Photography and Media of Contemporary Art

The course is focused on the media which were established in the course of the 20th century alongside the traditional media of visual arts (namely, painting and sculpture) and which are the prevailing media of the contemporary art: photography, installation, performance, video.
The historical advancement of each of the media is presented, with special emphasis on photography. The question is asked how to define each of the media and what are their specific characteristics (in terms of technique and content) in comparison to other media of visual art. While discussing actual art works and art projects other questions are also asked: what changes in presentation and comprehension of works of art were stimulated by the establishment of these media; how has this influenced the re-definition of the concept of art in general; in what ways is contemporary art being a part of the social, politicial, and cultural reality.
The course thus represents an upgrade of the course Modern and Contemporary Art in Western Europe II, with its more detailed and more thorough examination of certain topics regarding the art of the 20th and 21st centuries.