Photography Theory

'Now that photography is accorded the status of a fine art and routinely taught in an art historical context, it is more necessary than ever to clarify the basis of that valuation. Strangely, there has been little new theorizing on photography since the 1980s: artists and historians continue to draw on a range of older sources, from Charles Peirce and Roland Barthes to Pierre Bourdieu. What, then, are the optimal ways of conceptualizing photography? Photography Theory consists of a group of essays—by Jans Baetens, Diarmuid Costello, Margaret Iversen, Thierry De Duve, and Rosalind Krauss—which form the basis of a conversation by nine leading art theorists and critics of photography. Twenty-six scholars then offer their commentary on that conversation, in a variety of forms. Also included is a short history of theories of photography and two concluding synoptic essays. With its unusual structure and the participation of some of the most prominent thinkers on the subject—including Krauss, Abigail Solomon-Godeau, Victor Burgin, Alan Trachtenberg, Geoffrey Batchen, Liz Wells, and Joel Snyder—Photography Theory gives a unique perspective of contemporary debates about the art of photography.' — back cover

This is Volume Two in the series The Art Seminar from Routledge and the University College Cork. Indian artist Vivan Sundaram contributes a text titled 'Recycling Photographs' as part of 'Section 4: Assessments'. Notes on contributors and index are provided in this book.

Alternative title

The Art Seminar

Access level

Onsite

publisher

Routledge (London, United Kingdom)

editor

James ELKINS

Location code

REF.ELJ

Language

English

Keyword

photography, art history, art theory

Publication/Creation date

2007

No of pages

470

ISBN / ISSN

0415977835

No of copies

Content type

anthology

Chapter headings

Section 1: Introduction

Theories of Photography: A Short History - Sabine T. KRIEBEL

Section 2: Starting Points

Conceptual Limitations of Our Reflection on Photography: The Question of 'Interdisciplinarity' - Jan BAETENS

After Medium Specificity Chez Fried: Jeff Wall as a Painter; Gerhard Richter as a Photographer - Diarmuid COSTELLO

Following Pieces: On Performative Photography - Margaret IVERSEN

Time Exposure and Snapshot: The Photograph as Paradox - Thierry DE DUVE

Introductory Note - Rosalind KRAUSS

Section 3: The Art Seminar: Jan Baetens, Diarmuid Costello, James Elkins, Jonathan Friday, Margaret Iverson, Sabine Kriebel, Margaret Olin, Graham Smith, Joel Snyder

Section 4: Assessments

Section 5: Afterwords

The Trouble with Photography - Anne McCAULEY

Photographs and Fossils - Walter Benn MICHAELS

Citation

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