PHOT 78B: SOCIAL CONCERNS FIELD STUDY IN PHOTOGRAPHY
Foothill College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Summer 2025 |
| Units: | 1 |
| Hours: | 1 lecture per week (12 total per quarter) |
| Advisory: | PHOT 5. |
| Degree & Credit Status: | Degree-Applicable Credit Course |
| Foothill GE: | Non-GE |
| Transferable: | CSU |
| Grade Type: | Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass) |
| Repeatability: | Not Repeatable |
Student Learning Outcomes
- A successful student will explore a new topic, develop skills and time on task to deepen skills in photography and will create a small group of work or a short paper to illustrate this skill.
- A successful student will assess contributions of photographers from diverse cultures and backgrounds to the topic of photography being explored
Description
Investigation of a specific aspect or topic of photography through discussion and demonstration by the instructor(s) in the field.
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
- Gain in-depth understanding of one specific aspect or topic of photography.
- Use the equipment or technique demonstrated.
- Apply techniques and approaches learned to other class assignments in photography.
- Recognize the contributions made in this field by people from diverse ethnicities, cultures, backgrounds, and identities.
Course Content
- Detailed explanation of socially concerned photography
- Historical examples and precedents drawn from diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Comprehensive demonstration of the uses of appropriate equipment
- Testing and/or experimentation of equipment by student, as needed
- Field sessions to use or demonstrate equipment, as appropriate
- Applications of equipment used and skills demonstrated
- Fine arts applications
- Guest lectures by visiting artists
- Online journalism applications
- Field sessions to appropriate documentary sites
- Practical use of equipment or technique demonstrated
- Availability and costs of equipment
- Risks associated with technique or equipment demonstrated
- Ethics of photographing persons in disadvantaged situations
Lab Content
Not applicable.
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
1. A lecture room equipped for viewing motion pictures, slides, and videotapes; computer with projection ability, access to still cameras, and other demonstration equipment as needed.
2. When taught via Foothill Global Access: on-going access to computer with email software and capabilities, email address, and access to learning management system.
2. When taught via Foothill Global Access: on-going access to computer with email software and capabilities, email address, and access to learning management system.
Method(s) of Evaluation
Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:
Quizzes and hands-on examinations, as appropriate
A written paper analyzing the topic is required as a summation of the course experience
Producing photographic prints that demonstrate competency with equipment and knowledge of social issues
Method(s) of Instruction
Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:
Lecture discussion
Field work
Electronic discussions/chat
Demonstration
Field trips
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Faculty-provided handouts and library reference materials, as needed.
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
- Reading of books on socially concerned photographers
- Written paper comparing approach by early photojournalists/documentary photographers with that of contemporary practitioners, e.g., Jacob Riis, Lewis Hine, and Edward Burtynsky
- Field trips to sites of social concern
- Attend lectures by socially concerned photographers
- Attend exhibitions by socially concerned photographers
- Make photographs that reflect social concerns and issues
- Post images to online blog or website for discussion and feedback
- Produce photographic prints that demonstrate knowledge of social issues
Discipline(s)
Photography