Course:
ADM 341 – Photography for the Media
Semester: Fall 2014
Instructor: Prof. Neri Fadigati
Class Location: Classroom
X, Via dei Velluti, 19
Class Meeting Time: Thursday: 9:00a.m-12:30p.m.
Office
Hours: Individual meetings available
every week after class
Email: info@nerifadigati.it
VLE (Virtual Learning
Environment: Blackboard
will provide the Virtual Learning Environment from Fall 2014 onwards, and can
be accessed via the portal (https://my.richmond.ac.uk/)
This syllabus should
be read in conjunction with the Course Specification Document; the University Catalogue; and the relevant Programme
Specification (via the University’s website http://www.richmond.ac.uk)
Course
Description
Recommended
for communications and journalism majors as well as photographers, this course
develops knowledge and experience in photojournalism and documentary
photography by studying work of major practitioners, and designing and shooting
projects using digital equipment. Students need to provide a digital camera of
at least 7 mega pixel and a laptop. There is a fee of 60 Euro for developing.
Prerequisites: None
Aims
And Objectives
The
course aims to analyse the working style of great masters of documentary
photography. Students will be requested to do their own researches, presenting
in class photos taken by the studied photographers.
The course aims to
involve students in developing four photojournalistic projects:
1) Portraying Florence
from a personal point of view;
2) Focusing on the
differences between the American and the European way of life
3) Developing a picture
story on The Italians, that will
include headline and captions.
4) Focusing on a specific
theme connected with Italian society and culture, as chosen by the individual
student and relevant as a journalistic assignment.
The overall objective
of the course is to enable the students to set up a project in the form of an
article, including photos, headline and captions.
Learning
Outcomes
At the end
of this course, successful students are expected to:
1. Demonstrate a competent
use of the digital SLR camera.
Threshold (to
get a C):
The student will demonstrate a basic competence, both in theory and in
practice, in the understanding of black & white photographic skills
including exposure controls, focusing and composing effective photographs.
Assessment Method: in
Mid-Term Check Test, Assignments 1 and Mid-Term Project.
2. Demonstrate an understanding
of the concepts of narrative in photography and some familiarity with its
historical and contemporary practitioners
Threshold (to
get a C): The student will demonstrate basic
competence in identifying and critically considering a range of photographic
artists whose ideas and technique provide stimulus for creative production.
Assessment Method: Presentation of
Artist’s Work, Final Check Test, Assignment 4/Final Project
3. Demonstrate a
constructive self-criticism of their photographic work.
Threshold (to
get a C):
The student will develop to a level of basic competence a critical methodology
and discourse in response to discussion of other artist’s work, their own work
and the work of fellow students.
Assessment Method: Assignments 3 & 4, Photo
presentation.
4.
Demonstrate the first stages in the process of developing
a personal vision.
Threshold (to
get a C): The student will produce a thematic
body of technically and conceptually competent photographic images.
Assessment Method: Assignment 4 (Final Project)
5.
Plan, organize & perform a
photojournalistic/documentary project
Threshold (to get a
C): the student should demonstrate to be able to cover different kind of
assignments, a press photo assignment as well as a documentary project. This will be assessed in Assignments
and Final Project
6.
Demonstrate a working knowledge of
the history of photojournalism and fine art photography in the 20th
Century.
Threshold (to get a
C): the student should be able to
identify the main styles established in both USA and Europe in the 1900s, as
well as the work of some of the most important photojournalists and documentary
photographers. He will also be asked to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the
use of the photographic medium in contemporary art.
Assessment Method: Final
Project
Indicative Content:
· Site visits
· How the camera works
· Exposure, controlling
motion and depth of field
· Outdoor practical work
· Elements of composition
· File management: editing and adjusting
· How to ‘read’ an image
· History of Photography
· Press photography
· Critical and analytical
strategies
·
Presenting your work: statement,
presentation and portfolio
Programme outcomes are listed in
the programme specifications found at http://www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-schools/academic-registry/program-and-course-specifications.aspx
Teaching Methods
Method
used will be experimental, through theoretical lectures, practical
demonstrations, slide shows, visits of photo exhibitions, field trips, videos,
collective critiques, photo magazines and books readings, constant interaction
professor/student. The class will meet once a week for twelve weeks, for a
total of 45 contact hours. The course will consist of theoretical lectures and
practical work on location each week. Two assignments given by the professor
and the mid-term check test will count as mid-term examination, a third project
given by the professor, a final project chosen by the student and the final
portfolio will count as final examination. Students will work with film, every
week the best photos taken will be enlarged to form the final portfolio.
