Courses

BFO-233-01 Theory 1 **
ECTS points: 3
Prof. Dr. Fromm

BFO-233-02 Theorie 1 ** (German)
ECTS points: 3
Prof. Dr. Fromm

BFO-233-03 Theory 2 **
ECTS points: 3
Prof. Dr. Fromm

BFO-233-04 Theorie 2 ** (German)
ECTS points: 3
Prof. Dr. Fromm

Qualification goals: Students will have a good overview of current discourses in visual culture. They know essential questions and can deal with them based on scientific methods. Students apply theoretical positions and methods to current manifestations of visual culture and can reflect on their own visual practice on this basis.

Course content: Thematic theory seminars on various, changing aspects and focuses that productively advance questions about the possibilities of the documentary and the development of visual narratives in the field of tension between classical documentary photographic narrative forms and current positionings in the field. Topics here are in particular:

— Documentary Practices
— Photography and Power
— Algorithm and non-human photography
— Immersion
— War and Crisis in Film and Photography
— The photographer as editor
— Research-based Photobooks
— Gender & Diversity

Courses

BFO-224-01 Photo Workshop
ECTS points: 6
Prof. Bangert

BFO-224-02 Photobook
ECTS points: 6
External lecturer

BFO-224-03 Porträt narrative (German)
ECTS points: 6
Prof. Trippel

Qualification goals: For the module Workshop II there is the possibility to choose among three different practical projects. All workshops offer qualification for different presentation and publication contexts. Thus, students learn to conceptualize and produce a photo book based on their own photographic work. The ‘Photo Workshop’ strengthens the joint work in the team and the process of team building. In cooperation with project partners, students acquire concrete practical experience for the realization of publications, exhibitions, conferences, symposia, excursions, or workshops. In the workshop ‘Portrait, Narrative’, students learn how to photograph a professional portrait using image examples and their own practical assignments—on location.

Course content:

‘Photobook’:

— Overview of different photo book concepts
— Concept and realization of photo books
— Relationship of image, text, design
— Production planning

‘Photo Workshop’:

— Project and production planning in a team
— Cooperation with practice partners

‘Portrait, narrative’:

— Difference between portrait and illustration
— Light setting
— Integration of background and environment
— Confidence in dealing with portrait subjects
— Certainty about one’s own artistic possibilities
— Emotionality
— Authenticity

Courses

BFO-225-01 Online Magazine u. Social Media (German)
ECTS points: 3
External lecturer

BFO-225-02 Text u. Social Media Digitale Kommunikationsstrategien (German)
ECTS points: 3
External lecturer

BFO-225-03 Entrepreneurship
ECTS points: 3
Prof. Bauernschmitt


Qualification Objectives: The module Qualification V provides a range of different practical and theoretical principles for the realization of projects in the field of visual storytelling.
In the seminar ‘Entrepreneurship’ students learn about different legal forms of companies. You understand their function, as well as the advantages and disadvantages related to different business purposes. You will learn and understand the basics of cost and activity accounting and controlling. Students should be able to plan and organize their own businesses and perform budget planning.
In the workshop ‘Online Magazine Text u. Social Media’ students consolidate their skills in journalistic writing with a special focus on social media texts.
The workshop ‘Digital Communication Strategies’ enables the development of brand positioning using common positioning methods and trains the elaboration of communication strategies considering current trends in digital media usage.

Course content:

‘Entrepreneurship:

— Fundamentals of business administration
— Legal forms of companies
— Cost and performance accounting

‘Online Magazine Text u. Social Media’:

— Creating concrete texts for an online magazine
— Text creation for different social media formats

‘Digital Communication Strategies:

— Developments and trends in digital media use
— Potentials of holistic brand positioning
— Common positioning methods
— Definition of communication goals
— Determination of target groups
— Persona development
— Values and unique selling propositions
— Use and importance of digital channels
— Planning of communicative measures

Courses

BFO-226-01 Photo Project
ECTS points: 12
Prof. Bangert

BFO-226-02 Photo Project internat. lecturer
ECTS points: 12
External lecturer

BFO-226-03 Short Documentary
ECTS points: 12
Prof. Hauri

Qualification goals: For the module Project V, students work on either a photographic or cinematic project.
For the seminars ‘Photo Project’ the students can produce a given or self-imposed topic over the period of one semester in a qualified way. They can plan, produce, and complete a more extensive photographic project over an extended period of time. They can establish content-related and aesthetic references and make targeted use of narrative design devices. Furthermore, they can critically evaluate their actions and place them in a social context.
In the seminar ‘Short Documentary’, students gain an overview of the various currents of international documentary filmmaking and expand their expertise on current developments in digital shooting and editing techniques. They will develop a feel for the specifics of short films and series formats on the web. They will be able to develop their own visual style and work in a team to create a documentary short film.

Course content: The photographic projects will be presented, discussed and edited in the seminar. Topic identification, research, image selection and image sequence are discussed in the group and worked out together. Various presentation and publication options for the project work will be discussed and implemented.

In the project ‘Short Documentary’, design concepts and styles of documentary camera work as well as dramaturgical characteristics of narrative forms of presentation are taught and applied in an expanded way. Course contents are:
— Design concepts and styles of documentary camera work
— Dramaturgical properties of narrative forms of presentation
— Find and rate topics and news
— Research, treatment, and storyboard
— Interview guide
— Development of own handwriting
— Planning and execution of filming

Courses

BFO-227-01 Photo Workshop
ECTS points: 6
Prof. Bangert

BFO-227-02 Workshop Foto (German)
ECTS points: 6
Prof. Bauernschmitt

Qualification Objectives: Students will have a consolidated knowledge of developing a photographic theme and communicating it through the means of their choice. They confidently use different visual languages and photographic techniques and have knowledge about their specific effects. They master logistics and organization to successfully implement the project.

Course Content: Implementing a photographic project. One focus is on working together as a team. In cooperation with project partners, publications, exhibitions, conferences, symposia, excursions, or workshops can be realized.

Courses

BFO-231-01 Elective Course 3
ECTS points: 3
Lecturers in interdisciplinary teaching, external lecturers

BUE-231-02 Wahlfach 3 (German)
ECTS points: 3
Lecturers in interdisciplinary teaching, external lecturers

BFO-231-03 Elective Course 4
ECTS points: 3
Lecturers in interdisciplinary teaching, external lecturers

BUE-231-04 Wahlfach 4 (German)
ECTS points: 3
Lecturers in interdisciplinary teaching, external lecturers

Qualification Objectives: Students will have acquired advanced skills and professional specializations in various artistic, design, methodological and theoretical areas of art and design practice. They understand how to develop diverse two- and multidimensional solutions practically and experimentally based on diverse artistic-creative questions and techniques. They have learned to develop and expand areas of specialization according to their individual inclinations, or to consciously develop an entirely new field of study as a supplement and extension of their field of study.

Course content: Teaching and individual consolidation of a wide variety of artistic and design methods in theory and practice in a subject of free choice within the range of electives. Artistic choices range from drawing, printmaking techniques, painting, sculpture, and objects to animation, video, video installation, site-specific work, staging, and performance. The elective offerings in the design programs provide the opportunity to further qualify in areas of fashion, photography, media design, interior design, scenography/costume, product design, and visual communication (depending on the offerings).