HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Course objectives

The course offers a general overview of the events that took place during the history of photography of the nineteenth century in our day, together with the basic tools for understanding current historiographical paths and critically approaching some methodological issues and some thematic analysis. The course also allows students to understand the development of contemporary history, as well as to deal in greater depth and autonomously - in the following years - the study of topics and specific issues of the discipline.

Channel 1
ILARIA SCHIAFFINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course provides principal topics of the history of Photography, with particular reference to contemporary art, and to introduce key theoretical issues on photography.
Prerequisites
It is recommended that students take at least one exam in Contemporary Art History
Books
Books for taking the exam: Federica Muzzarelli, L'invenzione del fotografico, Einaudi 2014 Claudio Marra, Fotografia e pittura nel Novecento (e oltre), Pearson 2022. Additional readings and lecture PowerPoint presentations are uploaded on Moodle, while the materials related to the project (Workshop: Reading Photography) are available on Google Classroom.
Frequency
Attendance is optional. Non-attending students will supplement the program with additional bibliography
Exam mode
Attending students: oral exam (75%); project “Reading Photography” (25%). Non attending students: oral exam (100%). The project “Reading Photography” will be presented in class at the end of the lesson and submitted on Google Classroom in both PowerPoint and Word formats.
Lesson mode
Lectures and exercises will be conducted in the classroom and outdoors (guided tours)
ILARIA SCHIAFFINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course provides principal topics of the history of Photography, with particular reference to contemporary art, and to introduce key theoretical issues on photography.
Prerequisites
It is recommended that students take at least one exam in Contemporary Art History
Books
Books for taking the exam: Federica Muzzarelli, L'invenzione del fotografico, Einaudi 2014 Claudio Marra, Fotografia e pittura nel Novecento (e oltre), Pearson 2022. Additional readings and lecture PowerPoint presentations are uploaded on Moodle, while the materials related to the project (Workshop: Reading Photography) are available on Google Classroom.
Frequency
Attendance is optional. Non-attending students will supplement the program with additional bibliography
Exam mode
Attending students: oral exam (75%); project “Reading Photography” (25%). Non attending students: oral exam (100%). The project “Reading Photography” will be presented in class at the end of the lesson and submitted on Google Classroom in both PowerPoint and Word formats.
Lesson mode
Lectures and exercises will be conducted in the classroom and outdoors (guided tours)
  • Lesson code1051820
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseStudies in Art History
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDL-ART/03
  • CFU6