. Refer to the “Guidelines for Response Essays” before posting.
Writing: For this course, you will submit a minimum of 32 pages of writing, which is the university requirement to satisfy the second part of the Reading and Composition sequence. You will submit three papers, each increasing in length and complexity. The second and third papers will be revised and turned in again. You must submit every paper – including drafts and peer edits - in order to pass the course.
Keep all drafts of your papers in a standard two-pocket folder. Turn in this folder with all drafts each time an assignment is due. You will turn in again all drafts of all papers at the end of the semester. Improvement and hard work are rewarded!
For the first draft of each paper, you need to bring two copies on the due date. You will turn in one to the teacher and one to your peer editor.
Papers are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late papers will not be accepted. If you are going to need an extension, ask for it in advance.
Plagiarism is ground for failure in the class.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. More than one absence will seriously affect your grade. Lateness is rude, disruptive, and will not be tolerated. Three late days will be counted as one absence. If you are going to miss classes or examinations because of religious holidays or extra-curricular scheduling (i.e. you are on a sport team or in the band) you must notify the instructor by the second week of class of all conflicting dates and to recommend a solution, with the understanding that an earlier deadline or date of examination may be the most practicable solution. The student is responsible for informing him or herself of all missed work and assignments. This situation must be discussed with the instructor immediately. This is University policy.
Disabilities: Disabilities will be accommodated. If you need disability-related accommodations in this class, if you have emergency medical information you wish to share with the instructor, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform the instructor immediately. Please see the instructor privately after class or in office hours.
Grading:
You must take this class for a letter grade if it is to fulfill the R&C requirement!
Essays: 65 points (10/20/35pts). All drafts are graded.
Homework and other assignments: 15 points (15 response essays @ 1pt)
Participation: 20 points
Below are some helpful links to handouts on writing.
Guidelines for Response Essays
The class will visit exhibitions at the Berkeley Art Museum and SFMOMA:
At BAM:
Protest in Paris 1968: Photographs by Serge Hambourg
At SFMOMA:
