About this course: Although taking, sharing, and viewing photographs has become second nature for many of us, our regular engagement with images does not necessarily make us visually literate. This course aims to address the gap between seeing and truly understanding photographs by introducing a diversity of ideas, approaches, and technologies that inform their making. In this course you will look closely at photographs from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art and hear a variety of perspectives on what a photograph is and the ways that photography has been used throughout its nearly 180 year history: as a means of artistic expression, as a tool for science and exploration; as an instrument of documentation; to tell stories and record histories; and as a mode of communication and critique in our ever increasingly visual culture. Learning Objectives • Develop skills to better examine and understand the differences between photographs and photographic images. • Discover how context influences the production, circulation, and reception of photographic images. • Learn about different modes of artistic and technological experimentation and innovation in photography. • Investigate photography’s role in our increasingly visual culture.
Who is this class for: This course, aimed at a general audience interested in photography, is designed to help build skills in looking critically at photographs. No prior knowledge of studio photography or history of photography is required. Please note, this course does not address technical skills for making or editing photographs.
Created by: The Museum of Modern Art
Taught by: Sarah Meister, Curator
Department of Photography
| Commitment | 6 weeks of study, 1-2 hours/week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Italian, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified) |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction to Seeing Through Photographs
“Photography is a foreign language everyone thinks he speaks.” -- Philip-Lorca di Corcia
2 videos, 2 readings
- Reading: 1.1 Introduction
- Video: 1.2 Seeing Through Photographs
- Video: 1.3 Interview with Marvin Heiferman
- Reading: 1.4 Required Readings & Additional Resources
Graded: Introduction
WEEK 2
One Subject, Many Perspectives
Discover photography's roots in both art and science by observing the diverse ways the medium has been used across time to capture a single subject familiar to us all.
7 videos, 3 readings
- Reading: 2.1 Introduction
- Video: 2.2 Interview with Vik Muniz
- Video: 2.3 Vernacular & Fine Art Photographs of the Moon
- Video: 2.4 Early Photographs of the Moon: Surface, Scale & Technology
- Video: 2.5 New Perspectives: Man on the Moon
- Slideshow: 2.6 Slideshow
- Reading: 2.6 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]
- Video: 2.7 Ansel Adams. Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico. 1941
- Video: 2.8 Eugène Atget. Pendant l'Eclipse. 1912
- Video: 2.9 U.S.G.S. & NASA, Surveyor III. Surface of the Moon, Day 319, W-F. 1967
- Reading: 2.10 Required Readings & Additional Resources
- Discussion Prompt: 2.11 Discussion Questions
Graded: One Subject, Many Perspectives
WEEK 3
Documentary Photography
Explore a variety of approaches to documentary photography, from those that aim to produce objective records to those that critique the reliability of photographs as evidence.
4 videos, 3 readings
- Reading: 3.1 Introduction
- Video: 3.2 Sarah Meister on Documentary Photography
- Slideshow: 3.3 Slideshow
- Reading: 3.3 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]
- Video: 3.4 Dorothea Lange. Migrant Mother. 1936
- Video: 3.5 Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel. Evidence. 1977
- Video: 3.6 Susan Meiselas. Carnival Strippers. 1973-75
- Reading: 3.7 Required Readings & Additional Resources
- Discussion Prompt: 3.8 Discussion Questions
Graded: Documentary Photography
WEEK 4
Pictures of People
Examine pictures of people—as individuals or as representatives of a type, posed or captured unaware—and discover how the choices made by both photographer and subject inform our assumptions about those depicted.
6 videos, 3 readings
- Reading: 4.1 Introduction
- Video: 4.2 Interview with Nicholas Nixon
- Video: 4.3 Interview with Katy Grannan
- Slideshow: Slideshow 4.4
- Reading: 4.4 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]
- Video: 4.5 Akram Zaatari. After They Got the Right to Arms. Fourteen young men posing with guns. Early 1970s/2006
- Video: 4.6 Frances Benjamin Johnston. The Hampton Album. 1899-1900
- Video: 4.7 Tina Barney. Sunday New York Times. 1982
- Video: 4.8 Nicholas Nixon. The Brown Sisters. 1975-Present
- Reading: 4.9 Required Readings & Additional Resources
- Discussion Prompt: 4.10 Discussion Questions
Graded: Pictures of People
WEEK 5
Constructing Narratives & Challenging Histories
Learn to look critically at the way photographs have been used to construct narratives that shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
7 videos, 3 readings
- Reading: 5.1 Introduction
- Video: 5.2 Interview with Hank Willis Thomas
- Video: 5.3 Interview with Iñaki Bonillas
- Slideshow: 5.3 Slideshow
- Reading: 5.4 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]
- Video: 5.5 Cindy Sherman. Untitled Film Stills. 1977–80
- Video: 5.6 Carrie Mae Weems. From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried. 1995
- Video: 5.7 Walid Raad. My neck is thinner than a hair: Engines. 1996-2001
- Video: 5.8 Thomas Demand. Room (Zimmer). 1996
- Video: 5.9 Harrell Fletcher. The American War. 2005
- Reading: 5.10 Required Readings & Additional Resources
- Discussion Prompt: 5.11 Discussion Questions
Graded: Constructing Narratives & Challenging Histories
WEEK 6
Ocean of Images: Photography & Contemporary Culture
Many artists are turning to our image-saturated world as both a source for and subject of their work. Explore how they examine—and frequently disrupt—current methods of image production, presentation, and circulation.
7 videos, 4 readings
- Reading: 6.1 Introduction
- Video: 6.2 Interview with Lucas Blalock
- Video: 6.3 Interview with David Horvitz
- Video: 6.4 Interview with Anouk Kruithof
- Video: 6.5 Interview with Ilit Azoulay
- Slideshow: 6.6 Slideshow
- Reading: 6.6 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]
- Video: 6.7 Robert Heinecken. Are You Rea. 1964-68
- Video: 6.8 Thomas Ruff. jpeg msh01. 2004
- Video: 6.9 Martha Rosler. House Beautiful (Bringing the War Home). 1967-72
- Reading: 6.10 Required Readings & Additional Resources
- Discussion Prompt: 6.11 Discussion Questions
- Reading: Funding & Credits
Graded: Ocean of Images: Photography & Contemporary Culture
Graded: Final Project
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The Museum of Modern Art
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Ratings and Reviews
It was very very interesting.
Very interesting, I liked the contents and photographs presented
Truly authoritative materials and the opportunity to customize your learning make this a good introduction on how to look at photography as an art movement.
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Fue un curso muy completo e interesante, tocando los temas más importantes de la fotografía, esperamos que sigan los cursos y si se puede hacer una segunda edición con más fotógrafos reconocidos, sería excelente. Muchas gracias por todo!