Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course will address a number of theoretical and methodological issues relating to the very complex medium of photography. The aim is to understand the way in which analogue photography, while being an imprint of light, demands to be understood as a re-presentation, i.e. as a constructed image that is not at all objective. To this end, we'll be using enunciation theory (from Benveniste to Fontanille and Dondero), plastic analysis (concerning topology, light distribution, color and form composition) and figurative analysis (concerning recognizable objects and themes) to analyze the photos. We will then devote several classes to the different photographic genres in constrast with pictorial genres (portraiture, still life, landscape) and to the different statuses of photography (art, science, politics, advertising, etc.). The last sessions will be devoted to study Generative Artificial Intelligence, in particular automatic text-image translation models such as Midjourney, DALL-E and Stable Diffusion.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
It will be necessary for the student to learn to observe and understand photographic images in relation to and in contrast with images produced by other media, such as painting or drawing, or generative AI. Several notions of semiotics will be taught: the theory of enunciation as a theory of intersubjectivity but also as a theory of the temporal and spatial positioning of each photo in front of an observer. The methodology of analysis will be also based on figurative analysis, plastic analysis and semi-symbolism. The student should also be able to relate the debates on the theories of photography (from Peirce to Dondero) and to analyze photographic images, taking into consideration not only their composition and content, but also their genre and their status thanks to the different social domains (art, politics, religion, advertising, etc.) photos belong to.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
none
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Exercises of pictures comparative analysis done each lesson.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
not available
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Further information:
not available
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam
Further information:
not available
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
A PPT will be availabnle at the end of the class in December
Contacts
not available