University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Revised November 2002)

Code: UAAAH7-40-2	Title:		PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT WITH DISCOURSE AT LEVEL TWO			Version: 1
Level: 2	UWE credit rating: 40				ECTS credit rating: 20
Module type: Project
Owning Faculty: FCA	Field: Art
Valid from: September 2010		Discontinued from:		Field Leader: Mandy Ure
Faculty Committee Approval: Q & S Committee				Date: 24 June 2010
Contributes towards: BA (Hons) Photography
Pre-requisites: Photographic Project at Level One (UAAAC9-40-1) or equivalent
Co-requisites:
Excluded combinations:

Learning Outcomes:

To enable students to:

Knowledge and Understanding

i) Research, articulate and synthesise their comprehension of creative practice in photography in relation to their project;

ii) show an understanding of the key issues affecting contemporary photographic practice, considering photography within and beyond the field of art and design;

iii) apply for themselves the accepted terminology and conventions in relation to the techniques covered.

Intellectual Skills

iv) generate and articulate ideas/arguments as responses to set briefs, employing rigorous investigative thinking processes;

v) employ rigorous thinking processes in the course of observation, investigation, reflection and production;

vi) understand the role of the audience and context in determining a project’s outcomes, and critically evaluate visual languages and the construction of meaning.

Subject/Practical Skills

vii) develop ideas through to material outcome giving rise to a coherent body of work;

viii) creatively employ photographic materials and methods that test preconceptions about the medium;

ix) recognise the importance of presentation, context and design in photographic practice.

Transferable Skills

x) demonstrate personal management skills such as time-management, self-evaluation, setting goals and working independently;

xi) anticipate, initiate, plan and progress projects, while accommodating changing practices;

xii) respond productively to the evaluative judgements of others.

Syllabus Outline:

Students will be required to further their understanding of photographic techniques (such as studio, medium and large format, software for layout and image manipulation software), and relate these in context of broader photographic discourse. Students will apply their understanding of their accumulated skills to a project/s and integrate their critical and technical research into their working process. Students will be expected to research appropriate mechanisms for disseminating their own work in a range of contexts.

The module requires that students consider and question the boundaries, overlaps and relationships between genres and the relevance of contemporary practices to their own work and interests. Photographic practices are considered within the context of media and other arts practice and the socio-cultural landscape that generates these.

Teaching and Learning Methods:

A series of workshops/demonstrations will run during the module to support the development of practical skills. Progress will be guided by a tutorial-led approach and supporting material (which usually takes the form of a research file) will continue to form a key part of the student’s learning. Assessment will be through the delivery of a body of photographic project work in a negotiated response to a set brief and supporting material which outlines their contextual research, with a presentation to their peers contextualising their practice in relation to broader photographic discourse.

Progress will be guided through a series of lectures and group-led tasks. Emphasis will be on critical and analytical writing skills around the still image. The more advanced research skills required at this level are supported through the Reading Strategy.

Assessment criteria (how learning outcomes relate to elements of assessment):

Students will be assessed according to their fulfilment of the learning outcomes in respect of the following criteria:

CRITERIA	Relation to learning Outcomes	Source of evidence
i)           relate contextual research to project development, through critical analysis;	i), ii), iii)	Project, supporting material and presentation.
ii)          demonstrate understanding and engagement with discourse through photographic process;	iv), v) vi)	Project, supporting material and presentation.
iii)         show a technical and conceptual resolution of a body of work;	vii), viii), ix)	Project and supporting material
iv)         demonstrate management and evaluation of a project,.	x), xi) xii)	Project, supporting material and presentation.

Reading Strategy:

The ‘Essential Reading’ is indicated to supplement student understanding of the subjects covered throughout the module. ‘Further Reading’ will guide students through their selected assessment topics and will therefore be based on student interests under the guidance of staff. In addition (subject to consultation with the subject librarian) a study pack of key texts will be distributed to students either in print or electronic form. An indicative list of texts identified as appropriate at this level is given below.

Indicative Sources:

Set Text:

Liz Wells

Photography: a Critical Introduction

Routledge [1997]

Essential Reading:

Susan Bright	Art Photography Now	Thames & Hudson [2005]
Graham Clarke	The Photograph	Oxford [1996]
D Crimp	On the Museums Ruins	MIT [1995]

Further Reading: Identified through student project development in consultation with staff.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: B:

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity (Sit)

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1 Project with supporting material and presentation 100%

Second Assessment Opportunity (Resit) (further attendance at taught classes is/is not required)

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1 Project with supporting material and Powerpoint (type) Presentation

with accompanying commentary 100%

EXCEPTIONAL SECOND ATTEMPT (Retake): Attendance at taught classes is/is not required.

Specification confirmed by ………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

Assessment: