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“I went into photography because it seemed like the perfect vehic… See More

“I went into photography because it seemed like the perfect vehicle for commenting on the madness of today’s existence.” — Robert Mapplethorpe This course surveys the history of photography from its beginnings in the early nineteenth century to the present. We will examine the use of photography for aesthetic, documentary, and “scientific” purposes, stylistic shifts in photography related to aesthetic concerns, and varying interpretations of subject matter based on social and cultural concerns at specific moments in history. We will also consider the relationship between photography and the visual arts in general, which culminates with the primacy of photography as a medium by the late twentieth century.

Reading poetry is like being a detective. Sights and sounds work… See More

Reading poetry is like being a detective. Sights and sounds work together to enhance meaning and create ambiguity. We will work in small groups, individually, through research, and presentations to understand the variety of poetic forms available to poets. We will examine the choices a poet makes, and consider why he or she makes them. We will discuss the value of poetry in today’s world.