Research Centre

Institutional profile

The project Photography Art Feminism. History, theories and practices of resistance in contemporary visual culture aims to set up a research group involving professors and researchers from the Department of Sciences for Life Quality Studies of the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Enterprises of the University of Parma, the Department of Philosophy, Communication and Performing Arts of the University of Roma Tre, the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania in order to develop scientific collaboration for carrying out specific research activities.

The research lines, in addition to the specific objectives, concern:

1. Organising seminars, workshops and coordinating specific publications and monographic issues of scientific journals;
2. Establishing long-term relationships on an international basis and acting as an incubator for competitive projects;
3. Fostering exchange between universities and museum institutions;
4. Encouraging the establishment of an Interdepartmental/Inter-University Centre on the subject of study and research.

Cultural project

The project focuses on the relationship between Photography, Art and Feminism in contemporary visual culture. Since the last decades of the twentieth century, thanks to the expansion of analytical tools favoured by cultural studies and gender studies, areas of study and research have progressively developed that focuse on new identities, and on new cultural and political demands. Among them, the role of women and their contribution to art and visual culture has been one of the most fertile and important ones. Within this new area of interest, the role and significance of women's photographic practices has, in turn, constituted a line of development in scientific studies, as well as in museum and curatorial initiatives.

The object of study of the research team will be the poetics, works and exhibitions that make up the fabric of the relationship among women, art and photography and, therefore, their explicit or potential contribution to the call for emancipation of the feminist gaze.

Key words

Photography, Contemporary art, Women, Feminism, Identity, Gender