History of Photography Syllabus for 2024-2025
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. <strong>The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor. </strong>

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

PHTC-1313-001 History of Photography

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: ARTS 2356

Course Description

A historical survey of the technical and aesthetic development of photography. Topics include the beginnings of the medium, inventors, development of photographic equipment, styles of the creative masters, aesthetic themes and the social impact of photography.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Textbook - Disappearing Witness: Change in Twentieth-Century American Photography

By Gretchen Garner

Supplies

1 flash drive at least 1 TB or larger* (this can be used for all of your classes)

Digital camera, min. 10 megapixels, (photo majors should have a DSLR)

Adobe Photoshop CC software (available on campus)

 

*For a hard drive to be able to read/write on both PCs and Mac computers, it must be formatted to ExFAT or FAT32 file format. FAT32 has several limitations, including a 4 GB per-file limit. Formatting an external drive will delete everything on it, so it should be done either before using the drive or after copying all data to another drive.

 

Technology

Learning Remotely

This course will be taught on online. Students will need the following equipment to work from home.

• Laptop or desktop computer (PC or MAC)
• The computer will need to meet the minimum requirements for Adobe Photoshop CC 2025
• Internet – either commercially provided (ex. AT&T, Suddenlink), or a wireless hotspot through your mobile phone.

 

AC Digital Labs: Students who do not have computers, wifi, and/or Photoshop at home may work on campus - 4 Mac Labs (Rooms 220, 306, 308, and 312) are available in Parcells Hall for students to work on projects (available hours are posted outside each lab). The Underground (basement of Ware Student Commons) has PCs available with Photoshop.

Technical Help: During the first week of school, students are responsible for resolving software and hardware issues so that coursework is easy to accomplish. Students may use AC Digital Labs. For technical support for Parcells Hall and software issues contact Mariah Aytch, PARC 313A, 371-5902.

 

Technical Help

During the first week of school, students are responsible for resolving software and hardware issues so that coursework is easy to accomplish.

 

Students may use AC Digital Labs in Parcells Hall or work in The Underground: (806) 371-5429 / underground@actx.edu

 

For questions related to personal equipment, passwords, and Blackboard: Ask AC (806) 371-5000 / www.actx.edu/contact

 

AC Bookstore has a computer service center that provides free diagnostic services and flat-rate pricing. www.actx.edu/bookstore/computer-service-center

 

Financial Aid: Students may purchase cameras, computers, and other supplies through the AC Bookstore during the first week of school: funds are withdrawn from the student's account just like books and other supplies.

Student Performance

End-of-Course Outcomes:  Describe the aesthetic and technical evolution of photography; distinguish and identify historic and contemporary image-makers; and perform research on a photography or historic theme. (WECM)

Specific Student Outcomes:

Students will

• Demonstrate knowledge of photographers, processes, and trends in the history of photography
• Conduct research utilizing library and internet resources
• Identify compositional devices used in photography
• Analyze photographs using appropriate terminology and articulate these thoughts effectively in writing (and/or in oral presentation)
• Understand and refrain from plagiarism
• Present work for grading in a professional manner, as directed by the instructor
• Participate meaningfully in critique
• Maintain a professional and respectful attitude
• Maintain classroom facilities and shared supplies

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Course & Conduct

AC Connect (Blackboard)
The syllabus, assignment sheets, screencasts, videos, quizzes, and other documents are located on the AC Connect web page for this course (also referred to as Blackboard). Students should contact AskAC with login questions. Students are responsible for downloading and printing documents as needed.
Attendance & Participation Policy
Students must actively engage in the content of this course every week. Plan time for watching lectures, taking quizzes, and participating in discussion boards. Attendance is confirmed by submitting work and active participation in the Blackboard course on AC Connect.
Copyright Notice
Students must be aware and responsible for the Copyright Notice for the course: The materials on this course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for the purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

Email Policy
For personal communication with the instructor use email. rwest@actx.edu. Please include the name of the course in the subject line.

 

Use the Coffee Shop discussion board for general questions about the course content. Posting here may help other students with similar questions.

 

The instructor and Amarillo College will use the student’s Gmail account and AC Online for correspondence. For this reason, students are responsible for checking both regularly.

 

Students cannot submit photography assignments as email attachments; the image file size is too large.

