Università Roma Tre

This lecture class offers an introduction to the history of photographic languages, practices, and cultures from the origins to the end of the 19th century. Lectures will focus on the "close reading" of different types of photographic texts (including individual images, series, photo-texts, books, and exhibitions) and will discuss case studies associated with the crucial moments in the medium's affirmation as an intellectual and artistic field.

Reference text:
- A. Gunthert, M. Poivert, Storia della fotografia dalle origini ai giorni nostri, Electa, Milano 2009 (or. ed. 2007), pp. 10-301;

Further materials will be provided in class.

Regular attendance is warmly suggested. A basic knowledge of Modern History and Modern Art History is required.

Distant learning
Students who cannot attend on a regular basis must inform the instructor of their distant learning status by March 15, 2020. In any case, they are warmly advised to set up at least one appointment with the instructor during their study period, in order to discuss class objectives and learning strategies.

For the final exam, distant learning students are responsible for the following text, including all photographs and artworks reproduced therein:
- A. Gunthert, M. Poivert, Storia della fotografia dalle origini ai giorni nostri, Electa, Milano 2009 (or. ed. 2007), pp. 10-301;
- W. Guadagnini (a cura di), La fotografia. Le origini 1839-1890, Skira, Ginevra-Milano 2011, pp. 34-111, 144-199, 200-225, 226-277;
- M. Mozzo, Note sulla documentazione fotografica in Italia nella seconda metà dell’Ottocento, tra tutela, restauro e catalogazione, in Arti e storia nel Medioevo, vol. IV, E. Castelnuovo, G. Sergi (eds), Il Medioevo al passato e al presente (Turin: Einaudi, 2004), pp. 847-870.