Photography and Evidence

This course investigates the status of photographs as evidence in different contexts. Unlike many media, photography has important applied functions related to its evidentiary authority. How do photographic images serve as evidence in history, science, journalism, anthropology, politics, advertising and popular culture? Is a picture worth a thousand words? Can photographs lie? Should we believe our eyes? What philosophical, technical, political and practical presumptions are involved in the use of photographs as evidence? When and how is photographic evidence contested? How do artists explore the evidentiary potential of the medium?