Basic Critical Theory for Photographers

Foreword

For photographers, the word ‘theory’ usually conjures up images of scientific formulae or equally impenetrable academic critical writing that features words like ‘discursive’, ‘signifier’ and ‘intertextual’ rather a lot. But this book is obviously not about the former at all, and only tackles the more useful, accessible and stimulating texts of the latter variety.

Some of these texts have been written by photographers whose thoughts on the medium have been informed by first hand practical experience, whilst others contain reflections on the subject from eminent philosophical writers, curators, critics and cultural commentators who have trained their spotlights on photography with increasing enthusiasm over the last thirty years or so. ...