Photography Art History

Interdisciplinary Media Art Practices (IMAP) encompasses photo imaging, video, digital, sound, performance and related approaches to technology based art. This area embraces critical art practice from analog to digital, historical to cutting edge and everything in between.

Photography is an internationally renowned, progressive, future-oriented and coordinated graduate and undergraduate discipline that emphasizes the development of creative work, experimental research and teaching. The discipline conducts a rigorous investigation into the nature and meaning of photographic representation and its role in contemporary cultural discourse. Students are expected to demonstrate commitment to expressive inquiry, maturity of vision and take responsibility for their professional development as artists. There is a strong emphasis on crossdisciplinary exploration.

The discipline provides a thorough grounding in traditional media as well as ample opportunities to explore new media forms and techniques in conjunction with historical photographic processes. Interaction with other areas in the department and across the campus promotes interdisciplinary studies. There is a broad and progressive approach to the practice and definition of photography, encouraging students to question and expand the boundaries of the medium.

A vigorous art history component, supported by one of the finest photography book collections in the world, is required. Courses in all aspects of photography, alternative processes, video, digital media, Internet art installation and performance, bookmaking, desktop and online publishing, and new media theory are available to optimize personal growth, skills acquisition, and creative expression. Faculty show their art work internationally, including recent shows at the Venice Biennale, the Whitney Biennial, and Videobrasil and have been recipients of major fellowships including NEA & Guggenheim.