Course Syllabus

ART 2520 Land and Place

Course Description

This photography course explores our connection to land and place as it relates to the natural and built environment, cultural identity, and photographic representation in contemporary culture. Students will spend significant time photographing in the field and will participate in several field trips during class hours throughout the semester. Topics include traditional and explorative methods in photography, camera operation, camera format, image editing, exhibition presentation, historical perspectives, and conceptual approaches. A program fee is required.

Justification

Landscape is a fundamental genre of photography and serves as a key indicator of cultural identity. This course will prepare students to transfer after completing their degree and will aid them to work in the commercial industry, as many working photographers support themselves financially with landscape photography. This course is offered in visual arts programs around the country in similar formats and is transferable as an art elective through the Visual Arts AFA degree articulation agreement with the University of Utah in the USHE system.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Material Proficiency: Demonstrate a proficiency in materials and techniques
2. Principles of Concept: Demonstrate an integration of conceptual principles
3. Historical Context: Demonstrate a fluency in historical content and context
4. Critical Theory: Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze a work of art
5. Creative Process: Demonstrate the application of the creative process

Course Content

This course will include:• Photographing on location in the field, illustrated lectures and discussions on various facets of photography including the dynamics of formal aesthetics, camera operation, light, image editing, exhibition presentation, historical and contemporary movements, contemporary photographers, theory and criticism.• Applied application of photography methods and techniques in the classroom and in the field. • Individual and group critiques, designed to promote constructive analysis of each student's own work, the work of their peers, and historical and contemporary works of art.• Written critical evaluations analyzing contemporary works of art and a formal project statement designed to assist in each student’s ability to articulate their own creative process.• The compilation of a series of images presented in a final portfolio.• The artistic genres and movements covered in this course will be representative of a ranging variety in gender, nationality, language, perspective, etc.