High school photography curriculum debate

[Whiteymorange]

Cara,

I'm a teacher in a similar school, but one with a lot more money and a lot less serious commitment to the arts, or so it sounds. One thing I can address however:

I do have to defend the analog portion of the curriculum, especially to parents who are paying a lot of money for a college preparatory school. They want the latest, greatest, and most advanced of everything!

Remember, you're not teaching art, you're teaching kids to think. The parents who are so focused on the newest and shiniest have to be reminded why they're spending big bucks to send their kids to a school like yours -- so that their children will be better equipped to "make it to the top". You can define what that means a lot of different ways, top college prospects, real world skills, ability to handle stressful and challenging situations, networking, etc. - but the bottom line is that they want their kids to be well educated. That is really what they are demanding, and they have a right to demand that.

What you seem to be doing, and I think you have the curriculum about right, is giving those kids just what they need. The darkroom teaches thinking in ways that screen-based work does not. No matter what they end up doing in college and after, they will think more clearly, plan more carefully and be more discerning, having learned to compose images, work through the process of development and printing with all the attendant variables and options, and take pride in a hand-made object. It's part an understanding and appreciation for the craft involved and part learning to notice minute variations and choose among them. There aren't many places in the traditional independent school curriculum where that kind of education takes place, and I would suggest no better place than the darkroom. Stick to your guns and have a discussion with some students who have gone through your program. I've found they are often the best advocates for the mix once they have gone all the way through, experienced both analogue and digital work and produced a body of work all their own - in whichever medium. Then take every opportunity you get to bring up the subject of art as education rather than art in education - with other teachers, with administrators and, most importantly, with parents. I think you'll find a good deal of support out there.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

One other note Cara. I am a regular on the 'Intorduce yourself' forum. I love to welcome folks ot the fold. And I have noticed a lot of people who, in the past couple of years, have shot digital and either gotten away from film or never shot it to begin with and once introduced or reintroduced to film they find or remember that something special. There are scores of member that fall into this category. Train a child in the things of film and when they grow old they will not stray far from them. (Gospel according to Chris)

 

[Cara]

Thank you to everyone who has offered me some very valuable advice and words of wisdom! Although we already do some of the things that were suggested, it was nice to receive some reinforcement and new ways to offer support for our program. Rather than responding individually, I wanted to summarize the ideas that really rung true to me and seemed that they would fit into our school climate:
1. Study the "masters" as well as contemporary artists and their use of light, composition, and the camera obscura.
2. Emphasize the history of Photography so that students can gain a better understanding of the medium and make connections to other disciplines.
3. Use the science behind Photography to create an interdisciplinary approach to the class.
4. Look at and analyze examples of original prints (I am joining the Lets all print one negative, Blind Print, and Postcard Exchange so I hope to continue to gather a variety of examples!)
5. Stress the importance of the problem solving opportunities the darkroom and analog photography offers.

Again, thank you for you advice. I will continue to use this group as a source of ideas, inspiration, and knowledge.

Cara

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Do you make museum trips? I was in St. Louis some years ago for a conference and managed to escape for a bit to see the St. Louis Art Museum and was very impressed by the collection of German Expressionists. Just checking the website, I see they have a study room for the photo collection, so that's probably worth a few visits or maybe an assignment based on research in the collection.

I also managed to wander around town a bit between conference panels, and it seemed like a very interesting place to make photographs--

 

[Cara]

Yes, we visit several of spots in St. Louis to photograph and the seniors visit the art museum and several of the contemporary art and photography galleries. We have not taken advantage of the study room at the museum, I will have to look into that. Thanks for the great idea!

 

[Neanderman]

I do have to defend the analog portion of the curriculum, especially to parents who are paying a lot of money for a college preparatory school. They want the latest, greatest, and most advanced of everything!

I would point out to them that artists in other mediums continue to use processes and techniques that date back to antiquity. For example, today it is possible to do sculpture using 3 dimensional printers, yet people continue to hack away at chunks of rock to "reveal what is in there."

I can't imagine teaching digital with no analog background. How else can you explain in an understandable way why on earth a digital camera has an ISO setting?

I think your approach is as near to ideal as one could hope to get in today's mixed media world. Keep it up and good luck!

Ed

 

[davetravis]

Hi Cara, welcome to apug.
I did a show last year at a private liberal arts college here in Colorado, and had conversations with many photography students. Most had some exposure to traditional b&w methods at their prep schools, but none had ever heard of Ilfochrome. I realize an Ilfochrome darkroom would be a tough sell to the school, but at the very least make the students aware of classic color processes, and if possible find some local artists that they could view and see the possibilities of them. Sadly to say, but nearly all of them considered photoshop to be the color standard for printing...
DT

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Also, before darkroom days, dig around in your phonebook and find photographers that have an analog process and perhaps on occasion have 'Guest Processors', if you will. You might even find some APUGers in your area who might be willing to drop by for a visit from time to time. You could take advantage of the regional forums for that.