It's a Family Affair

Open to the Art School only. This course may be
open to students at other year levels, and in
other Schools, by Permission of Instructor.
Drawing upon the myths & experiences of family in
Western society, this class will take up
representations of the family as they inhabit
histories of photography and also examine how
cultural histories have impacted kin structures.
While each of us has our own unique and complex
way of defining family, the myths of family often
portray non-normative families as dysfunctional.
We will explore the framework from which the
nuclear concept of family emerged and question
the expectations of this structure. We will also
examine the convergence of kin relationships over
time and the influence of historical events &
histories on their configurations. Through the
development of independent student projects,
research, writing, and discussion, we will ask:
What are the implications of these histories on
how we navigate the concept and representation of
family? During this practice course we will
consider works & readings of contemporary artists.