THEORY: LITERARY SOURCES

In this folder here you can find texts to read in relation to a number of subjects and themes below. Some of these files are too large to upload to the blog here so go to the folder below.

M:\Radio\Departments\Photography\Students\YR 13 OBSERVE, SEEK, CHALLENGE 2024-2025\Essay tools\READING

Photography Histories
Identities > Codes > Meaning

Well, L (2002) ‘Roland Barthes: Extracts from Camera Lucida’ in The Photography Reader. London: Routledge.
– You can also read the entire book here.

Barthes, R. (1977). ‘The Photographic Message’ in Image, Music, Text. London: Fontana Press

Well, L (2002). Extracts from The Work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction’ in The Photography Reader. London: Routledge.

– Read full text here in Benjamin, W. (1936) ‘The Work of Art in an Age of Mechanical Reproduction’ in Hannah Arendt (ed) (1973) Illuminations. London: Fontana Press

Campany, D. (2004) ‘Thinking and not thinking photography’. Engage 14 (Winter) The Photographic: 7:12. London.

Stahel, U. (2003) Well, What is Photography? Zurich: Scale.

Wells L. (1998). ‘Thinking about Photography’ in Photography: A Critical Introduction. London: Routledge.

Documentary Photography
Realism > Representation > Ethics

A short PPT on Documentary Photography

Wells L. (1998). ‘The Photograph as Document’ in Photography: A Critical Introduction. London: Routledge.

Bull, S. (2009), ‘The Photograph as Document’ in Photography. London: Routledge.

Bate, David (2016) ‘The Art of the Document’ in Art Photography. London: Tate Galleries.
– A text about how documentary photography now is considered within a fine-art context

Sontag, S. (1977) ‘In Plato’s cave’ in On Photography. London: Penguin Books.

Sontag, S. (1977) ‘Through a Glass Darkly’ in On Photography. London: Penguin Books.

Here some helpful resources on Sontag: On Photography from PhotoPedagogy

Rosler, Martha (1981) ‘In, around, and afterthoughts (on documentary photography)’ in Stallabras Julian (2013) Documentary. Cambridge (MA): The MIT Press.

Here is an introduction to Tagg, John (1998): A Burden of Representation. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.

Photojournalism in Crisis in ‘ ‘

Shah, S (July 18 2008). Max Pinckers Interview: On Speculative Documentary [online]. Available at: https://americansuburbx.com/2018/07/max-pinckers-interview-speculative-documentary.html. [Accessed date accessed].
– A text about how fact and fiction today in documentary photography is blurred.

Solomon-Godeau, A. (1994), ‘Inside/ Out’ in Photography At The Dock: Essays on Photographic History, Institutions, and Practices. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.

Here some helpful resources on ethical questions regarding the photographer’s position of being inside or outside from PhotoPedagogy.

Hall, S. (2019). ‘Representation‘ in Dixon, M. Media Theory for A-Level Students. London: Routledge.

Photography and Truth

Photography and Truth – see blog post with many resources.

Bright, S. (2019) Is it Real? in Photography Decoded. London: Tate Galleries.

See more short essays here in Photography Decoded

Photography & Truth

Issues in Photojournalism

Photojournalism: Truth, Representation, Propaganda, Aesthetics

Richard Billingham

Richard Billingham: Ray’s A Laugh – a photographer who worked on the inside documenting his parents life and relationship.

Interview Richard Billingham

Documentary film: Fish Tank based on his book and parents relationship

Feature film: Ray & Liz

Interview in The Guardian and The Observer by Tim Adams (2019)

Larry Sultan

a Review in the Guardian Newspaper.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/may/02/larry-sultan-pictures-from-home-review

Tableaux Photography
Pictorialism > Narrative > Cinema

A short PPT on Tableaux Photography

Bull, S. (2009), ‘The Photograph as Art’ in Photography. London: Routledge.

Bate, D. (2016) ‘Pictorual Turn’ in Art Photography. London: Tate Galleries.
a text about how Tableaux has been influenced by Pictorialism.

Bright, S. (2005). ‘Narrative’ in Art Photography Now. New York: Aperture.

Cotton, C. (2009). ‘Once Upon a Time’ in The Photograph as Contemporary Art. London: Thames & Hudson.

Photography and Family
Family albums > childhood > memories

Bull, S. (2009), ‘Phototherapy: The Family Album and Beyond‘ in Photography. London: Routledge.

