Criticizing Photographs
5th Edition
Published on 24. March 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-07-352653-9 (ISBN)
Description
This brief text is designed to help both beginning and advanced students of photography better develop and articulate thoughtful criticism. Organized around the major activities of criticism (describing, interpreting, evaluating, and theorizing), Criticizing Photographs provides a clear framework and vocabulary for students' critical skill development.
More details
Edition
5th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United States
Publishing group
McGraw-Hill Education - Europe
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 185 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
504 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-07-352653-9 (9780073526539)
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Terry Barrett is Professor of Art Education, with a joint appointment in the Department of Art, at The Ohio State University, where he is the recipient of a distinguished teaching award for courses in criticism and aesthetics within education. He has authored four books: Interpreting Art: Reflecting, Wondering and Responding; Criticizing Art: Understanding the Contemporary (2nd ed.); Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to Understanding Images (4th ed.); and Talking about Student Art. He edited the anthology Lessons for Teaching Art Criticism, published articles in Aesthetic Education, Afterimage, Art Education, Exposure, Camera-Lucida, Dialogue, Cultural Research in Art Education, New Advocate, New Art Examiner, Studies in Art Education, Teaching Artist Journal, Theory into Practice, Visual Arts Research, and many chapters in edited books. He is an art critic in education for the Ohio Arts Council, consults museum education departments, juries exhibitions, and conducts workshops on studio critiques and writing.
Content
Preface
Chapter 1 * About Art Criticism
Definition of Criticism
Sources of Criticism
Kinds of Criticism
The Backgrounds of Critics
Stances Toward Criticism
Relations Between Critics and Artists
The Art of Criticizing Criticism
The Value of Criticism
Chapter 2 * Describing Photographs: What Do I See?
Defining Description
Describing an Exhibition: Avedon's "In the American West"
Describing Subject Matter
Describing Form
Describing Medium
Describing Style
Comparing and Contrasting
Identifying Internal and External Sources of Information
Describing and Interpreting
Describing and Evaluating
The Importance of Description to Readers
Principles for Describing Photographs
Chapter 3 * Interpreting Photographs: What Does It Mean?
Two Exemplary Interpretations
About Interpretation
Definition of Interpretation
The Objects of Interpretations
Interpretive Claims and Arguments
Interpretive Perspectives
Three Interpretations of Eleanor
Other Interpretive Strategies
Combinations of Interpretive Approaches
"Right" Interpretations
Interpretations and the Artist's Intent
Interpretations and Feelings
Interpretation, Meaning, and Personal Significance
The Community of Interpreters
Chapter 4 * Types of Photographs
Categories of Photographs
New Categories
Descriptive Photographs
Explanatory Photographs
Interpretive Photographs
Ethically Evaluative Photographs
Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs
Theoretical Photographs
Chapter 5 * Photographs and Contexts
Internal Context
Original Context
External Context
External Contexts and Connotations
Interpretation of Barbara Kruger's Untitled("Surveillance")with Contextual Information
"Surveillance" and Internal Context
"Surveillance" and Original Context
"Surveillance" and External Context
Barbara Kruger's Untitled ("Surveillance") and the Categories
Descriptive Photographs
Explanatory Photographs
Interpretive Photographs
Ethically Evaluative Photographs
Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs
Theoretical Photographs
The Interpretive Process: A Summary
Chapter 6 * Judging Photographs: Is It Good?
Examples of Judgmental Statements
Positive Judgments
Negative Judgments
Implied Judgments
Opposing Judgments
Comparative Judgments
Judgments and Reasons
Judgments and Criteria
Different Criteria
Realism
Expressionism
Formalism
Activism
Other Criteria
Choosing Among Criteria
Differing Judgments
Judgments Are Arguments
Reappraisals
Judgments and Preferences
Intentionalism and Judgments
The Objects of Judgments
Judgments of Robert Mapplethorpe's Photographs
Hilton Kramer's and Grace Glueck's Views of Mapplethorpe's Work
Other Critics' Views of Mapplethorpe's Work
Conclusion
Principles for Judging Photographs
Chapter 7 * Photography Theory: Is It Art? Is It True? Is It Moral?
Photography Theory and Practice
Ontological Concerns: What Is a Photograph?
Digital Images and Ontology
Epistemological Concerns: Are Photographs True?
Realist Theory
Conventionalist Theory
Photographic Truth
Aesthetic Concerns: Is Photography Art?
Modernism and Postmodernism
Digital Images and Aesthetic Concerns
Ethical Concerns: Are Photographs Moral?