Assessment Criteria
The
final grade for the course will be compounded from the following:
Criteria Weighting
Portfolio 30 %
(best
photographs taken during the entire semester,
including
assignment 1 and 2)
Mid Term Project 30 %
Final
Project 40 %
____________________________________________________
TOTAL 100%
The instructor will give two assignments. Mid-term
project: consist of taking a series of pictures grade focusing on the differences
between the American and the European way of life. The Final project will be on a theme
chosen by each student individually and agreed upon with the instructor.
First
Assignment: “Portraying Florence from a
personal point of view”,
due on October 02.
It
consists of presenting six photos (.jpg) in a folder under student name; title
and short explanation text (10 lines approx. printed)
Second
Assignment: “The Italians”, due on October 30
It
consists of presenting six photos (.jpg) in a folder under student name; title
and short explanation text (10 lines approx. printed)
Mid-term
project: (October 16) - 30% of final grade.
“Focusing on the differences between the American and the
European way of life”.
The
exam consists of: presenting six photos (.jpg) in a folder under
student name; title and short explanation text (10 lines approx. printed)
Final project (December 4) - 40%
of final grade.
The
exam consists of: presenting a project on a topic chosen by the student; the
theme has to be relevant as a journalistic assignment. Possibly, it will be
connected with Italian society and culture. Each student will set up the
project in the form of an article that will incorporate headline, captions and
a short text (it must be in the 1,800/2,500 character ranges, spaces included;
to check this go to: File>Properties>Statistics). The article will
include eight photos and will be at least four pages long. Students have to hand in: the eight photos in the form of .jpeg files;
the article saved as a PDF file; the copy of the article, printed on paper and
stapled. It counts for 40% of the final course grade.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL POHOTOS
WILL BE TRANFERED THROUGH USB DRIVES THE SCHOOL WILL PROVIDE. EMAIL TRANSFERING
IS NOT ACCEPTED.
All assessment
criteria conform with Assessment Norms (Special
Programme Assessment Norms for ADD PROGRAMME) found at https://my.richmond.ac.uk/Uniorg/policies_and_procedures/default.aspx)
This class follows the Late Submission of Coursework
Policy and Feedback Normas outlined below and found at https://my.richmond.ac.uk/Uniorg/policies_and_procedures/default.aspx
Please
note that according to faculty academic resolution for no reason students are
allowed to take tests or submit projects at date different from those
scheduled.
Marking
Scheme
The requirements for each piece of assessed work are clearly
specified in the assignment details. However, the following general criteria
apply to all work:
|
Descriptor
|
Alpha
Grade
|
Equivalent
GPA
|
Detailed Descriptor
|
|
Excellent
|
A
A-
|
4.0
3.7
|
Grade A applies only to the
exceptional piece of work which:
· demonstrates that
substantial work and thought has been involved.
· exhibits meaning or
cogent argument.
· demonstrates a high
level of creativity and is well supported by strong
evidence of visual and other research.
Outstanding work: A
Superior work: A-
|
|
Good
|
B+
B
B-
|
3.3
3.0
2.7
|
Grade B applies to work which:
· has been completed
with a degree of diligence and thoroughness which
has evidently aimed to get the most learning out of the project.
· goes beyond
superficialities and seeks a more questioning, analytical and thoughtful
solution.
· goes beyond basic
required levels of visual and other research.
· indicates an
increasing ability to incorporate meaning into the work and understand key
theories, debates and criticisms.
Work approaching an A category:
B+
Very good work: B
Good quality work: B-
|
|
Average
|
C+
C
C-
|
2.3
2.0
1.7
|
Grade C applies to work which:
· is basically
competent although undeveloped.
· fulfills the
requirements of the project at a foundation level in terms of its quality,
analysis and expression.
· shows an adequate
ability to work with the material/media and the skill to present the final
artwork coherently.
· incorporates an
acceptable level of research.
Work showing signs of reaching
above the average: C+ Average work: C
Work that is struggling to
achieve average standards: C-
|
|
Below Average/Poor
|
D+
D
D-
|
1.3
1.0
0.7
|
Grade D applies to work which:
· has been produced
without a proper understanding of the brief.
