Criticizing Photographs : An Introduction to Understanding Images

by BARRETT

• ISBN13: 9780072977431
• ISBN10: 0072977434
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-21
• Publisher: MCGRAW-HILL PROFESSIONAL

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

Table of Contents

Preface	viii
About Art Criticism	1	(15)
Defining Criticism	2	(2)
Sources of Criticism	4	(2)
Kinds of Criticism	6	(1)
The Backgrounds of Critics	7	(2)
Stances Toward Criticism	9	(1)
Relations Between Critics and Artists	10	(2)
Criticizing Criticism	12	(2)
The Value of Criticism	14	(2)
Describing Photographs: What Do I See?	16	(22)
Defining Description	16	(1)
Describing an Exhibition: Avedon's ``In the American West''	17	(4)
Describing Subject Matter	21	(5)
Describing Form	26	(3)
Describing Medium	29	(2)
Describing Style	31	(1)
Comparing and Contrasting	32	(1)
Internal and External Sources of Information	33	(1)
Description and Interpretation	34	(1)
Description and Evaluation	35	(1)
The Importance of Description to Readers	36	(1)
Principles for Describing Photographs	36	(2)
Interpreting Photographs: What Does It Mean?	38	(22)
An Exemplary Interpretation	38	(3)
About Interpretation	41	(2)
Defining Interpretation	43	(2)
The Objects of Interpretations	45	(2)
Interpretive Claims and Arguments	47	(1)
Interpretive Perspectives	48	(6)
Three Interpretations of Eleanor	48	(3)
Other Interpretive Strategies	51	(3)
Combinations of Interpretive Approaches	54	(1)
``Right'' Interpretations	54	(2)
Interpretations and the Artist's Intent	56	(2)
Interpretations and Feelings	58	(1)
Interpretation, Meaning, and Personal Significance	58	(1)
The Community of Interpreters	59	(1)
Types of Photographs	60	(46)
Categories of Photographs	61	(2)
New Categories	63	(2)
Descriptive Photographs	65	(2)
Explanatory Photographs	67	(11)
Interpretive Photographs	78	(5)
Ethically Evaluative Photographs	83	(8)
Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs	91	(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