Contemporary Photography

The course will trace the development of photography from the 1960s--when its status in the art world was fundamentally changed by the rise of conceptualism--to the present. The course will address themes including the relationship between photography and performance art, the culture wars, identity politics, environmental concerns, globalization, digital media, and how photography has been shaped by the art market. Although the course will focus on fine art photography, we will also consider commercial and journalistic work.