Art History 187 - Spring 2001
Description of the Project
I recently taught a History of Photography (Art History 187) course at the upper division level. The de Saisset Museum has among its holdings a body of work from the distinguished photography collector and dealer, Helen Johnston. Each student was assigned to a photograph and was to analyze it in relation to the issues--historical, ethical, and aesthetic—set forth in their reading in the classroom. Because students had the opportunity to address the actual photographic artifacts in question, they were equipped with a concrete experience on which to build a deeper knowledge of the reciprocal relationship between cultural constructs and images than can be accomplished in the lecture/exam mode. Students produced a prototype didactic brochure for their assigned photograph. This assignment was so successful that a sampling of the brochures are being made available on the Museum website. Student response to this assignment was also extremely positive; on the course evaluation many singled it out as a key learning experience.
Dr. Andrea Pappas
Assistant Professor
Art and Art History