Among the goals of this class will be to better understand the language of photography in its various cultural forms and to investigate the medium’s contentious relationship to representation and storytelling. A key question will be: how can a better understanding of photographic methods and materials help one use photography as a persuasive visual language and as an effective mode of personal creative expression? Students will learn advanced black and white darkroom printing and techniques as well as medium and large format photography using 4x5 cameras and film. Students will develop a body of work over the course of the semester.