Course Title: Contemporary Photographic Ideas

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Contemporary Photographic Ideas

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
VART1572	City Campus	Undergraduate	340H Art	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011
VART2047	Hong Kong Arts Centre	Undergraduate	340H Art	Face-to-Face	Offsh 1 09, Offsh 1 10, Offsh 1 11, Offsh1 12

Course Coordinator: Kellyann Geurts

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5236

Course Coordinator Email:kellyann.geurts@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: B7, L4, Rm32

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None. This is an introductory, first year course in Fine Art Photography, for students specialising in the Fine Art Photography Studio area.

Course Description

The course is designed to introduce you to and help you develop an awareness of contemporary photographic art both locally and internationally.  It will provide opportunities for you to develop an understanding of issues surrounding contemporary photographic practice.  You will have opportunities to articulate your practice and will be given strategies to help you develop your ideas, projects and skills.  You will be encouraged to rigorously develop your own practice with consideration of audience, peers and how you will operate within the art scene. You will also be introduced to local galleries, public art and other platforms such as zines.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course will provide opportunities for you to:
•    engage critically with photographic practice through research and discussion of contemporary photographic artists
•    explore and discover the local and international contemporary art scene
•    experiment with strategies for developing your ideas and approaching your art making through project work
•    research and investigate galleries, art magazines and everyday life to provide inspiration for your own practice
•    develop confidence when discussing your ideas and expressing your opinion in a group 

Overview of Learning Activities

This course is presented through a series of lectures and workshops.  Class discussion is an integral part of lessons and you will be encouraged to express your opinions and develop your verbal skills.  Formal lectures investigate the role of different photographers, non photographic artists, galleries and working methodologies.  These are supported with a screening program, including film, TV, pod casts as well as writing and other forms of creative outcomes.  Regular visits to conventional and non-conventional exhibition spaces occur, and include museums, commercial galleries, artist run spaces and public art spaces.

Overview of Learning Resources

Students have access to advanced digital imaging production facilities. Resources include Apple Mac G5 and MacPro computers with Apple 30" Displays and Eizo Calibrated screens. All machines run Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended™ and complimentary software. State of the art scanners and late model digital cameras are available for use. Output facilities include Epson 2800 Printers.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is conducted through a class project and a series of reviews. The class project assesses your progress in relation to specific material presented in the class.

Reviews are linked to the Fine Art Photography studio area, and will provide you with the opportunity to publicly present your work for critical discussion and feedback.

Reviews are conducted collectively within the studio area, and whilst you are only expected to exhibit for one review per session, all students are encouraged to attend as many sessions as they can, as each review will be unique.