· is weak in content
and shows little evidence of thought or application.
· relies on weak or
superficial technique.
· incorporates
insufficient visual or other research.
Weak work: D+
Very poor work: D
Unsatisfactory work: D-
|
|
Fail
|
F
|
0
|
Grade F applies to work which:
· has not been
submitted or has been submitted beyond the project deadline.
· shows a complete
lack of content, thought or application.
· lacks any visual or
other research.
· is technically
incompetent.
· is the product of
academic dishonesty.
· does not fulfill the
brief.
Failing work: F
|
Other Academic
Information:
Students will be requested to take a check test on November 20.
Test will not be graded; it will be taken just as self-assessment, to do so
that students can understand their level of comprehension. They will also be
requested to do some on line researches.
Required Texts
There is
not a text book. Students will find a Course Reader at a copy store (cost 10,00
Euro). The copy store is: Lory, located in Piazza Frescobaldi, 3 minutes
walking from School. Students are also encouraged to write notes during
lectures.
Recommended Reading & Additional Resources
Roland
Barthes, Camera Lucida, Vintage, 1981
Susan
Sontag, On Photography, Penguin, 2001
John G.
Morris, Get the Picture, A Personal
History of Photojournalism, The University of Chicago Press, 2002
Various
Authors, In Our Time, The World as Seeing
by Magnum Photographers, W.W. Norton & Co., 1994
In Italian: Neri Fadigati, Il mestiere di vedere, introduzione al
fotogiornalismo, PLUS, 2009
Full
Course Schedule
September 11 - Introduction to the course. How camera works,
camera, lens, focal length and angle of view.
September 18 - Exposure, Law of Reciprocity, Controlling
Motion and Depth of Field.
First assignment given: “Portraying Florence from a personal point
of view”. Outdoor practical work, shooting in San Frediano.
September 25 - Iso number and Color balance. Field
trip to the “Boboli Gardens (Museum Card needed).
October 02
– First assignment critique.
Presentation
of six photos (.jpg) in a folder under student name; title and short
explanation text (10 lines approx. printed)
October 09 - Slide presentation: “Elements of
Composition”, Photographic seeing and Imaginary Photography. Field trip to the
“Bardini Gardens (Museum Card needed).
October 16
- Mid-Term Project:
Focusing
on the differences between the American and the European way of life. Presentation
of six photos (.jpg) in a folder under student name; title and short
explanation text (10 lines approx. printed).
October 23 - File managing: transferring, editing and
adjusting. Field trip to the Sant’Ambrogio Market. Second assignment given:
“The Italians”
October 30
–Second assignment critique.
Presentation
of six photos (.jpg) in a folder under student name; title and short
explanation text (10 lines approx. printed)
November 6 - No Class Field Trip to Rome.
November 13 - Videos and slides presentation: how to
read an image; the impact of visual communication in contemporary society. Editing
the Final Portfolio.
November 20 - Check test. Best 20 pictures taken
during the all semester are due to be printed. Students will hand them in via
USB drive, in a folder (student name portfolio).
November 27 - Program review. Matting the final
portfolio.
December 4
- Final Project
Final project (December 4) - 40%
of final grade.
The
exam consists of: presenting a project on a topic chosen by the student; the
theme has to be relevant as a journalistic assignment. Possibly, it will be
connected with Italian society and culture. Each student will set up the project
in the form of an article that will incorporate headline, captions and a short
text (it must be in the 1,800/2,500 character ranges, spaces included; to check
this go to: File>Properties>Statistics). The article will include eight
photos and will be at least four pages long. Students
have to hand in: the eight photos in the form of .jpeg files; the article saved
as a PDF file; the copy of the article, printed on paper and stapled.
REASONABLE CHANGES MAY BE MADE TO THE CONTENT OF THE
SYLLABUS. STUDENTS WILL BE
INFORMED IN WRITING OF ANY SUCH CHANGES.
All grades being used for
OU-validated degrees are subject to confirmation at the Final Assessment board.
Academic
Policies (see also: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-affairs/academic-policies.aspx)
Students must read and comply with
all the requirements of the regulations and policies listed at the weblinks
below.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is any
action by which a student in any academic exercise seeks to: claim credit
for the intellectual or artistic work of another person; or uses unauthorized
materials or fabricated information; or engages in an unauthorized editing
process.
