FH2D07 - Framing Documentary 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: FH2D07
Module Title: Framing Documentary
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Fashion, Marketing and Photography
Faculty Sub Group: Photography
Module Leader: Paul Reas, Eileen Little
Module Team: Sebastian Bruno, David Barnes, Steven Wright, Fergus Thomas, Karin Bareman
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100632 - visual communication
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

This module has been designed to encourage an appraisal of conventional notions of documentary. It provides an opportunity to create new work which might challenge methods of production and solutions of presentation which may be tired or no longer successful forms of visual communication.

Students are encouraged to consider ways of disseminating their work into the world.

  • To challenge, through the production of new work, traditional ideas of what constitutes a documentary practice in the 21st century.
  • To communicate complex messages in an innovative and interesting way.
  • To consider the relationship between photographer and subject.

Content Summary

This is a module where the student works as a member of a small group. The group are tasked to make a project about a specific community of their choosing and to display the completed in that community.

Through their earlier studies in level four Documentary Photography students were enabled (through a practical exploration of a narrative approach-modelled on the picture story) to examine the historic conventions of the medium whilst exploring, in the final semester of level four, some alternate strategies for story-telling and visual communication.

This module extends the need for a more diverse and agile response to subject and encourages more pertinent forms of communication in engaging with new audiences. However, the first consideration will be content in all aspects. The single element that makes it possible to label a series ‘documentary’ is the works engagement with social, cultural, political or economic issues of the day. Style and method of production are a second obvious consideration and should be appropriate to the intended context of the completed work (the gallery, the book, the magazine, the public art project, installation, time-based presentation etc. –they each have their relevance). A broad research base and an appreciation of the ‘placing’ of contemporary photography is something we will encourage you to develop throughout the module.

Working as a member of a group and drawing upon recognised cultural keywords (for example, Community) the student will embark upon research into their chosen area. This research will be presented in the form of a portfolio which should evidence the students research and progression of thinking in relation to subject and artists whose work may have been influential. This should engage specifically with the students chosen community but also embrace contemporary and historical precedents for their proposed response.

The portfolio and its associated research, will establish the basis upon which the student will proceed to make a piece of work within/about their chosen subject, working within the framework of a group whilst making an individual visual response.

On conclusion of the module the completed work will form the basis of a group exhibition/display.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 8
Seminar 35
Tutorial 1
Project supervision 20
Practical classes and workshops 10
Independent Study 161
Directed Study 145
Groupwork 20
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Generate and develop ideas, proposals, solutions or arguments that demonstrate creative and intellectual enquiry and to effectively communicate these in a written and visual form whilst taking appropriate account of contexts and audiences.
LO2 Select and use appropriate production processes, coupled with an understanding of the potential of new technologies, procedures and processes.
LO3 Work as a member of a group, identify targets, organise resources, manage workloads and meet deadlines whilst accepting responsibility in order to achieve stated goals.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Project Output 1 The module requires each group of students to exhibit/display the work they have made in a suitable venue/location they have been working in. Each individual students exhibited work within the exhibition is assessed separately. 0 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 Students are required to produce a portfolio of photographic work which engages with notions explored -and as defined in the briefing document and illustrated in the briefing lecture. This work should be accompanied by a detailed project proposal. This proposal should not only define the parameters of the work but also clearly indicate the conceptual underpinning of the work itself. 0 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Project Output 1
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Gill, S. (2010) Coming up for air, London: Nobody

Degiorgis, N (2014). Hidden Islam. Rorhof.

Arnatt, K. (1989) ‘Rubbish and Recollections’. Llandudno.

Baart, T. (2005) Territoreum Amsterdam. Ideas on Paper

Gossage, J. (1985) The Pond. New York: Aperture,.

Wienand, A(2011), Colossal Youth, Peperoni Books, Berlin 2011

Graham, P. (2003) American Night, Steid

Hassink, J. (2008) The Power Book. London, Boot

Van Kesteren, G.(2008) Baghdad Calling, Episod.

Moriyama, D. (2002) Shinjuku. Tucson,

Seawright, P. (2005) Field Notes, Antwerp: Museum for Photography, Antwerp

Shambroom, P. (2005) Meetings, Boot.

Schmidt, M.(1987) Waffenruhe Berlin, Nishen

Exit Group. (1979) Survival Programmes. Oxford University Press.

Davidson. B. (1970) East 100 Street. Harvard University Press.