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U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H |
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A newsletter devoted to the support of teaching and learning at the University of Pittsburgh |
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U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G H |
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A newsletter devoted to the support of teaching and learning at the University of Pittsburgh |
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Art and Photography for HA&A Majors
As one of the first instructors of an undergraduate art history course focusing on the history of early photography and the interaction between artists and photographers, Aaron Sheon, History of Art & Architecture, recognized the need for his project, a capstone course entitled Art and Photography for HA&A Majors, with a New Darkroom Laboratory: Practice in Historic Photographic Camera Techniques. Serving not only HA&A majors but also majors in studio arts and film studies, the course has three main goals: (1) to demonstrate the techniques of 19th century photography, (2) to stimulate critical thinking about the history of art and photography, and (3) to refine writing skills through analyses, observations and formal essays on early photography and its techniques. However, Sheon feels his course is important for an additional broader reason: to promote the widely held belief that all students have a capstone course to focus their majors’ courses and to distill the direction of scholarship in their fields. The course will be a seminar involving about 20 students who will engage in oral presentations and discussions. However, an additional exciting feature of the course will be the laboratory/darkroom component, through which students will discover the “magic” of taking, developing, and printing images in early 19th century techniques, including pinhole cameras and camera obscuras, daguerrreotypes, and salted paper prints. In addition to this hands-on laboratory/darkroom, Sheon feels it is vital for students to actually “experience” examples of early photos—to sense qualities such as texture and degree of focus—rather than merely viewing slides of them. Fortunately, 20 years ago in Paris, Sheon was able to purchase for the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery a collection of early French photography which he will be able to use in the class. In addition to these more substantive outcomes, Sheon also wants to
convey the subtle, gradual change in attitude toward photography—the
change from a mechanical, non-artistic process to an art form as worthy
of respect as painting. Ultimately, from that rudimentary beginning
in the early 19th century, photography has evolved in status to the
point of being worthy of exhibition in museums and galleries worldwide.
To Sheon, having art majors appreciate this artistic evolution underscores
the importance of this capstone | |||||||||||||||||
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A newsletter devoted to the support of teaching and learning at the University of Pittsburgh |
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for Instructional Development & Distance Education |
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