Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/sheying

In today’s digital age, photography has become an integral part of our daily lives. We snap pictures, share them on social media, and scroll through countless images without truly understanding the depth and artistry behind them. This is where the Coursera course ‘透过摄影看世界’ (Exploring the World Through Photography) comes into play.

This course aims to bridge the gap between merely viewing photographs and truly comprehending their significance. It delves into the creative processes, techniques, and historical contexts that shape photographic works.

One of the highlights of the course is the opportunity to closely examine photographs from the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Through various perspectives, learners will explore how photography has evolved over nearly 180 years, serving as a medium for artistic expression, scientific exploration, documentary evidence, storytelling, and a mode of communication in our increasingly visual culture.

### Learning Objectives
The course is structured around several key learning objectives:
1. Develop skills to better examine and understand the differences between photographs and photographic images.
2. Discover how context influences the creation, dissemination, and reception of photographic images.
3. Learn about the artistic and technical experimentation and innovation in various modes of photography.
4. Explore the role of photography in a culture that is becoming increasingly visual.

### Course Syllabus Overview
The course begins with an introduction that emphasizes photography as a universal language, as noted by Philip-Lorca di Corcia. It then progresses through various themes:
– **A Theme, Many Perspectives**: Understanding the historical use of photography to capture familiar subjects across different contexts.
– **Documentary Photography**: Exploring various approaches to documentary photography, including critiques of the reliability of photographs as evidence.
– **Portrait Photography**: Analyzing how choices made by photographers and subjects influence our assumptions about the depicted individuals.
– **Constructing Narratives and Challenging History**: Learning critical viewing methods to understand how photographs construct narratives that shape our understanding of the world.
– **The Ocean of Images: Photography and Contemporary Culture**: Examining how contemporary artists engage with our image-saturated world as both a source and subject of their work.

### Recommendation
I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in enhancing their visual literacy and understanding the profound impact of photography in our lives. Whether you are a budding photographer, an art enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys looking at images, this course will provide you with valuable insights and skills.

By the end of the course, you will not only appreciate photography on a deeper level but also be equipped to critically engage with the images that surround us every day. Join this enlightening journey and discover the world through the lens of photography!

Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/sheying