Course Title: Picturing Power
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Picturing Power
Credit Points: 12.00
Course Coordinator: Dr Kelly Hussey-Smith
Course Coordinator Phone: Please contact via email
Course Coordinator Email: kelly.hussey-smith@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Please contact via email
Course Coordinator Availability: Please contact via email
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
Recommended Prior Study
You should have satisfactorily completed VART3592 Fundamental Photographic Techniques (course ID: 050294) or VART3590 Photography 101 (course ID: 050209) before you commence this course.
Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.
Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.
Course Description
Photography is a conduit for power, influencing our formations of citizenship, acting as surveillance, creating normative representations, and providing tools for the constitution of the self. Photography is used to observe and critique the world, and to counter dominant histories and assumptions. In this course, you will explore how photography can be used to study the often-invisible forces and systems that govern daily life, shape desires and design our worlds.
You will explore photography’s complex relationship to power; both the way it is implicated in maintaining regimes of power and how it is used to counter them. Lectures, readings and discussions will introduce you to photography’s relationship to imperialism, colonial expansion, surveillance and consumerism. Workshops will support you to engage critically with analogue, digital and emerging technologies and understand the image and culture.
This course is part of the Major and Minor: World-centred Photography, Major and Minor: Expanded Media Arts and Major: Photography.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Program Learning Outcomes
This course contributes to the following BP117P26 Bachelor of Photography program learning outcomes:
PLO2: Utilise advanced photographic knowledge and technical skills to creatively contribute to visual discourses in your chosen field of photography.
PLO5: Implement strategies that continually synthesise expertise in photography as a discipline that intersects with all aspects of visual culture and knowledge.
PLO6: Utilise knowledge of contemporary photographic industries, sectors and cultures in professional photography practice, engaging with a diversity of collaborators and disciplines.
PLO7: Develop sophisticated photographic solutions in the context of evolving technological and cultural practices using expert critical and ethical judgement.
This course contributes to the following BP201P26 Bachelor of Fine Arts program learning outcomes:
PLO1: Creatively and confidently explore the application of established and emerging technology, tools, processes and materials to art practices.
PLO3: Apply initiative, experimentation, and critical reflection to the development of resolved works as part of an independent art practice.
PLO4: Research, examine, and apply global, social, cultural, environmental, historical, and theoretical knowledge to contextualise and inform your art practice.
PLO8: Develop specialist and interdisciplinary methodologies to establish a contemporary art practice.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are taking this course as an option course or as part of a minor, this course will complement the learning outcomes you are developing in your program.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
CLO1: Articulate photography’s relationship to imperialism, colonial expansion and surveillance.
CLO2: Develop a body of photographic work that explores power and its articulations.
CLO3: Develop an understanding of the history of photography as it relates to contemporary cultures of surveillance.
CLO4: Apply appropriate technical, conceptual and aesthetic skills in contemporary photography practice.
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as workshops, tutorials, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities, excursions/site visits, studios, technical instruction, presentations, research, independent practice/study, documentation, critiques and feedback sessions.
Delivery may be face-to-face, online or a mix of both.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.
Weekly learning resources are set up and available in Canvas.
The link to the Library Subject Guide for Photography can find here: https://rmit.libguides.com/art-photography
There are services and resources available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the RMIT student website.
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course learning outcomes.
Assessment Tasks:
Assessment Task 1: Lecture Responses 30%, CLO1, CLO2, CLO 3
Assessment Task 2: Project Work in Progress 30 %, CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4
Assessment Task 3: Project Outcomes 40 %, CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.
If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.