Kuhn, A. ‘Remembrance: The Child I Never Was’ in Wells, L. (ed) (2003) The Photography Reader. London: Routledge

Hirsch, Marianne, Family Frames: Photography, Narrative and Postmemory. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. Read Introduction: Family Frames.

There is a set of excellent texts on the photography and family, but there are all too large files to be uploaded on the blog – find text here:

M:\Radio\Departments\Photography\Students\YR 13 OBSERVE, SEEK, CHALLENGE 2024-2025\Essay tools\READING

Howarth, S. (2016) ‘Is My Family Normal?’ in Family Photography Now. London: Thames & Hudson.

McLaren, S. (2016), ‘Thanks for Sharing!’, in Family Photography Now. London: Thames & Hudson

Williams, V. (2013). ‘Who’s Looking at the Family, Now’ in Family Politics, Issue 20. Brighton: Photoworks.

Photography and Memory

Kuhn, A. (2003). ‘Remembrance: The Child I Never Was’ in Wells L. (ed) The Photography Reader. London: Routledge

Here are a few online articles and photobooks on Photography and its relationship with memory. You should read them and references them in your essay.

Colberg, J (May 28, 2012) Photography and Memory
blogger on Conscientious

Anwandter, P. M. (26 April 2006), ‘Frames of Mind: Photography, Memory and Identity’. CUREJ – College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal (https://bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/portfolio.newschool.edu/dist/2/14941/files/2017/06/FRAMESofMIDNSfulltext-1rxpsdp.pdf) [Accessed Date Accessed]
– In Frames of Mind, I have sought to explore the themes concerning the dynamic construction of memory. What do we choose to remember and how do we reinforce it? Who are we in relationship to who we were? Working with a collection of over five hundred images accumulated throughout my life, I have reinvestigated the images and their interrelationship with one another.

A Matter of Memory: Photographs as Objects in the Digital Age 
An exhibition at George Eastman House
– Read a review on British Journal of Photography for a different perspective on the exhibition

Barthes, R (1982) Camera Lucida, London: Jonathan Cape

Overview of Barthes book Camera Lucida in Photo Pedagogy
The first half of this article talks about Barthes theory of a studium and punctum. The latter part about a photograph of his dead mother which allows him to think about memory.
Commentary on Barthes book

Rereading: Camera Lucida by Roland Barthes
Article by Brian Dillon in the Guardian, 26 March 2011
Grieving for his mother, Roland Barthes looked for her in old photos – and wrote a curious, moving book that became one of the most influential studies of photography

DEATH IN THE PHOTOGRAPH – critical article in response to Roland Barthes seminal book ‘Camera Lucida’ reflecting on photography.

Photography and Portraiture
Photographic gaze > Self-portraiture

Wells L. (1998). ‘The Photographic Gaze’ in Photography: A Critical Introduction. London: Routledge.

Kelly, A. (1998). ‘Self Image: Personal is Political’ in Photography: A Critical Introduction. London: Routledge.

Jones, A. (2002). ‘The Eternal Return: Self-Portrait Photography as Technology of Embodiment’ in Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society (Vol. 27: Number 4). Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Rudd, N. (2021), The Self-Portrait. London: Thames & Hudson.
– too large a file to be uploaded to blog – find text here:

M:\Radio\Departments\Photography\Students\YR 13 OBSERVE, SEEK, CHALLENGE 2024-2025\Essay tools\READING

Photography and Feminism
Gender Studies > Male/Female Gaze > Girlhood > Youth

See blog post below with introduction to key thinkers and theories around the photographic gaze:

Mulvey, L. (1973) ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’ in Screen (1975)

Judith Butler is an academic and writer who is an authority on feminism and gender studies, incl queer theory. Her seminal book is: Gender Trouble which we do have a copy of in the Library LRC and in Media. Here is a good overview of her work – make sure you read it all and watch video as well.

Butler, J. (2019). ‘Gender as Performance: Judith Butler’ in Dixon, M. Media Theory for A-Level Students. London: Routledge.

van Zoomen, L. (2019). ‘Feminist Theory’ in Dixon, M. Media Theory for A-Level Students. London: Routledge.

Jansen, C. (2017). Girl on Girl: Art and Photography in the Age of the Female Gaze. London: Laurence King Publishing.

Avgikos, J (2002) ‘Cindy Sherman: Burning Down the House’ in Well, L. The Photography Reader. London: Routledge.

Wells L. (1998). ‘The Subject as Object: Photography and the Human Body’ in Photography: A Critical Introduction. London: Routledge.

Kotz, L. (1998) ‘”Aesthetics” of Intimacy’ in Bright, D. (1998) The Passionate Camera: Photography and bodies of desire. London: Routledge

Healy, C. M. (2023) Girlhood, London: Tate Enterprises Ltd.
Part 1
Part 2

Robert Mapplethorpe: The Male Gaze – in pictures. The Guardian

Justine Kurland

Bengal, R. (2020) ‘The Jeremys’ in Girl Pictures. New York: Aperture
– see book in the classroom

Kurland, J. (July 14 2020). Justine Kurland Reflects on Her Photographs of Teenage Girl Runaways. New York: Aperture

Jim Goldberg

Goldberg, J. (5 `May 2005) A Completely True Work of Fiction: Jim Goldberg’s Raised By Wolves. Magnum Photos: (https://www.magnumphotos.com/arts-culture/art/jim-goldberg-raised-by-wolves/). [Accessed Date Accessed]

Goldberg, J. (2 June 2021). Fingerprint: Tracing the Roots of Jim Goldberg’s Raised by Wolves. Magnum Photos: (https://www.magnumphotos.com/theory-and-practice/fingerprint-tracing-roots-jim-goldbergs-raised-by-wolves/) [Accessed Date Accessed]

Raised by Wolves video

Cindy Sherman

Paoli, J (2008). Deconstruction Woman: The works of Cindy Sherman. Bon À Tirer: The Western Undergraduate Journal of Art History and Visual Culture.

Cain, A. (2 June 2016), A Brief History of Cindy Sherman and Feminism [online]. Artsy Net: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-is-cindy-sherman-a-feminist. [Accessed Date Accessed]

Owen, S. R. (2014) Gender and Vision Through the Lens of Cindy Sherman and the Pictures Generation. Vermont: University of Vermont

Lots of interviews and video and with Cindy Sherman on MOMA

Have a look at Shan’s O’Donnell’s work here and when she was an A-level student?

In addition to the above digital/ online articles there are 4 excellent essays published in the book:

Cruz, A, A.T. Smith, E. and Jones, A. (1997). Cindy Sherman: Retrospective. Chicago: Museum of Contemporary Art.

We have the book in the classroom and you can find essays as pdfs here:

M:\Radio\Departments\Photography\Students\YR 13 OBSERVE, SEEK, CHALLENGE 2024-2025\Essay tools\READING

Francesca Woodman

Townsend, C. (2006) Francesca Woodman: Scattered in Space and Time. London: Phaidon Press Limited.
– A set of excellent essays on Woodman’s work, but too large files to be uploaded to blog – find text here:

M:\Radio\Departments\Photography\Students\YR 13 OBSERVE, SEEK, CHALLENGE 2024-2025\Essay tools\READING

Online texts:

Reines, A. (4 April 2013). ‘An Hourglass Figure: On Photographer Francesca Woodman’ [online]. Los Angeles Review of Books: (https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/an-hourglass-figure-on-photographer-francesca-woodman/) [Accessed Date Accessed]

Miller, C. (13 April 2016). The Dream of Reason: On Photographer Francesca Woodman. Electric Lit: (https://electricliterature.com/the-dream-of-reason-on-photographer-francesca-woodman/) [Accessed Date Accessed]

Moza, A. Thematic Essay about Francesca Woodman. Published on Academia (https://www.academia.edu/26422622/Thematic_Essay_about_Francesca_Woodman) [Accessed Date Accessed]
– You may have to setup an account to download. There are many other excellent essays on Woodman published and in many other subject areas.

Have a look at an essay and research by previous student, Francesca Hogan

Jo Spence and Photo-therapy

Martin, R and Spence, J. (2002) ‘Photo-Therapy: Psychic Realism as a healing art’ in Well, L. The Photography Reader. London: Routledge.

Jo Spence Memorial Library. London: Birkbeck: University of London.

Dennett, T. (2008): Jo Spence’s camera therapy: personal therapeutic photography as a response to adversity European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling (Volume 11, 2009 – Issue 1: Phototheraphy and Therapeutic Photography)

Heath, C. (2017). Work, Politics, Survival, British Journal of Photography

Weiser, J. (2005) Remembering Jo Spence: A Brief Personal and Professional Memoir… PhotoTherapy Centre

Jansen, C. (2020) Is Photography An Effective Form of Therapy? Elephant

Dennett, T. (2013). ‘Jo Spence’s Family Album’ in Family Politics, Issue 20. Brighton: Photoworks

Snapshot Photography
Vernacular photography

Bull, S. (2009), ‘Snapshots’ in Photography. London: Routledge.

Zuromski, C. (2009) . ‘On Snapshot Photography: Rethinking Photographic Powers in Public and Private Spheres’ in J.J. Long, Andrea Noble, Edward Welch, Photography: Theoretical Snapshots. London: Routledge.

Aesthetic Theory
Beauty > Sublimity > Judgement

The Concept of the Aesthetic

Read Greek philosopher Plato’s thesis on Beauty and Aesthetics.

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/beauty/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-aesthetics/

Landscape
Romanticism/ Sublime > Modernism/beauty >
Post-modernism/ New Topographics

Colin Pantall Landscape, Power and Climate Change

Landscape as Photograph and Photograph as Landscape: The New Topographies
Author(s): SHELLEY ARMITAGE
Source: Southwest Review , AUTUMN 1989, Vol. 74, No. 4 (AUTUMN 1989), pp. 422-465

Adams, R (1996), Beauty in Photography, New York: Aperture
Read chapter 1 of same name

The Sublime

J. M. W. Turner’s painting: Snow Storm Steam Boat of Harbour’s Mouth https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-snow-storm-steam-boat-off-a-harbours-mouth-n00530

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/s/sublime

Youtube on Burke/ Sublime:
https://youtu.be/BvzG_p_sdOQ

This article picks out key elements of Burke’s theory of the Sublime and also includes an analysis of painting by Casper David Friedrich: https://natureofwriting.com/courses/literary-theory-1/lessons/edmund-burke/topic/the-sublime/

Photography and Typology

Lange, S. (2017). Bernd & Hilla Becher – Typology. Munich: Schirmer Mosel Verlag.

Too large files to upload on blog – see Part and Part 2 in folder on M:drive below

Schreier, C. (1996) August Sander. London: National Portrait Gallery.

M:\Radio\Departments\Photography\Students\YR 13 OBSERVE, SEEK, CHALLENGE 2024-2025\Essay tools\READING

Doblin, A. (2008). August Sander: Face of Our Time. Munich: Schirmer/ Mosel

Photography and Anthropology
Ethnography > colonialism

Ethnography and Photography: What Kind of Collaborations for What Kind of Communications?

Bull, S (2009), ‘Classification by Observation: Anthropology and Colonialism‘ in Photography. London: Routledge

Edwards, E. (1992), Anthropology & Photography 1860-1920. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

Warner Marien, M. (2006), ‘Photography and the Social Sciences’ in Photography: A Cultural History. London: Lawrence King Publishing

Sealy, M. (2019), Docolonising the Camera: Photography in Racial Time. Chawell Heath: Lawrence and Wishart Ltd.

Find all three texts above here: M:\Radio\Departments\Photography\Students\YR 13 OBSERVE, SEEK, CHALLENGE 2024-2025\Essay tools\READING

Photography and Movement

Making Modernism: Muybridge and Marey, Photoworks

Marey and Chronophotography
https://www.artforum.com/print/197607/marey-and-chronophotography-37960

Latsis. D. (2015) Landscape in Motion: Muybridge and the Origins of Chronophotography. Film History , Vol. 27, No. 3 (2015), pp. 1-40. Indiana: Indiana University Press

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/filmhistory.27.3.1

Read chapters in books which are in the classroom:

Frizot, M (1998), A New History of Photography. Cologne: Könemann. Read Ch 14: Speed of Photography

Warner Marien, M. (2002) Photography: A Cultural History. London: Lawrence King. Read chapter Science and Photography: The photography and Movement (pg 212-217)

Photography and Surrealism – influence of Freudian psychoanalysis

Bull, S. (2009) Photography. London: Routledge

Surrealism Art Movement: A Window into the Mind

Surrealism and Psychoanalysis – Smarthistory

Surrealism and Psychoanalysis

One photographer’s surrealist impression of mental illness

Photography: Postcolonialism, Postmodernism, Semiotics

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