Criticizing Photographs : An Introduction to Understanding Images

by BARRETT

Edition:

4th

ISBN13:

9780072977431

ISBN10:

0072977434

Format:

Paperback

Pub. Date:

7/21/2005

Publisher(s):

MCGRAW-HILL PROFESSIONAL

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Summary

This brief text is designed to help both beginning and advanced students of photography better develop and articulate thoughtful criticism. Organized around the major activities of criticism (describing, interpreting, evaluating, and theorizing),Criticizing Photographsprovides a clear framework and vocabulary for students' critical skill development. The fourth edition includes new black and white and color images, updated commentary, a completely revised chapter on theory that offers a broad discussion of digital images, and an expanded chapter eight on studio critiques and writing about photographs, plus examples of student writing and critique.

Author Biography

Terry Barrett is Professor of Art Education, with a joint appointment in the Department of Art, at The Ohio State University

Preface

viii

About Art Criticism

(15)

Defining Criticism

(2)

Sources of Criticism

(2)

Kinds of Criticism

(1)

The Backgrounds of Critics

(2)

Stances Toward Criticism

(1)

Relations Between Critics and Artists

(2)

Criticizing Criticism

(2)

The Value of Criticism

(2)

Describing Photographs: What Do I See?

(22)

Defining Description

(1)

Describing an Exhibition: Avedon's ``In the American West''

(4)

Describing Subject Matter

(5)

Describing Form

(3)

Describing Medium

(2)

Describing Style

(1)

Comparing and Contrasting

(1)

Internal and External Sources of Information

(1)

Description and Interpretation

(1)

Description and Evaluation

(1)

The Importance of Description to Readers

(1)

Principles for Describing Photographs

(2)

Interpreting Photographs: What Does It Mean?

(22)

An Exemplary Interpretation

(3)

About Interpretation

(2)

Defining Interpretation

(2)

The Objects of Interpretations

(2)

Interpretive Claims and Arguments

(1)

Interpretive Perspectives

(6)

Three Interpretations of Eleanor

(3)

Other Interpretive Strategies

(3)

Combinations of Interpretive Approaches

(1)

``Right'' Interpretations

(2)

Interpretations and the Artist's Intent

(2)

Interpretations and Feelings

(1)

Interpretation, Meaning, and Personal Significance

(1)

The Community of Interpreters

(1)

Types of Photographs

(46)

Categories of Photographs

(2)

New Categories

(2)

Descriptive Photographs

(2)

Explanatory Photographs

(11)

Interpretive Photographs

(5)

Ethically Evaluative Photographs

(8)

Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs

(9)

Theoretical Photographs

100

(6)

Photographs and Contexts

106

(21)

Internal Context

106

(1)

Original Context

107

(2)

External Context

109

(2)

External Contexts and Connotations

111

(2)

Interpreting Barbara Kruger's Untitled (``Surveillance''), with Contextual Information

113

(8)

``Surveillance'' and Internal Context

114

(1)

``Surveillance'' and Original Context

114

(5)

``Surveillance'' and External Context

119

(2)

Barbara Kruger's Untitled (``Surveillance''), and the Categories

121

(3)

Descriptive Photographs

121

(1)

Explanatory Photographs

122

(1)

Interpretive Photographs

122

(1)

Ethically Evaluative Photographs

122

(1)

Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs

123

(1)

Theoretical Photographs

124

(1)

The Interpretive Process: A Summary

124

(3)

Judging Photographs: Is It Good?

127

(26)

Examples of Judgmental Statements

128

(2)

Positive Judgments

128

(1)

Negative Judgments

129

(1)

Implied Judgments

129

(1)

Opposing Judgments

129

(1)

Comparative Judgments

130

(1)

Judgments and Reasons

130

(1)

Judgments and Criteria

131

(2)

Different Criteria

133

(6)

Realism

133

(2)

Expressionism

135

(1)

Formalism

136

(1)

Instrumentalism

137

(1)

Other Criteria

138

(1)

Choosing Among Criteria

139

(1)

Differing Judgments

140

(1)

Judgments Are Arguments

140

(1)

Reappraisals

141

(1)

Judgments and Preferences

141

(1)

Intentionalism and Judgments

142

(1)

The Objects of Judgments

143

(1)

Judgments of Robert Mapplethorpe's Photographs

143

(8)

Hilton Kramer's and Grace Glueck's Views of Mapplethorpe's Work

144

(3)

Other Critics' Views of Mapplethorpe's Work

147

(4)

Conclusion

151

(1)

Principles for Judging Photographs

152

(1)

Photography Theory: Is It Art? Is It True? Is It Moral?

153

(56)

Photography Theory and Practice

154

(4)

Ontological Concerns: What Is a Photograph?

158

(4)

Digital Images and Ontology

160

(2)

Epistemological Concerns: Are Photographs True?

162

(11)

Realist Theory

162

(3)

Conventionalist Theory

165

(2)

Photographic Truth

167

(6)

Aesthetic Concerns: Is Photography Art?

173

(16)

Modernism and Postmodernism

180

(7)

Digital Images and Aesthetic Concerns

187

(2)

Ethical Concerns: Are Photographs Moral?

189

(19)

Marxist Theory and Ethical Photography

191

(1)

Feminist Theory and Ethical Photography

192

(5)

Multicultural Theory and Ethical Photography

197

(3)

Queer Theory and Ethical Photography

200

(4)

Postcolonial Theory and Ethical Photography

204

(4)

Conclusion

208

(1)

Writing and Talking About Photographs

209

(55)

Writing About Photographs

209

(27)

Observing and Taking Notes

210

(1)

Quick-Writes and Careful-Writes

211

(3)

Students' Interpretive Writings

214

(5)

Building Visual Interpretations

219

(1)

Making Personal Meaning

219

(4)

Judging Photographs

223

(2)

Writing Criteria Statements

225

(1)

Three Student Views of Immediate Family by Sally Mann

226

(5)

Metacritical Writing

231

(5)

Writing Artists' Statements

236

(3)

Processes of Writing

239

(3)

Talking About Photographs

242

(2)

Studio Critiques

244

(20)

Kinds of Critiques

253

(7)

Conducting Successful Critiques

260

(2)

Principles for Effective Critiques

262

(2)

Notes

264

(15)

Bibliography

279

(12)

Index

291