Still Photography II: The Body and the Frame

Still Photography II: The Body and the Frame is a Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies class taught by Jacqueline Hayden.

Course Description
The human form; nude, naked, clothed, full bodies, partial bodies, gendered and racial bodies, young and old bodies constitute a primary subject in contemporary artistic practice. In this class we will explore both the traditions of the photographic nude in western art and its subversions in late 20th century photography. Students will be expected to develop a "body" of photographs related to the topic that can intersect anywhere with the body: straight portraiture, nudes, abstractions of bodies or virtual Web bodies. Students will be instructed to use cameras, computers and materials to develop an aesthetic strategy that either embraces or challenges existing genres. Assigned readings will address issues of identity and representation. Workshops that give training for using equipment and software will occur outside regularly scheduled class and students who already have experience in color and large format are welcome in the course. Required attendance at visiting artists' lectures and workshops will be mandatory. There will be a $50 lab fee. Instructor permission required. Prerequisite Still Photography I and Introduction to Media Arts.