Photographic Practice IV: Documentary Storytelling

Wedi cwblhau'r modiwl dylai'r myfyrwyr fedru:

1. Produce and design a short documentary photobook that combines text and images in order to preserve or tell a story.
2. Learn methods for integrating text and image as well as techniques for digital book layout and design.
3. Learn advanced digital editing and digital printing techniques.
4. Identify and analyse common characteristics and themes of documentary practice.
5. Evaluate the ways in which documentary photography can be utilized as a tool for preservation, storytelling, and social change.
6. Articulate & share their intentions for creative projects in group discussions and written assignments.
7. Contextualize their work within contemporary or historical traditions of documentary photography.
8. Analyse and provide critical feedback on visual works by your peers.

Documentary photography is often defined as, "the creative treatment of actuality." This early characterization, coined by John Grierson, indicates the genres’ reliance on observation from life, yet also acknowledges the agency and subjectivity the artist brings to the work. Documentary photography is neither purely reportage or creative expression, but a mixture of the two that has been influenced by both photojournalism and conceptual art. In this module we will approach documentary from this perspective, and explore the ways in which documentary photography has been utilized over time as a tool for preservation, storytelling, and social change.

Over the course of the semester students will learn advanced digital editing and digital printing techniques, methods for integrating text and image, and techniques for digital book layout and design. Each student will then combine these skills to produce a short documentary photobook that preserves or tells a story from their perspective.

Taking a 'flipped learning' approach, students will read essential texts and watch pre-recorded lectures or interviews with artists as guided independent study. Classroom time will be divided between seminars and studio practicals.

Seminars will be centred on student-led Q&A and discussion of the readings and video content, exploring four themes that are prevalent in documentary practice: Person-to-Person, Investigation, Elegy, & Lyric Documents.

Two fieldtrips will be used to study original examples of documentary photography projects in the School of Art Museum and the National Library of Wales where students will learn to identify and analyse a wide range of materials, techniques and approaches.

Studio practicals will focus on hands on instruction and exploration of advanced digital editing and digital printing techniques, as well as techniques for digital book layout and design in preparation for the final book project.

Each student will receive 1:1 and small group tutorials in addition to the classroom time, where they will be given advice, support, and feedback on their work for the module.

Mae'r modiwl hwn yn cydymffurfio a FfCChC Lefel 5