Introductory post 27 December 2013

Why study Understanding Visual Culture?

Understanding Visual Culture ('UVC')  is the third of my three Level One modules of study towards a degree in Photography. Previously I have studied The Art of Photography  and People and Place. The Photography choices for this final module were Digital Film Production: Creative Concepts or Digital Photographic Practice ('DPP'). The former has no interest for me, and I am well versed in the skills and practice of post processing so would not benefit greatly from the latter. From accounts of the course from other OCA students, DPP suffers from two things that any practising photographer will recognise:

1. The technology and techniques in digital processing move on very quickly. It is vital therefore that the course is kept up to date, and by all accounts, this is not the case with DPP; in many cases, the techniques recommended are simply out of date;
2. Post processing is a very individual pursuit, and there are many ways of achieving similar objectives - for example I know of at least six ways to produce a monochrome image from a colour shot - so much of the course would simply be irrelevant.

Consequently, I looked at two courses in the Art History course that are eligible options for Photography students: Western Art and Understanding Visual Culture ('UVC'). Western Art was not an option as it requires drawing skills, so UVC has become the default option (short of doing three HE5 level courses, not a realistic prospect in terms of time and cost). 

But let it not seem that I am the reluctant student, breezing in on a course with a "why am  I here?" look on my face, preparing for it to be uninteresting and/or tedious. On the contrary, I am looking forward to a course that is more abstract and theoretical, for three reasons:

1.  The challenge: 35 years ago, I studied Geography at university, a subject with little practical use but one that introduced many strands of social science theory, from econometrics to Levi-Strauss, none to any depth but requiring a degree of understanding. I enjoyed the challenge of understanding the theories and their relevance in a geographical context; I see a parallel in UVC with understanding and criticising more general theories in a visual context;
2. The broadening: this a theoretical subject with the following four assessment criteria are to be demonstrated: knowledge and understanding; research skills; critical and evaluation skills; and communication. Compare this to the four criteria assessed in previous two courses: technical and visual skills; quality of outcome; creativity; and context. These are much more practical skills, very useful for me as a photographer but it seemed appropriate to take the opportunity to broaden my outlook;
3. The relevance: the OCA Photography degree course has changed recently and now includes Documentary as a level 5 option. A couple of phrases from the course description serve to demonstrate that UVC will be a useful background course: "In this unit you will explore historical and contemporary strategies (a combination of technical, visual and conceptual methodologies) in documentary photography......................You will be encouraged to develop further your visual communications skills and convey rich narratives in your photographs, incorporating elements of the semiotics of the image."

Outcomes

The three reasons above form the basis for desired outcomes from this course: that I feel challenged; have broadened my outlook and knowledge so, for example, I can look at other forms of art with a more knowledgeable and understanding eye and have a good basis for taking the skills and knowledge from UVC into further Photography study.

I believe also that UVC will encourage a more rigorous approach to theoretical study: locating information from a variety of electronic and non electronic sources; referencing; appraising and criticising different approaches, all useful skills to look at my own subject in the future.

Concerns

Probably my main concern is not understanding the subject, finding the jargon arcane, and the arguments highfalutin. I have little time for academic study that is deliberately opaque so as to appear more difficult than it truly is. The challenge will be to avoid scorn or dismissiveness when reading an commenting on such material.

I am also concerned of moving too far from my comfort zone. I know nothing about fine art. Tutor has interest in sculpture; my sole exposure to that art form is four lessons of pottery in the 1970s. It will either be a steep learning curve towards a higher understanding, or struggling to comprehend what the subject is about, indeed what the point is of studying it. However, the flip side of having little previous exposure is that I come to the subject with few preconceptions and a fresh outlook.

Time may be an issue but one advantage of UVC over photography courses is being able to pick up the manual and associated material at short notice for maybe a limited time; the photography exercises are mostly outside and require a degree of organizing, travel, set up etc, so require more planning in advance. UVC lends itself to more spontaneous study

Study so far

Having had a break for several months, I have read most of Visual Culture by Howells and Negreiros. Slightly curious why this is not the course reader, possibly because it is a new (2012) book. It was recommended by OCA tutor as a useful introduction, and can see it has a lot of relevance to all the chapters of study. The book is very well written, avoids jargon and pomposity, and sets out the strands of theory in first part, then the application thereof in the second. I shall finish the book at a time that seems appropriate in the course. The notes from chapters read hitherto are posted as reading on the blog.

Conclusion

I am looking forward to UVC. The study book looks daunting but then so did the photography courses at first. It will be an interesting challenge.