Street Photography, Modernity, and Realism: Dr. Parme Giuntini
In trying to understand the history and tradition of street photography, I find myself having to trace the tradition of realism – as documentary street photography is grounded in realism, rather than romanticism.
In the below video series Dr. Parme Giuntini, Director of Art History at Otis College of Art and Design, will discuss what it means to be Modern, why it happened in Europe, what were the current ideas and philosophies, and how that influenced the people making art – including photography.
Industrialization, urbanization, depersonalization, alienation, secularism, and optimism are all characteristic of modernity. Another aspect of realism and modernity can be seen in the genre paintings which articulated the everyday life of the common man.
Modernity and Realism Pt 1: Becoming Modern
Otis Modern Art 02: Modernity and Realism Pt 2: Painting the Real
In this chapter, Dr. Giuntini discusses Photography, one of the most interesting inventions of the 19th Century. Photography changed how people thought about the notion of reality. Did photographs really show reality? Was photography even considered fine art?
Modernity and Realism Pt 3: 19th Century Photography
Dr. Giuntini presents the final lecture on Realism in art. She discusses modernity, popular culture, and the influence of the World Fairs, a modern public spectacle. We complete the study of Realism with Edouard Manet, who shattered the cherished conventions of Academic art with his controversial paintings.
Modernity and Realsim Pt 4: Manet: Realism Beyond Courbet