French Photography
A survey of French photography from its invention in the 1820s to today, taught in English at MIT. The course moves through major photographers and iconic images of the French tradition, from early daguerreotypes to contemporary work, asking what social and cultural roles photographs have played across two centuries. Students examine how images shape memory, identity, and public life in France, and the syllabus builds toward analyzing today's own photo-saturated environment. Alongside the historical material, the course gives students hands-on practice making photographs, so coursework mixes visual analysis, readings, and a practical shooting component. Materials come from MIT OpenCourseWare and include the syllabus, readings, and assignments used in the original classroom version, free to access with no certificate attached. It works as both an introduction to French visual culture and a basic grounding in how to read a photograph critically.