Visual Journalism and Reportage Drawing

3 units

This course combines studio practice, work in the field, subject reporting and nonfiction writing to explore a rich tradition that dates to the mid-19th century. The special artists who reported on the American Civil War, the urban observers of the Ashcan School and the New Journalism illustrators of the 1950s, 60s and 70s brought vision and force to their work as reporters. Today, the reportage tradition is being re-invigorated in online outlets and periodicals. Students will produce a series of works documenting observations of contemporary people, sites and events, culminating in a zine designed for print and/or a digital slideshow with supporting text. This course will provide plentiful drawing experience. Supplemented by historical material in the collections of the Modern Graphic History Library. This course is appropriate for juniors in the Communication Design major. (Students with an interest in visual journalism grounded in street photography and visually engaged writers may be admitted to the course by permission of instructor.)