Contemporary Photography and Art 1

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Code Completion Credits Range Language of instruction Semester
307ECON1 exam 4 2 lecture hours (45 min) of instruction per week, 82 to 102 hours of self-study English

Subject guarantor

Tomáš DVOŘÁK

Name of lecturer(s)

Tomáš DVOŘÁK, Josef LEDVINA, Noemi PURKRÁBKOVÁ

Department

The subject provides Department of Photography

Contents

To complete the course, students must submit two written assignments – one short (2–3 pages) in the middle of the semester and another final paper (5–10 pages) at the end of the semester (standard page = 1,800 characters including spaces). An oral exam consisting of a discussion of the two submitted texts follows.

For the shorter written assignment (due November 9), students will prepare a reflection of an exhibition, which they will analyze and/or critique.

The final seminar paper (due January 4) may relate directly to the topic of the future bachelor's thesis and/or to one of the topics or readings covered. The use of relevant academic sources and literature is required, as well as formatting that meets the standards of a bachelor's thesis. We recommend consulting the theme of the paper with one of the instructors before writing the text.

5. 10.

Introduction

12. 10.

The Image as a Tool and the Image as a Work of Art

reading:

Noë, Alva. 2016. Strange Tools: Art and Human Nature. New York: Hill and Wang.

(read especially part III).

19. 10.

Legacy of the Avant-Garde: the Question of Autonomy and Instrumentality of the Work of Art

reading:

Bürger, Peter. Theory of the Avant-Garde. Translated by Michael Shaw. Manchester University Press, 1984. (especially chapter On the Problem of the Autonomy of Art in Bourgeois Society, pp. 35-54).

26. 10.

DEEPFAKE!!!: From Epistemic Vigilance to Paranoia

reading:

McKenzie-McHarg, Andrew. “Experts versus eyewitnesses. Or, how did conspiracy theories come to rely on images?”. Word & image. 35, no. 2 (2019): 141-158.

2. 11.

Cute pictures in a gallery and on social networks

reading:

May, Simon. 2019. The Power of Cute. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

9. 11.

Regeneration week

16. 11.

Institutional Critique and Institutionalization of Photography

reading:

Krauss, R. (1982). “Photography’s Discursive Spaces: Landscape/View”. Art Journal, 42(4), 311–319.

https://monoskop.org/images/6/6b/Krauss_Rosalind_1982_Photographys_Discursive_Spaces_Landscape_View.pdf

23. 11.

Order, Form, Pattern / Randomness, Formlessness, Chaos

reading:

Bois, Yve-Alain, and Rosalind Krauss. Formless: A User's Guide. Zone Books, 1997. (zejména úvodní kapitola The Use Value of "Formless”, s. 13-40)

30. 11.

Authentic, Superficial and Authentically Superficial: Strategies of Contemporary Performance

reading:

Claire Bishop, “Outsourcing Authenticity? Delegated Performance in Contemporary Art”, in Double Agent, eds. Claire Bishop and Silvia Tramontana, London: ICA, 2008, pp 110-125.

https://monoskop.org/images/1/19/Bishop_Claire_2008_Outsourcing_Authenticity_Delegated_Performance_in_Contemporary_Art.pdf

7. 12.

The Politics and Aesthetics of Obsolescence: Analog Photography in the Digital Age

reading:

Iversen, Margaret. “Analogue: On Zoe Leonard and Tacita Dean”. In Photography, Trace, and Trauma. University of Chicago Press, 2019.

14. 12.

Umění a antropocén: případ Plasty

Kane, Carolyn L. “Plastic Shine: From Prosaic Miracle to Retrograde Sublime”. E-flux Journal 65, May, 2015. https://www.e-flux.com/journal/65/336456/plastic-shine-from-prosaic-miracle-to-retrograde-sublime/.

21. 12.

Consultations

Learning outcomes

The student is oriented in contemporary art, understands contemporary theories of art and photography, is able to think about photography in the context of current discussions about technical images and is able to reflect on some of the topics discussed in his/her own creative work.

Prerequisites and other requirements

-

Literature

Evaluation methods and criteria

To complete the course, students must submit two written assignments – one short (2–3 pages) in the middle of the semester and another final paper (5–10 pages) at the end of the semester (standard page = 1,800 characters including spaces). An oral exam consisting of a discussion of the two submitted texts follows.

For the shorter written assignment (due November 9), students will prepare a reflection of an exhibition, which they will analyze and/or critique.

The final seminar paper (due January 4) may relate directly to the topic of the future bachelor's thesis and/or to one of the topics or readings covered. The use of relevant academic sources and literature is required, as well as formatting that meets the standards of a bachelor's thesis. We recommend consulting the theme of the paper with one of the instructors before writing the text.

Note

-

Schedule for winter semester 2026/2027:

06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon
room LAZ-129
Room 129
(Lažanský palác)
LEDVINA J.
PURKRÁBKOVÁ N.
09:50–11:25
(lecture parallel1)
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Date Day Time Tutor Location Notes No. of paralel
Mon 09:50–11:25 Josef LEDVINA
Noemi PURKRÁBKOVÁ		 Room 129
Lažanský palác		 lecture parallel1

Schedule for summer semester 2026/2027:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans