In the twentieth century, documentary photography has shaped the collective perception of social problems in the US. In this course, we will analyze key historical contexts for the development of documentary photography: the early twentieth century concern with racial reform and immigrant mobility; the migrant worker crisis in the 1930s; and the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. We will read a range of texts, including theoretical articles on photography, historical analyses of the uses of documentary photography, and photographic essays. Writers include: Roland Barthes; Jacob Riis; James Agee and Walker Evans; Richard Wright; Susan Sontag; Laura Wexler; John Tagg; Jacqueline Goldsby. Students will be expected to write two short papers (5-7 pages), to write in-class from time to time, and to participate in class presentations/group work. Most of your required reading will be included in a course packet available from The Ave Copy Center. A couple of other texts will be available from the UW Bookstore: Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and 12 Million Black Voices.