Academic Catalogs

PHOT A283: Art Photography

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Eff Term Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 12/03/2025
Top Code 101200 - Applied Photography (CTE)
Units 4 Total Units 
Hours 126 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 45; Lab Hours 81)
Total Outside of Class Hours 90
Total Student Learning Hours 216
Arranged Hours Arranged (TBA) content ( 45 hrs) The above concepts will be practiced during arranged hours.
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Open Entry/Open Exit No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S)

Course Description

A critique based studio class focusing on photography as a contemporary art medium - concepts, aesthetics and history of art photography in relation to contemporary art practice in general. Students may use black and white, color or digital photography. Instruction is offered at intermediate and advanced levels. Required for photography majors. PREREQUISITE: PHOT A125. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Create visual evidence of, and defend in critique, work that illustrates an understanding of a range of formal strategies interpreting abstract concepts.
  2. Characterize and evaluate various contemporary photographic art practices.
  3. Produce an in-depth final project that demonstrates technical and formal execution appropriate to the content of the project.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Assess the inter-relationship between concept and aesthetic.
  • 2. Analyze photographic meaning through visual language.
  • 3. Illustrate understanding of contemporary aesthetic and conceptual artistic strategies.
  • 4. Evaluate contemporary photographic art practice within a historical context.
  • 5. Demonstrate ability to verbalize about photographs based upon visual evidence.
  • 6. Create visual evidence of concepts covered in lecture.
  • 7. Experiment with structural strategies in response to assignments.
  • 8. Produce an extensive self-designed final project.
  • 9. Demonstrate understanding of relationship between art market and other commercial practices.
  • 10. Demonstrate understanding of photographic art practice in relationship to contemporary social/political issues.

Lecture Content

1. Defining Photography as an Art form

a. Pictorialism

b. Modernism

c. PostModernism

2. Metaphor and Symbolism

a. Surrealism

b. Psychoanalytic theory

c. Equivalency

3. Appropriation

a. DADA

b. The found object

4. Image and Text

a.Denotative vs. connotative

b. Narrative, Labeling, Titles

5. Relationship of Conceptual and Aesthetic Concerns

a. Appropriate choice of technical execution

b. Directing the viewer's eye

6. Experimental production techniques

7. Sequencing

a.Typologies

b.Narrative

c.Counter-narrative strategies

8. Presentation strategies

a. Use of Scale

b. Structural experimentation

9. Contemporary Practices

a. Conceptual Art

b. Multiculturalism Artist as curator

10. Interdisciplinary practice

a. Installation

b. Moving vs. still image

c. Photography in public space

11. Relationship to commercial applications

a. The art market

b. Fashion

c. Advertising

12. The social/political context

a. Editorial

b. Ideas of truth

Lab Content

LABORATORY CONTENT (36 hrs) Arranged (TBA) content ( 45 hrs)

The following content will be covered in a combination of scheduled and TBA lab hours:

1. Scale and file size/resolution requirements

2. Printing for Composition

3. Sequencing and non-narrative organizational strategies

4. Printing a group of photographs for visual coherence

5. Fine Art Papers

6. Soft Proofing

7. Fiber Paper Processing

8. Print Presentation Strategies

9. Exhibition Installation Strategies

10. Project Meetings

11. Artist Statements

12. Proposal Writing

13. Field Trips to Galleries, Museums, and Lectures

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)
  • Lab (04)
  • DE Live Online Lab (04S)
  • DE Online Lab (04X)

Instructional Techniques

Slide and video lectures to demonstrate a range of contemporary practices and illustrate concepts and means of execution. Demonstration of approaches to problem solving through lecture and critique. Handouts providing technical instruction and models for writing assignments. Discussion and critique of conceptual and aesthetic strategies. Instructor and peer feedback through critique of student work. Field trips to galleries and museums.

Reading Assignments

Students will spend two hours researching and reading monographs, interviews with photographers, exhibition reviews, and analyses of visual communication strategies from books in our library collection.

Writing Assignments

Students will spend two hours on  Writing Assignments including but not limited to:Written analyses of visual communication strategies and photographic languageSummarizing and analytical responses to reading assignmentsExhibition reportsLibrary Research and Book reviewsProject ProposalsArtist Statements

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will spend four to five hours to execute assignments that reinforce concepts introduced in lecture. Students will work independently in studio and outside of class to meet assignment requirements. Students will utilize the darkroom and digital lab to complete exercises that use problem solving situations related to course material. Students will also visit relevant exhibitions at museums and galleries.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

90

Methods of Student Evaluation

  • Written Assignments
  • Projects (Individual/Group)
  • Problem Solving Exercises
  • Oral Presentations
  • Skills Demonstration

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

1.     Critiques of photographic assignments.2.     Oral evaluation of conceptual and aesthetic reasoning of visual ideas.3.     Written reports and essays.4.     Final project conceived and executed according to individual design.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will demonstrate problem solving and skills with the production of a portfolio of photographic imagery for class projects. These projects require that techniques are applied appropriately to solve various challenges that are presented. Students will participate in group and individual critiques. Additionally, students may be asked to write short essays based on assigned readings and research.

Resources Subscreen

  • Other: . . ().

Eligible Discipline(s)

  • Photography: Master’s degree in photography, fine arts, or art OR bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND master’s degree in art history or humanities OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.