LATIN AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY: THOUGHT AND IMAGE

Credit Hours: 3 · Undergraduate Upper-Level

This course offers a historical and thematic exploration of photographic practices across Latin America and the Caribbean, tracing the medium’s development from the late 19th century to contemporary digital and experimental forms. Students will investigate how photography has documented historical events, shaped cultural identities, and functioned as a powerful tool for social and political critique. Core themes include colonialism, nationalism, revolution, and globalization, emphasizing photography’s role in recording, constructing, and contesting dominant narratives. The course examines the work of prominent figures such as Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Graciela Iturbide, and Martín Chambi, alongside lesser-known and often overlooked practitioners whose contributions have shaped the region’s visual culture. Special focus will be placed on intermedia practices—where photography intersects with painting, film, performance, and digital art—highlighting its dynamic role within broader artistic and cultural movements. In addition, the course considers the photographic landscape of Houston, home to FotoFest, one of the world’s leading international photography festivals. By engaging with this major cultural event, students will explore contemporary photographic practices, participate in global artistic dialogues, and analyze regional trends in visual storytelling. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and visual analysis, students will engage with photography not only as an artistic form but also as a lens through which to understand cultural, historical, and political realities.