48354 - STORIA E TECNICA DELLA FOTOGRAFIA -

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide a basic knowledge of the history of photography as a cultural practice and as a tool for the documentation and study of cultural heritage. The course includes a historical part related to the evolution of techniques, languages and social uses of photography from the origins to the end of the twentieth century. There also will be a practical part, related to the knowledge of the evolutionary phases of photographic documentation of cultural heritage from the 19th century to today, to current legislation, to cataloguing techniques and related methodologies. This part of the course is expected to take place through laboratory exercises. At the end of the course the student will be able to know the evolutionary lines of the history of photography; he will have acquired a basic knowledge of techniques and methodologies for the conservation, the cataloguing and the management of the historical photographic heritage, as well as the uses of photography for the documentation of cultural heritage

Course contents

The first part of the course will deal with the birth of photography; starting from the question of the origins and the relationships with the pre-photographic techniques of image reproduction, particular attention will be given to the materials, techniques and languages of photography.

Later the main Italian and international photographers and the main movements, will be faced the role of photography in the history of contemporary culture, treating first briefly the theoretical critical debate on photography, then relations and plots with a series of cultural and scientific spheres, its applications and derivations, its growing development and the changes that have occurred over time in its function and presence in the social and cultural context, especially in Europe and North America.

The second part of the course will be dedicated to a monographic theme identified in the birth and development of photojournalism, with particular attention to the Italian case.

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students:

1. The study of the notes taken in class and the materials distributed by the teacher during the course on both the institutional and monographic parts (in-depth essays and anthologies of images distributed by the teacher during the lessons through ppt presentations).
2. A history of photography manual among those indicated in point A of the bibliography

For non-attending students:

1) The preparation of a history of photography manual for the preparation of the institutional part of the course chosen from those indicated in point A of the bibliography;
2) The preparation of a volume on the theoretical aspects of photography chosen from those proposed in point B of the bibliography;
3) The volume on the monographic part indicated in point C of the bibliography.Basic bibliography for the exam (see verification methods for the choice of texts).

Basic bibliography for the exam

A) History of photography manuals

B. Newhall, Storia della fotografia, Torino, Einaudi, 1997. 

I. Zannier Storia e tecnica della fotografia, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1984;

B) Works on theory of photography

W. Benjamin, L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica,Torino, Einaudi, 1974 (capp. I e II);

R. Barthes, La camera chiara, Torino, Einaudi, 1981;

S. Sontag, Sulla fotografia. Realtà e immagine nella nostra società, Torino, Einaudi, 1978; 

G. Freund, Fotografia e, società: riflessione teorica ed esperienza pratica di'una allievo di Adorno, Torino, Einaudi, 1976;

R. Krauss, Teoria e storia della fotografia, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 1996; 

U. Lucas, T. Agliani, La realtà e lo sguardo. Storia del fotogiornalismo in Italia, Torino, Einaudi, 2015.

Teaching methods

The teaching methodology includes a series of lectures and the projection of slides with the main images from the history of photography.

Assessment methods

For attending students:

The final exam will relate to both the institutional and monographic parts of the course. The test will take place with an oral test consisting of at least three questions on authors, movements or events in the history of photography whose knowledge will have been acquired during the course based on lecture notes, in-depth readings and on one of the manuals among those indicated at point A) of the basic bibliography. The theme of the monographic course will then be addressed through a discussion that highlights the historical and theoretical issues addressed in class.

For non-attending students:

The exam will be taken through an oral test by preparing the texts indicated in the bibliography. The candidate must be able to correctly place languages, protagonists and events in the history of photography in their historical-cultural context (point A of the bibliography). For the part relating to the theoretical works in point B) of the bibliography, it is required to be able to highlight the essential problems addressed in the volume and the main theoretical questions that emerge from the reading. As far as point C) of the bibliography is concerned, relating to the monographic course module, the student will be required to know how to frame the topic on a historical level and to identify the main protagonists and the phases of development and diffusion with particular attention to the Italian case.

For all students the final evaluation following indications of Alma Mater's guidelines:

- insufficient grade: lack of basic knowledge and inability to produce a correct interpretation of the texts and / or problems -

- sufficient grade: possession of basic knowledge; mainly correct interpretation, but conducted with imprecision and little autonomy.

- good grade: possession of intermediate level knowledge; fully correct interpretation, but not always precise and autonomous.

- excellent grade: possession of high level knowledge; interpretation of problems not only correct but conducted with autonomy and precision. Excellent oral expression skills.

Only for the students attending the course, there will be the possibility of writing an essay. The method will be explained during the first lesson of the course.

Teaching tools

The course aims to give to the student a basic education on the main stages of the history of photography and audiovisuals, on historiographical currents, on the methodologies, sources and themes that have recently emerged in the research work and in the discussion within the discipline, but also on the treatment for the purpose of preserving and enhancing the audiovisual materials.

For this reason, in addition to the lectures, the student will be provided with digital tools such as power points and the possibility of accessing the computer lab (computer room on the mezzanine floor) where they can use scanners and PCs.

Exam materials and further readings can be found online on Virtuale UNIBO https://virtuale.unibo.it.

Reading lists and publications are available on Virtuale [https://virtuale.unibo.it/] . They can serve as preparatory materials for the course and can be useful to fill any gaps for those who have never had an approach to the Byzantine Art.

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special tools to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Raffaella Biscioni