HAD-461P Trans Asia Photography

3 Credits

Must we be forever condemned to study territories rather than networks? (Pinney, 2010) This course does not approach photography of Asia as an essentialized category that supplements the world map of photography. Instead, it leverages its critical potential to examine photography as transcultural, transregional, and transmedial practice from the nineteenth century to the present. We will delve into theories, histories, and methodologies from the vibrant scholarly field of photography of Asia, which has been rapidly evolving over the past decades. Topics include imperialist lenses, portraits, Buddhist photography, photomontage, family albums and diaspora, reproduction and circulation, and photography on social media.