 

College Disability Statement
Any student who because of a disabling condition may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact Disability Services (SSC 119, Phone: 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Drop Policy
Should the need arise; the student is responsible for dropping a course. See the Amarillo College master calendar on the AC website and the course calendar for the date of the last day to drop a course. 

Coursework & Exams

Exam Policy Each module has a quiz at the end of the section that covers materials from the module. Quizzes are available on AC Connect (Blackboard). Weekly Online Modules for the course open at 9 am on Monday mornings.  Quizzes must be completed that same week by Sunday at the end of the day. The two lowest quiz scores are dropped. Discussion board posts must be completed that same week by Sunday at the end of the day, and comments will continue for another week.

Make-up Exam Policy Quizzes are available online during the first week of each module and close on Sunday at the end of the day (7 days later). Failure to take the quiz will result in a zero. There are twelve quizzes and the two lowest scores are dropped. Late work is not accepted.

Department

Appropriation Policy

Appropriated images are not permissible. (Examples of appropriation include stock images, royalty-free images, and artificial intelligence-generated images.) All students are working with images they shoot with a camera or flatbed scanner. Personal artwork designed for the project may also be used. Drawings may be scanned or imported from other software. All elements in the images must be created by the student. Appropriation of images, regardless of the source, is plagiarism. The use of appropriated images will earn a zero for the project.

Lab Policy
Only students currently enrolled in photography classes are allowed to use photography labs. Do not invite friends and family into the labs. The computer labs, darkrooms, and studios require students to be enrolled in a course or have taken specific courses before using those areas.
Photography Policy
Throughout the study of photography, students must make new photographs for each assignment; this ensures that students are using their cameras regularly and refining their visual thinking and technical skills. Submitting old photographs or photographs created for another class will earn a zero for the project.

Plagiarism Policy
It is crucial for students not to pass off the ideas, words, or images of another as their own, to do so is considered theft and will be treated accordingly. When paraphrasing or quoting another source, always use parenthetical citations to credit the source, and include all websites and/or books reviewed in the bibliography. In fairness to other students who worked hard on their essays and photographic projects, students caught plagiarizing will earn a zero for the project and may be subject to additional disciplinary actions by Amarillo College

Grading Criteria

Grading & Percentages

 

Grading Format / A-F (100-0%)

A = Excellent 100-90%

B = Good 89-80%

C = Adequate 79-70%

D = Weak 69-60%

F = Unacceptable 59-0%

 

Grading Criteria/Grade Scale
The grade percentages are as follows:

Visual Research Portfolio (Midterm) 15%

Visual Research Portfolio (Final) 20%

Discussion Boards 30% (drop the two lowest scores)

Quizzes 20% (drop the two lowest scores)

Final Essay 15%

Refer to handouts for the requirements of each assignment.

 

Grading Policy

Assessment is based on the following:

• Attends lectures, labs, and demonstrations
• Participates in discussion boards and critiques
• Demonstrates the ability to conduct research
• Makes substantive posts and comments on the discussion boards
• Displays an understanding of the concepts discussed
• Writes in an academic style that is coherent and conveys an understanding of the topic
• Utilizes the vocabulary of photography and design theory
• Submits written responses and does not plagiarize the material of others (this includes not using materials generated with AI (artificial intelligence software)
• Presents projects on time and meets the requirements of each

 

Late Work Policy

Late work will not be accepted. Weekly quizzes and discussion boards must be completed the same week the module opens. The two lowest scores are dropped in both categories. Quizzes are open for one week. Discussion boards are open for two weeks; the first week is for students to make their initial post, and the second week is for comments. There is a 20% deduction in the score for making the initial post to the discussion board after the first week.

Extensions may be requested before the due date for the following projects: Visual Response 1 and 2, and the final essay. Only one extension will be granted per student during a semester. Whether or not an extension is granted is up to the instructor. There is a 20% deduction for extensions. Regardless of the situation, all coursework must be completed by Wednesday, May 7th.

Attendance

Attendance & Participation Policy
Students must actively engage in the content of this course every week. Plan time for watching lectures, taking quizzes, and participating in discussion boards. Attendance is confirmed by submitting work and active participation in the Blackboard course on AC Connect.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

Refer to class webpage on Blackboard for details.