Seeing Through Photographs

The Museum of Modern Art

À propos de ce cours

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.

Cours en ligne à 100 %

Commencez dès maintenant et apprenez aux horaires qui vous conviennent.

Approx. 16 heures pour terminer

Recommandé : 6 weeks of study, 1-2 hours/week

English

Sous-titres : English, Serbian, Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Russian, Spanish

Compétences que vous acquerrez

PhotographyArt HistoryCreativityPhoto Essays

Cours en ligne à 100 %

Commencez dès maintenant et apprenez aux horaires qui vous conviennent.

Approx. 16 heures pour terminer

Recommandé : 6 weeks of study, 1-2 hours/week

English

Sous-titres : English, Serbian, Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Russian, Spanish

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section

1 hour to complete

Introduction to Seeing Through Photographs

“Photography is a foreign language everyone thinks he speaks.” -- Philip-Lorca di Corcia...

2 videos (Total 5 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

2 videos

1.2 Seeing Through Photographs1m

1.3 Interview with Marvin Heiferman3m

2 readings

1.1 Introduction10m

1.4 Required Readings & Additional Resources10m

1 practice exercises

Introduction20m

2

Section

1 hour to complete

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 (Total 22 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

2.2 Interview with Vik Muniz3m

2.3 Vernacular & Fine Art Photographs of the Moon3m

2.4 Early Photographs of the Moon: Surface, Scale & Technology2m

2.5 New Perspectives: Man on the Moon2m

2.7 Ansel Adams. Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico. 19413m

2.8 Eugène Atget. Pendant l'Eclipse. 19123m

2.9 U.S.G.S. & NASA, Surveyor III. Surface of the Moon, Day 319, W-F. 19671m

3 readings

2.1 Introduction10m

2.6 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]10m

2.10 Required Readings & Additional Resources10m

1 practice exercises

One Subject, Many Perspectives20m

3

Section

1 hour to complete

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 (Total 15 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

4 videos

3.2 Sarah Meister on Documentary Photography3m

3.4 Dorothea Lange. Migrant Mother. 19361m

3.5 Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel. Evidence. 19774m

3.6 Susan Meiselas. Carnival Strippers. 1973-755m

3 readings

3.1 Introduction10m

3.3 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]10m

3.7 Required Readings & Additional Resources10m

1 practice exercises

Documentary Photography20m

4

Section

1 hour to complete

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 (Total 19 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

6 videos

4.2 Interview with Nicholas Nixon4m

4.3 Interview with Katy Grannan3m

4.5 Akram Zaatari. After They Got the Right to Arms. Fourteen young men posing with guns. Early 1970s/20066m

4.6 Frances Benjamin Johnston. The Hampton Album. 1899-19001m

4.7 Tina Barney. Sunday New York Times. 19821m

4.8 Nicholas Nixon. The Brown Sisters. 1975-Present1m

3 readings

4.1 Introduction10m

4.4 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]10m

4.9 Required Readings & Additional Resources10m

1 practice exercises

Pictures of People20m

5

Section

1 hour to complete

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 (Total 21 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

5.2 Interview with Hank Willis Thomas3m

5.3 Interview with Iñaki Bonillas5m

5.5 Cindy Sherman. Untitled Film Stills. 1977–801m

5.6 Carrie Mae Weems. From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried. 19952m

5.7 Walid Raad. My neck is thinner than a hair: Engines. 1996-20011m

5.8 Thomas Demand. Room (Zimmer). 19961m

5.9 Harrell Fletcher. The American War. 20054m

3 readings

5.1 Introduction10m

5.4 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]10m

5.10 Required Readings & Additional Resources10m

1 practice exercises

Constructing Narratives & Challenging Histories20m

6

Section

4 hours to complete

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 (Total 30 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

7 videos

6.2 Interview with Lucas Blalock3m

6.3 Interview with David Horvitz3m

6.4 Interview with Anouk Kruithof4m

6.5 Interview with Ilit Azoulay5m

6.7 Robert Heinecken. Are You Rea. 1964-681m

6.8 Thomas Ruff. jpeg msh01. 20044m

6.9 Martha Rosler. House Beautiful (Bringing the War Home). 1967-727m

4 readings

6.1 Introduction10m

6.6 Slideshow [mobile-friendly version]10m

6.10 Required Readings & Additional Resources10m

Funding & Credits10m

1 practice exercises

Ocean of Images: Photography & Contemporary Culture20m

Instructor

Sarah Meister

Curator

About The Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. With extraordinary exhibitions and the world's finest collection of modern and contemporary art, MoMA is dedicated to the conversation between the past and the present, the established and the experimental. Our mission is helping you understand, enjoy, and use the art of our time....

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
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Seeing Through Photographs