Course Catalogue

PHOTOGRAPHY AND MODERNISM HISTART4035

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The module will provide a critical examination of twentieth century photography, with particular emphasis given to close readings of a range of 'discussion texts' which will serve to provide an ongoing critique of fundamental premises and assumptions. Students will be encouraged to develop both a grasp of the historical dimensions of twentieth century photography, and a flexible approach towards its interpretation from a variety of methodological angles.

Timetable

1 x 1hr lecture; 1 x 1hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. 

Requirements of Entry

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into History of Art, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Examination (60 minutes duration) - 40%

Essay (2,500 words) - 50%

Seminar presentation (which may be on a group basis) of 10 minutes accompanied by PowerPoint slides - 10%

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ provide students with a broadly chronological suvey of the key practitioners, movements and institutions linked to modernist photography

■ develop students' critical understanding of what 'modernism' means in photographic terms, drawing on essential critical texts

■ promote skills of visual, verbal and written analysis consistent with the level of the students' academic development.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students should be able to:

■ appreciate and comment upon the relationship between key critical texts on modernism in photography and the actual work produced by leading early twentieth century modernist photographers

■ understand the developmental logic of early twentieth century photography in terms of its relationship to a variety of specific social, historical and cultural contexts

■ make intelligent historiographic judgements pertaining to the primary and secondary literature in the field

■ research and present their ideas on modernist photography coherently both orally and in written form.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions