FH2S43 - Documentary Industries 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: FH2S43
Module Title: Documentary Industries
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: David Barnes, Steven Wright, Karin Bareman
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 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

  • To introduce you to the numerous professional opportunities within the profession of documentary photography.
  • To familiarise yourself with the expectations and protocols of a career in documentary photography.
  • To further develop your research and writing skills whilst also extending your confidence in public speaking.

Content Summary

This module establishes the commencement of the student’s enquiries into the professional practices of Documentary Photography. It considers the changing roles of documentary within a wide-ranging industry, and the emerging forms of storytelling possible within the digital world.

The module requires the student to research and deliver a detailed Case Study of an aspect of professional practice that interests them and might represent a future career path. In addition to a written text they are required to make a short oral presentation of their findings.

The Case Study will examine the link between the working methods of the photographer, how the work has been published or otherwise disseminated, and importantly, how it has been received by viewers. Social and ethical issues of engagement with the subject, and the nature of institutions in commissioning must be considered.

Areas of study will respond to the students own interests, but can include long-form documentary commissioning, photojournalism, multimedia, photo-book production, visual anthropology, documentary film etc.

Students will be encouraged to engage in research and engagement activities with the professional world off photography including regaularly visiting photography galleries and institutions.

All relevent work experience or placement opportunities will adhere to USW workbased learning guidelines.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 8
Seminar 30
Tutorial 2
Work based learning 70
Independent Study 68
Directed Study 22
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Reflect on the nature of professional practice in their discipline and develop an awareness of industry contexts and expectations.
LO2 Reflect upon the way their research has contributed to their professional understanding, using this to develop future personal/professional development.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1 The Case Study will be presented as a short oral presentation to the class 10 N/A 30 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 Students are required to prepare a detailed Case Study on the working practices of a photographer or an area of professional practice which could represent a future career path for themselves. The Case Study should aim to be an authoritative account of the, expectations and protocols and debates involved in specific areas of the industry. 0 3500 70 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1
Case study 1

Reading List

Balsom, E. and Peleg, H. (2016) Documentary Across Disciplines. Berlin and Cambridge MA

Caroll, H. (2018) Photographers on Photography. Laurence King Publishing.

Willumeit, Lars. 2016. The (Un)Becomings of Photography. Foundation for Visual Arts, Krakow

Demos, T.J. 2013, The Migrant Image: The Art and Politics of Documentary during Global Crisis

Azoulay, A. 2008. The Civil Contract of Photography. New York: Zone Books.

Freeman, M (2018) The Routledge companion to transmedia studies. New York

Good J and Lowe, P (2018). Understanding Photojournalism. Bloomsbury

Williams, G (2014) How to Write about Contemporary Art. Thames and Hudson

Sekula, A. (1984). Photography against the grain. Halifax: Nova Scotia College of Art Design

O’Doherty, B. (2000). Inside the White Cube. Uni of California Pres

Ruby, J. (2000). Picturing culture. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press

Anderson, B (2016). Imagined Communities. London: Verso

Hurn, D and Jay,B (1997) . On Being a Photographer. Lens Work Publishing.