Photography studies at the Art History Department

General Information

 

The study of photography is now recognized as crucial to the field of art and visual culture.  With the new digital technologies of distribution and dissemination, such as the internet, it forms the most dominant visual medium in the contemporary culture of communication and information. The academic motivation behind the Photography Studies program is to offer students historical, theoretical, and critical tools by which to analyze and research the complex set of practices (institutional, cultural, ideological, professional, and aesthetic) that inform the production, dissemination, and reception of photographs.

 

The program seeks to encourage the academic study of the history and theory of photography by significantly expending course selection within the field of art history, as well as within disciplines such as history, anthropology, sociology, and gender studies. It also seeks to provide an intellectual and historical foundation for graduate and doctoral research.  

 

The courses in the program comprise an integral part of the undergraduate and graduate studies in the Art History Department. Some of the courses will also be open to students in other departments in the Faculty of the Arts. Based on their level of specialization and number of courses taken, students will be able to write MA and PhD theses on the history and theory of photography.

 

Students in the program can accumulate up to 12 credits throughout their undergraduate studies, and up to 12 credits throughout their graduate studies, if they choose to take the maximum number of courses that is offered in the program. It will also be possible to take individual elective courses in the Art History Department.

 

 

 

Courses

 

The courses in the program change annually and focus on historical and theoretical issues. Topics include: the history of photography, theories of photography, contemporary photography, photography in Palestine and Israel, photography in East Asia, photography and memory. Each year an artist’s workshop will also be offered.

 

For the BA degree the program offers from 4-12 credits out of the 60 credits needed for a double-major.  These courses form an integral part of the Art History Department curriculum. Students can select individual courses or a set of courses.

 

For the MA degree the program offers 4-12 credits out of the 36 credits needed for the completion of studies. Students can select individual courses (subject to required courses) or accumulate the maximum number of credits, in which case they will be able to a write a research thesis in the field of the history and theory of photography.  Graduate students who have not taken any courses in the Photography Studies program during their undergraduate studies will be required to complete at least one introductory course.

 

 

Fellowships

 

The Photography Studies Program offers merit-based fellowships in three categories:

 

1. For outstanding MA students who intend to write their research thesis on the history and theory of photography.

 

2. For PhD students whose thesis in on the history and theory of photography

 

3. Post-doctoral scholars whose research is on the history and theory of photography (starting from 2014-2015).  

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