Photography / Art History

Program Overview

The Photography and Art History program at Aberystwyth University combines art history exploration with hands-on photographic practice, offering a blend of theoretical and practical skills. Students create, curate, and exhibit their photographic artwork while delving into the history of art and artists, preparing them for careers in the arts, heritage, education, and beyond.

Program Outline

The School of Art, one of the highest-ranking in the UK, provides a unique blend of history and practice, traditional and contemporary approaches. You'll have access to a renowned collection of art and artifacts, including prints, photographs, drawings, paintings, and ceramics, housed within a government-accredited art museum with its own galleries. The program emphasizes critical thinking and a broad approach to art history, equipping you with practical knowledge and experience in photographic image capture and reproduction. This ensures you graduate with the skills and attributes needed to thrive in your chosen field.

Outline:

Year 1

• Core Modules:
• Photographic Practice I: Presence/Place (AR11520):
20 credits
• Photographic Practice II: Identity/Face (AR11620):
20 credits
• Photography Begins (AH11820):
20 credits
• Looking into Landscape: Reading, Researching, Responding (AH11520):
20 credits
• Optional Modules:
• Pleasure, Power, and Profit: Art in the Long Eighteenth Century (AH11320):
20 credits
• Revolutions & Modernities: Art in the Nineteenth Century (AH11420):
20 credits
• Exploring the School of Art Collections: Research and Museums (AH11220):
20 credits
• Representing the Body (AH11720):
20 credits

Year 2

• Core Modules:
• Modernisms: Art in the Early Twentieth Century (AH20520):
20 credits
• Photographic Practice III: Constructed Images (AR24320):
20 credits
• Photographic Practice IV: Documentary Storytelling (AR24420):
20 credits
• Postmodernism and Contemporary Art (AH20620):
20 credits
• Optional Modules:
• Art in Wales (AH23720):
20 credits
• Dissertation Preparation and Professional Practice for Students of Art History (AH21020):
20 credits
• Drawn to Order: British Illustration since 1800 (AH23620):
20 credits
• Gothic Imagination (AH23420):
20 credits
• Rethinking Impressionism (AH20720):
20 credits
• Thinking Photography (AH22820):
20 credits

Year 3

• Core Modules:
• Exhibition 1: Graduation Show (AR30130):
30 credits
• Photography 5 - Photo Directed Practice (AR32130):
30 credits
• Optional Modules:
• Art in Wales (AH33720):
20 credits
• Curating an Exhibition: Researching, Interpreting and Displaying (AH32720):
20 credits
• Dissertation (AH32020):
20 credits
• Drawn to Order: British Illustration since 1800 (AH33620):
20 credits
• Rethinking Impressionism (AH30720):
20 credits

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Photographic portfolio: A collection of prints accompanied by working notebooks detailing process experiments, image plans, drawings, written and visual materials, demonstrating thematic and technical research and experimentation in technique, format, and media.
• Essays: Written assignments exploring specific topics related to art history and photography.
• Presentations: Oral presentations showcasing research and analysis of artworks.
• Exams: Written assessments testing knowledge and understanding of course content.

Teaching:

The program is delivered through a combination of:

• Lectures: Formal presentations covering key concepts and theories.
• Seminars: Interactive discussions and debates on specific topics.
• Tutorials: Individual or small group sessions providing personalized guidance and feedback.
• Workshops: Practical sessions focusing on developing photographic skills and techniques.
• Demonstrations: Practical demonstrations of specific photographic processes and techniques.
The teaching staff consists of practicing professionals, including exhibiting artists, publishing researchers, and curators, ensuring a stimulating and informed learning environment. The skills learned are practice-oriented, relevant, and applicable to real-world scenarios.

Careers:

The study of Art History offers a wide range of career paths, including:

• Heritage: Museum or Gallery assistant, Librarian, Information officer
• Education: Teacher
• Publishing and Journalism: Magazine journalist, Newspaper journalist, Magazine features editor, Media researcher
• Photography: Press photographer, Film/video editor, Web Designer
• Curating and Art Administration: Curator, Art administrator
• Students have access to the National Library of Wales, which holds a copy of all works published in the UK and the largest collections of portraits, maps, and photographic images in Wales.
• The program is available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh.