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Arthur C. Danto remarks, "How incorrigibly stiff philosophy is when it undertakes to lay its icy fingers on the frilled and beating wings of the butterfly of love." There is something both true and false in this remark. The philosopher cannot, as the poet can, convey the particularities of a love lived, suffered and enjoyed, but romantic love and friendship are an aspect of our

What could we possibly know better than our own mind? It turns out to be a pretty complicated question.  What is the nature of mind? Is it fundamentally non-physical? Is it just the brain?  If not, how can it make a difference in the world? If it is, can we account for the richness of conscious experience? We’ll talk about these questions along with issues such as the

Science provides a particular way of knowing about our world. In this course we will examine the benefits, pitfalls and limits of this knowledge.  Topics will include the nature of scientific explanation, causation, and how those ideas can help us distinguish science from pseudoscience.  We will discuss questions such as whether science is objective and whether it’s

Philosophers of art and aesthetics tend to focus on visual art at the expense of other art forms. In this course we will look at the philosophical puzzles and particularities of the performing arts: dance, music, theater, and "performance art." What is the difference between unique and repeatable artworks? What kind of object is a symphony? Are dancers artists, or just highly

This course requires students to develop and research a substantial piece of philosophical work based on a previous essay they have written. In addition, students will read a selection of important articles and texts in the analytical and continental philosophical traditions.

his course is intended for upper level VA students who work primarily in non-photographic media. No previous experience with photographic technique is required. The course will demonstrate and provide practice in techniques used in effective documentation of art pieces using digital still photography. Students will have access to camera equipment and our lighting studio,

This course explores the evolution of contemporary photography from the late 20th century to the present day. We will be looking at a wide range of influences from identity politics, TV and film, social media, and the move from analog to digital technologies. The class format will be weekly faculty lectures accompanied by student research and presentations. Students will keep a

This course will explore the many facets of zine making and look into the contemporary BIPOC zine scenes. Students will learn how to sequence photographs to better suit a book format and gain a comfortable understanding of Adobe InDesign to digitally lay out their images for printing. Using inkjet and laser printers, students will experiment with different output methods and

This course explores how photographers translate artistic concepts into the materiality of bookmaking, giving students insight into the basic steps of creating a photobook. The course will experiment with different book designs, paper qualities, digital printing, binding techniques, sequencing exercises, intervened photography, photo-collage, and layering. Students will be

This course explores how photographers work with the materiality of the medium to create representations of desired realities and interrogate “official histories,” especially those connected to colonization, migration, and gender. The course will look at techniques for intervened photography and photo-collage and apply them to creating photobooks. Students will be encouraged to

This course explores how photographers translate artistic concepts into the materiality of bookmaking, giving students insight into the basic steps of creating a photobook. The course will experiment with different book designs, paper qualities, digital printing, binding techniques, sequencing exercises,

In this course, students are guided through the process of creating a series of assignments that explore the photograph as a narrative device. Students learn how to explore the photographic narrative through class discussions and peer critique of their work. Structurally the assignments may take a traditional documentary format or a linear or thematic narrative. Image editing

In this course, students will be guided through the process of creating a series of assignments that explore the photograph as a narrative device. Students will learn how to explore the photographic narrative through class discussions and peer critique of their work. Structurally the assignments can take a traditional documentary form or a linear or thematic narrative. Image

This studio/ seminar explores historical and contemporary practices in photographic portraiture, considering how photographers negotiate their relationships with their subjects and reflect on notions of identity. Assignments invite students to explore formal and conceptual strategies while readings provide theoretical context and encourage critical thinking about questions of

This studio/ seminar contemplates historical and contemporary practices in photographic portraiture, considering how photographers negotiate their relationships with their subjects and reflect on notions of identity. Assignment prompts invite students to explore formal and conceptual strategies while readings provide theoretical context and encourage critical thinking

This studio/ seminar invites students to engage both creatively and critically, by making work and through readings and discussions. Throughout the course, students will learn about historical and contemporary practices in photographic portraiture, drawn from a range of personal, popular, institutional, and artistic contexts, and consider how our multiple identities inform (and

How do we read photographs? What are the stories contained within their borders? How does two, three, or a sequence of images in tandem convey a narrative? In this course, students are guided through a series of assignments that explore the photograph as a narrative pictorial space using analog and digital processes. Structurally the assignments may take a traditional

How do we read photographs? What are the stories contained within their borders? How does two, three, or a sequence of images in tandem convey a narrative? In this course, students are guided through a series of assignments that explore the photograph as a narrative pictorial space using analog and digital processes. Structurally the assignments may take a traditional

How do we read photographs? What are the stories contained within their borders? How does two, three, or a sequence of images convey a narrative? In this intermediate course, students are guided through a series of assignments that explore the photograph as a narrative pictorial space using analog and digital processes. Structurally the assignments may take a traditional

This introductory course investigates the fraught relationship between photography and history.  Photographs are often thought to record history. However, they frequently alter the course of the histories they purport to merely document. Through a series of case studies, we will explore the possibilities and perils of regarding photographs as factual evidence.

This course will introduce students to the components of storytelling in photographic series by examining migration as a theme and using photography as a research tool. Students will develop a robust sense of artistic ethics by studying representations of migration by photographers in diasporic communities and engaging methods for creating visual narratives around topics of

This course will introduce students to the components of storytelling in photographic series by examining migration as a theme and using photography as a research tool. Students will develop a robust sense of artistic ethics by studying representations of migration by photographers in diasporic communities and engaging methods for creating visual narratives around topics

This course will introduce students to the components of storytelling in photographic series by examining migration as a theme  and using photography as a research tool. Students will develop a robust sense of artistic ethics by studying representations of migration by photographers in diasporic communities and engaging methods for creating visual narratives around topics

The objective of this course is to provide the student with a proficiency in the basics of 35mm black and white photography. Class time will be spent working in the darkroom, lab demonstrations, and discussions of student work. In addition to technical lectures and reviews, a selection of images from the history of photography will be shown and discussed throughout the term.