Class Documentary Photography Project I

The curricular unit of Project in Documentary Photography I constitutes itself as the introduction of the students to one of the largest fields of work in contemporary photography. While the idea of Documentary Photography is not presented as a monolith (there is no consensus as to its definition), it is also important to consider certain values shared by most documentary practices, such as: deep commitment to reality; social and political awareness; and the intention to represent a reality (although never "the truth"). The curricular unit of Project in Documentary Photography I is developed through a combination of theory, history and photographic practice, through the ways in which Documentary Photography best operates: as testimony, evidence, memory and narrative. It is intended to position Documentary Photography as an idea, philosophy and practice.

Not applicable

History of documentary photography. The status of photography as document. Photography and Memory / Photography as Evidence. Post-truth, digital revolution and social media. Early documentary photographers: Eugène Atget; Lewis Hine; Jacob Riis; August Sander. Modern and contemporary photographers (the documentary style): Walker Evans; Eugene Smith; Robert Frank; William Klein; Provoke Magazine; William Eggleston; Larry Sultan; Nan Goldin; Paul Graham; etc. Visual Storytelling. Making a documentary project (practical work): Documentary work. The will to tell; Creating meaning through editing; Ethics; Project review and critique.

Students are guided through the development of their individual project in an implicit way, through a series of practical exercises that should culminate in the definition of a theme and a methodological approach, in order to activate the process of artistic creation. Formation of working groups for mutual support throughout the development of the individual project.

Bakker, T. H. (2018). The Photograph That Took the Place of a Mountain. Fw:Books. Bogre, M. (2019). Documentary Photography Reconsidered: History, Theory and Practice. Routledge. Cotton, C. (2020). The Photograph as Contemporary Art. Thames and Hudson. Franklin, S. (2016). The Documentary Impulse. Phaidon Press. Mora, G. & Brannan, B. W. (2006). FSA: The American Vision. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Lugon, O. (2001). Le Style Documentaire; D'August Sander à Walker Evans, 1920 - 1945, Éditions Macula. Shore, S. (2007). The Nature of Photographs. Phaidon Press. Sontag, S. (2003). Olhando o Sofrimento dos Outros. Ed. Gótica. Stallabrass, J. (ed.). (2013). Documentary. The MIT Press.