Week 3 / Jan. 30 and Feb. 1

Lecture and discussion: Race & Class

Screening: The Notion of Family, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Aperture video

Screening: Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, Rainer Werner Fassbinder

One-page typed proposals due on Thursday, Feb. 1 outlining concept of project and materials for the semester

Individual meetings with students to discuss proposals.

Reading: Danny Lyon: Social Critique, pages 90-91 and Danny Lyon: Social Critique, pages 106-107

Writing Assignment and Oral Presentations:

Please visit this website: Making Pictures of People: Recent Perspectives on Photographic Portraiture

Select a portfolio of one photographer whose work you like in particular, read his/her interview, and write a one-page paper addressing some of these questions.

Who are the subjects of these photographs?
Where were these photographs taken?
What is the photographer's relationship to these subjects?
How is the photographer using light and color to shape mood?
Does the work have any social or political content such as issues of race, class, gender or sexuality?

Half the class will present papers and the selected photographer's portfolio to class on Tuesday, Feb. 20 and the other half on Thursday, Feb. 22. 

Week 2 / Jan. 23 and Jan. 25

On account of our snow day and class cancellations, we will discuss the course outline and blog and get to know each other in today's class.

Screenings: Art 21 / Loss & Desire: Collier Schorr and Change: Catherine Opie

Student presentations on Thursday, Jan. 25.  Students present previous work in portraiture (approximately 10 prints or digital files if necessary) and discuss new project idea with research and artist inspirations – 20 min per student

Required Text: Outsiders: American Photography and Film, 1950s - 1980s, Sophie Hackett and Jim Shedden

Reading: "Social Subjects" by Sophie Hackett from Outsiders, pages 9-15

Project proposals on Thursday, Feb. 1 - one page typed outlining theme and content of semester-long project in portraiture and technical considerations such as camera format, scale of prints, color or black & white, etc.

Week 1 / Jan. 16 and Jan. 18

Welcome to Portraiture and Social Identity.  During our first class, we will discuss the course outline and blog and get to know each other.  We will also create a schedule for student presentations of previous work on Jan. 23 and Jan. 25.

Screenings: Art 21 / Loss & Desire: Collier Schorr and Change: Catherine Opie

Reception on Thursday, Jan. 18 at Reece Museum for Gediyon Kifle's exhibition, Finite Disappointment / Infinite Hope