Marxist Theory and Ethical Photography
Feminist Theory and Ethical Photography
Multicultural Theory and Ethical Photography
Queer Theory and Ethical Photography
Postcolonial Theory and Ethical Photography
Conclusion
Chapter 8 * Writing and Talking About Photographs
Writing About Photographs
Observing and Taking Notes
Quick-Writes and Careful-Writes
Students' Interpretive Writings
Building Visual Interpretations
Making Personal Meaning
Judging Photographs
Writing Criteria Statements
Four Student Views of Immediate Family by Sally Mann
Writing Metacritically
Writing Artists' Statements
Processes of Writing
Talking About Photographs
Studio Critiques
Kinds of Critiques
Conducting Successful Critiques
Principles for Effective Critiques
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Chapter 1 * About Art Criticism
Definition of Criticism
Sources of Criticism
Kinds of Criticism
The Backgrounds of Critics
Stances Toward Criticism
Relations Between Critics and Artists
The Art of Criticizing Criticism
The Value of Criticism
Chapter 2 * Describing Photographs: What Do I See?
Defining Description
Describing an Exhibition: Avedon's "In the American West"
Describing Subject Matter
Describing Form
Describing Medium
Describing Style
Comparing and Contrasting
Identifying Internal and External Sources of Information
Describing and Interpreting
Describing and Evaluating
The Importance of Description to Readers
Principles for Describing Photographs
Chapter 3 * Interpreting Photographs: What Does It Mean?
Two Exemplary Interpretations
About Interpretation
Definition of Interpretation
The Objects of Interpretations
Interpretive Claims and Arguments
Interpretive Perspectives
Three Interpretations of Eleanor
Other Interpretive Strategies
Combinations of Interpretive Approaches
"Right" Interpretations
Interpretations and the Artist's Intent
Interpretations and Feelings
Interpretation, Meaning, and Personal Significance
The Community of Interpreters
Chapter 4 * Types of Photographs
Categories of Photographs
New Categories
Descriptive Photographs
Explanatory Photographs
Interpretive Photographs
Ethically Evaluative Photographs
Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs
Theoretical Photographs
Chapter 5 * Photographs and Contexts
Internal Context
Original Context
External Context
External Contexts and Connotations
Interpretation of Barbara Kruger's Untitled("Surveillance")with Contextual Information
"Surveillance" and Internal Context
"Surveillance" and Original Context
"Surveillance" and External Context
Barbara Kruger's Untitled ("Surveillance") and the Categories
Descriptive Photographs
Explanatory Photographs
Interpretive Photographs
Ethically Evaluative Photographs
Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs
Theoretical Photographs
The Interpretive Process: A Summary
Chapter 6 * Judging Photographs: Is It Good?
Examples of Judgmental Statements
Positive Judgments
Negative Judgments
Implied Judgments
Opposing Judgments
Comparative Judgments
Judgments and Reasons
Judgments and Criteria
Different Criteria
Realism
Expressionism
Formalism
Activism
Other Criteria
Choosing Among Criteria
Differing Judgments
Judgments Are Arguments
Reappraisals
Judgments and Preferences
Intentionalism and Judgments
The Objects of Judgments
Judgments of Robert Mapplethorpe's Photographs
Hilton Kramer's and Grace Glueck's Views of Mapplethorpe's Work
Other Critics' Views of Mapplethorpe's Work
Conclusion
Principles for Judging Photographs
Chapter 7 * Photography Theory: Is It Art? Is It True? Is It Moral?
Photography Theory and Practice
Ontological Concerns: What Is a Photograph?
Digital Images and Ontology
Epistemological Concerns: Are Photographs True?
Realist Theory
Conventionalist Theory
Photographic Truth
Aesthetic Concerns: Is Photography Art?
Modernism and Postmodernism
Digital Images and Aesthetic Concerns
Ethical Concerns: Are Photographs Moral?
Marxist Theory and Ethical Photography
Feminist Theory and Ethical Photography
Multicultural Theory and Ethical Photography
Queer Theory and Ethical Photography
Postcolonial Theory and Ethical Photography
Conclusion
Chapter 8 * Writing and Talking About Photographs
Writing About Photographs
Observing and Taking Notes
Quick-Writes and Careful-Writes
Students' Interpretive Writings
Building Visual Interpretations
Making Personal Meaning
Judging Photographs
Writing Criteria Statements
Four Student Views of Immediate Family by Sally Mann
Writing Metacritically
Writing Artists' Statements
Processes of Writing
Talking About Photographs
Studio Critiques
Kinds of Critiques
Conducting Successful Critiques
Principles for Effective Critiques
Notes
Bibliography
Index