Michael Shanks - site 2006: Photography and the concept of discourse

An archaeological approach to photography - media archaeology, focusing on medium as mode of engagement;

also serving as notes for Archaeography - the class.

points

the concept of photowork - that photography is more than taking photographs, but involves specific modes of engagement, mediations of object, instrument, representation, operative, viewer - specific workflows, from camera and film preparation to image distribution and publication
discourse refers to everything that makes such photowork possible - standards and infrastructures, instrument design and availability, schemata (Gombrich's concept of paradigms of imaging), systems of qualification and accreditation (training courses), systems of distribution and publication, funding agencies, archives ...