Art History 278 - Race and Gender in the History of Photography

This course examines histories of photography from the medium’s invention around 1839 to its use by artists and non-artists today. In particular, we will focus on race, gender and representation, exploring how photography has been deployed both as a tool of oppression and of resistance. Throughout, students will be introduced to the rich theoretical literature on the medium as well as the historical circumstances of its production. Some of the topics we will consider are the mutual construction of photography and anthropology; the “queer camera;” the use of photography in social movements for racial justice; and the gaze, self-fashioning and social media. Group B