Graduation Seminar 2015 (Aymeric)

Important Dates

• 21/01 Thesis outline Submission (Steve)
• 18/02 First Section Submission (Steve)
• 18/03 Thesis Draft 1 Submission (Steve)
• 23-24/03 Trimester 5 Assessment (core tutors)
• 30/04 Thesis Draft 2 Submission (core tutors)
• 18/05 Feedback Draft 2 (core tutors)
• 01/06 Final thesis submission (core tutors)
• 01-02/06 Trimester 6 (Final/Grad) Assessment (core tutors)

Ongoing

Luísa

Thesis Question

• What is the role of representation in a collective sense of ethics
• What is the role of photography in illustrating and shaping collective ethics
• What is the role of photo journalism in illustrating and shaping collective/shared ethics

Abstract

The social reportage in photojournalism illustrates a given reality in order to address concerns, instigate reaction or generate collective awareness. It makes use of a particular genre defined as ‘storytelling’, in which people are portrayed in real situations, doing spontaneous actions and in which no staging is supposed to be taking place. These photographs are imbued with a sense of realism and intent therefore to represent an impartial way of portraying. The informality of the pictures often frame people included in it in a state of unease; there is a deliberate neglecting of individuality and often boarders are crossed regarding people’s privacy or intimacy. In the context of framing reality for the sake of information and above all, social awareness, the violation of people’s privacy tends to be considered legitimate. Collective consciousness appears to need an image of how reality exactly looks like in order to address it. What is the role of photojournalism illustrating and shaping shared ethics?

Mathijs

Thesis Question

• How do choices of previous and current manufacturers in the camera function shape and resolve influence our views in contemporary society and culture.
• How do past and present manufacturing and designing of the photo camera influence the production and consumption of still images?
• Is it possible to subvert the choices made by past and present manufacturers of photo cameras?
• Is it possible to subvert the design choices made by the manufacturers of photo cameras?

Abstract

Photographs influence us, but the way the photograph is created is in turn influenced by the technology that does so;

Cameras influence the possibilities of the result, and their result (Photographs) have in turn influenced us.

Changes, additions and new inventions have changed the camera over time, thereby it's result, and therefor how it influences us.

Those changes are made by people who have control over the development and production of cameras, influenced by various things and desires that might contribute to why such changes were made, whether this is in the interest of consumers or not.

This means that, to some degree, changes in our perception are dependent on those that have this control, which we might not be pleased with.

If changes in the technology alters our perception, does it logically follow that by removing such changes, or reverting them, we also get rid of it's influence, and is this a possible way of countering this?

However, reverting such changes is dependent on the technology that created them, understanding that technology and finding alternatives.

Is it possible to subvert the design choices made by manufacturers of photo cameras?