Readings in Photography:
Contemporary Mexican Photography

a syllabus

In development
PHOT 4610
© Bill Barrett 2005

Feedback (general opinions, problems, suggestions, etc.) on this hypersyllabus is encouraged! Bookmark this, but don't rely on printing it out. It is very likely that this page will be updated in the course of the semester.

Photography in Mexico has been getting more and more attention in recent years, probably due in part to several popular films. Nevertheless, most North Americans have no idea how important and influential photography and photographers have been in the Mexico’s cultural life and politics. This readings course will lead students into some of the worlds explored by Mexican photographers in recent decades, from the magical to the political, from documentaries to the surreal. An additional credit in “languages across the curriculum” for students who read Spanish can be available. Ask about that if you're interested.

Class attendance is important for this course. It is critical that you be prepared for our discussions. Assignments must be completed on schedule.

Required Text:
Debroise, Olivier. Mexican suite: a history of photography in Mexico. (Austin : University of Texas Press, 2001.)

Other texts and monographs that we will use include:
 Alvarez Bravo, Manuel. Manuel Alvarez Bravo: 100 years, 100 days. (Mexico City: Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y      las Artes, 2001).
Garduño, Flor. Flor Garduño: inner light. (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 2002.)
___________. Witnesses of time. (NY: Aperture, 2000.)
Hernández-Claire, José. De sol a sol. (Guadalajara: Universidad de Guadalajara, 1997).
Iturbide, Graciela. India, México: vientos paralelos. (Madrid: Turner, 2002).
Meyer, Pedro. Truths & fictions: a journey from documentary to digital photography. (NY: Aperture, 1995).
Newhall, Nancy (ed.). The Daybooks of Edward Weston, Volume I, Mexico. (NY: Aperture, 1990).
Todd, Connie (curator). El ojo fino/The exquisite eye. (San Marcos, Tex.: Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican      Photography, 2003).
Ziff, Trisha (ed.). Between worlds: contemporary Mexican photography. (NY: New Amsterdam Books, 1990).

How you're graded: Your final grade is based on your performance throughout the semester. Your attendance and active participation count for 50%; a research paper counts for 25%; discussion you lead counts for 15%; a final exam counts for 10%. Doing more than required can earn you extra credit; talk to me outside class if you're interested. This is what the grades mean...

What we're doing:

(Coming soon)