History Of Photography With Curating (Ma)

Master

In London

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Master

  • Location

    London

  • Duration

    1 Year

Photography has become the major form of image-making and visual communication since its development in the nineteenth century. Its importance has been recognised in many areas of scholarship: history of art, media and cultural studies, literature, memory and memorialisation, gender and identity, philosophy and law. Its role in all fields of the arts and sciences, including those most personal, is being expanded, renewed and questioned by contemporary digital cultures.

Our MA History of Photography with Curating enables you to learn about - and to negotiate your individual path through - past and present photographic practices and cultures, in order to develop your interests, whether your engagement with the medium is academic, artistic, personal or vocational.

The curating pathway will help you acquire high-level foundational skills and a solid grasp of key issues in curating practice. You will gain an insight into the different working practices of various museums and galleries and a broad understanding of the role and responsibilities of the curator within the modern museum and gallery context.

This degree offers you the opportunity to study with internationally recognised experts. Our teaching staff are defining the field, conducting groundbreaking research in the history and theory of photography in its various uses and manifestations. You will work closely with our staff while also benefiting from our diverse and vibrant student body of all ages and backgrounds. The teaching programme is enriched by the international research culture of the History and Theory of Photography Research Centre.

You can take part in exclusive visits to photographic archives and exhibitions, and take advantage of placement opportunities in the Jo Spence Memorial Library and Archive. Alternatively, there are opportunities for work placements with other London museums, galleries and archive.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
Malet Street, WC1E 7HX

Start date

On request

About this course

Graduates can pursue careers in academia/teaching, the creative arts, media and photography. Possible professions include higher education lecturer, museum/gallery curator, or photographer. This degree may be useful in becoming a community arts worker, advertising art director, or press photographer.

We offer a comprehensive Careers Service to help you advance your career, while our in-house, professional recruitment consultancy, Birkbeck Talent, works with London’s top employers to help you gain work experience that fits in with your evening studies.

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in a relevant subject or equivalent (for example, professional experience).

For students with a degree in a subject other than history of art, the one-year part-time Graduate Certificate in History of Art and Architecture can be used as a conversion course. Students who successfully complete the Graduate Certificate with merit will normally be guaranteed a place on this programme.

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Subjects

  • Teaching
  • Staff
  • Cultural Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Visual Communication
  • Art
  • Image
  • University
  • Project
  • Media
  • Art Photography
  • Ms Word

Course programme

COURSE STRUCTURE

The programme consists of two compulsory modules, an option module, a research exercise or work placement, and a dissertation. These assessed elements are supported by a series of research skills workshops.

The compulsory module, Frameworks: Histories and Theories of Art, Architecture, Photography, is designed to explore methodologies and issues involved in the current study of the discipline. Elements of the module are taught to a combined group of History of Art, History of Architecture and History of Photography students, while others are specific to the History of Photography programme.

Our Curating module is taught intensively over a five-day period late in the spring term and involves you learning in the classroom each morning and then spending the afternoon sessions in key museum and gallery sites.
Options cover a wide range of photographic practices and cultures, past and present, and allow you to explore diverse methodologies and internationally 'local' practices.

The research exercise offers you the chance to undertake independent research, or you may apply for a work placement.

You will complete the programme with a 15,000-word dissertation.

The option modules listed below are a selection of those offered in past years.

COMPULSORY MODULES
  • Curating
  • Frameworks: Histories and Theories of Art, Architecture, Photography
RESEARCH EXERCISE/WORK PLACEMENT
  • Museum Cultures Work Placement
  • Research Exercise
INDICATIVE OPTION MODULES
  • Art and Identity: 'Race', Ideology, Culture
  • Art and Photography Since 1970
  • Art and War 1814-2004
  • Curating Difficult Histories: Museums, Exhibitions, Art Activism
  • Exhibiting the Pain of Others: Museums, Violence and Memory
  • Fashioning the Body
  • Photography and the Brazilian 'Image World' circa 1840-1950
  • Photography and the Index
  • Photography in the Archives: Issues for Nineteenth-Century Photography
  • The Book Unbound
MA HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY DISSERTATION
  • Dissertation MA History of Art
Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Additional information

Duration
One year full-time or two years part-time

History Of Photography With Curating (Ma)

Price on request