You can find a list of
the actions that might lead to you committing academic dishonesty on the web
pages. If you are not sure about what would constitute dishonesty after reading
the full policy details you should ask for more information from the course instructor,
your academic advisor, another member of academic staff, the Writing Centre, or
Student Affairs.
Full
details of Richmond’s Academic Dishonesty policy are found at: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-affairs/academic-policies/academic-policies-non-compliance-and-exceptions.aspx
Students
who are academically dishonest will receive a penalty for the work in question
or the course as a whole (which may in turn impact upon their degree
classification), depending on the importance of the work to the overall course
grade and the judgment of the instructor and the relevant exam board.
The
Richmond Attendance Policy
Full details of Richmond’s
attendance and lateness policies are found at:
Attendance is required in all
courses. In any course, students who accumulate more than the permitted number
of absences, regardless of the reason, will receive an attendance failure
(grade of F) unless they withdraw from the course.
|
Course
timing
|
Limit
on absences before attendance failure
|
|
courses that meet twice a week
|
no more than 4 absences
|
|
courses that meet once a week
|
no more than 2 absences
|
|
Summer semester courses
|
no more than 2 absences
|
|
EAP Program
|
no more than 4 class sessions
|
Note: Students cannot withdraw from Italian
Language courses as they are mandatory!
Absence
Recording
Attendance is taken by instructors
in on-line registers within the university's student records system. Attendance in all courses is taken from
the first day of the semester, including Add/Drop week.
Students
must be aware that the University is obliged to report to the UK Border Agency
any student who is in the UK on a student visa, but who is not attending
classes regularly.
Students
should note in particular that illness does not automatically excuse an absence
from class. Any absence from a
class session does not exempt a student from the completion of all required
work for a course.
Students must also be aware of the requirements of the
Lateness to Classes and Examinations guidance.
Late
submission of academic work:
Any item of work submitted late
will be subject to an automatic deduction of one increment on the letter grade
scale (e.g. the grade will be reduced from B to B-, or from C- to D+) per day.
Any
coursework submitted more than one week (seven days) after the original
deadline will receive a grade of F.
Where
there are mitigating circumstances for the late submission the instructor must
be informed in advance, by email, and evidence provided to the instructor in writing when the course work is
submitted.
Feedback Norms
The university has defined expectations as to the
nature and timeliness of feedback on assigned work. Students should make themselves aware of these norms, and
they are located on the portal at:
https://my.richmond.ac.uk/Uniorg/policies_and_procedures/default.aspx
Examination Regulations:
Guidance on
examination regulations and expected behavior for students can be found at: (http://www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-affairs/academic-policies.aspx). However,
please note particularly the following University Policies:
Midterm
exams are normally held during the designated weeks published in the academic
calendar and distributed to students during Orientation. Any faculty
member wishing to hold a midterm on a different date requires the approval of
the Dean, and will inform students accordingly.
Final exams are held over a two-week
period following the last day of classes in the Fall and Spring
semesters. Exams may not be held in the same timeslots as class
sessions. The dates of the official exam period are published in advance
in the official academic calendar which is also distributed to students during
Orientation.
Students are responsible for remaining
in the study centre until the end of the official examination period – the
university reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the
schedule. Any such changes to the schedule will be centrally-administered
by the study centre directors and reported to students.
Students and instructors may not
make private arrangements to reschedule any University exams. Requests for an opportunity to re-sit
must be made to the Academic Progress Committee via the study centre Director.
Students
must bring photo ID cards to every examination.
Academic support
for studies:
The University Writing
Center and Language Workshop (based on the London campus) are available to all
students who want help with academic tasks.
Library staff can help
students with questions about research and/or accessing information. Book an
appointment with a librarian (library@richmond.it).
Study Centre students
may also access the electronic resources of the main Richmond campus
library. If you wish to be issued
with a username and password for this purpose, please contact librarian@richmond.ac.uk and/or boylv@richmond.ac.uk.
Students
with Disabilities:
The University makes a variety of
special provisions in exams and assessment for students with a diagnosed
learning disability. Students must follow the requirements outlined at http://www.richmond.ac.uk/content/student-affairs/students-with-disabilities.aspx for these arrangements to be made, and
it is important that this is done in good time. The student and their instructors
are informed of the provisions after they are approved, and reminders are sent
to students and invigilators shortly before the examinations.
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