HFIMK9002 – Photofake
Course description
Course content
Never before in history have people taken and shared more photos than today. Meanwhile, it has become easier to make images that look like photographs when they are not. The same goes for video. Creating pictures and videos that imitate photographically generated images can have several functions. For example, it can be convenient, economical, or aesthetically attractive in developing fiction films or games. It is then often referred to as "Visual effects" (VFX). It may also be part of a desire to spread confusion and disinformation. In recent times we have witnessed increasingly extensive and aggressive disinformation campaigns in authoritarian and democratic countries. We see everything from so-called AI-generated videos and photorealistic computer-generated images (CGI) to photographically generated pictures with misleading or incorrect captions and subject tags. How are we as a society equipped to sort through this diversity? Do we have a photo-theoretical conceptual apparatus that is good enough? Do we have institutions with the right tools to handle the issues we are now facing?
The course focuses on concrete practices for the production and modification of photographs as well as photorealistic images that look confusingly like photographs. We also look more closely at different approaches for assessing or verifying images.
The subject is rooted in media studies and emphasizes how the production and distribution of images work with different media, platforms, genres, and objectives.
We look more closely at terms such as photography, manipulation, synthetic images, representation, and photorealism.
Learning outcome
When you have passed the course, you will:
Knowledge
- Know a selection of concrete practices for producing and modifying photographs
- Know a selection of concrete practices for producing photorealistic images confusingly similar to photography
- Know different practices and tools for assessing or verifying images.
- Have in-depth knowledge of central theories and core concepts within the research field of visual disinformation
- Have good insight into the significance of different media, platforms, genres, objectives, and verbal contexts in communication
- Be able to contribute to the development of new knowledge by connecting the theoretical challenges in the field to your own research
Skills
- Be able to present and explain fundamental theories and concepts that are relevant in the study of photography, photorealism, and visual disinformation
- Be able to use theories and concepts from media studies to shed light on issues connected to the production and distribution of images
- Be able to discuss concrete practices for the production and modification of photographs as well as photo-realistic images that look confusingly like photographs.
- Assess the appropriateness of different practices for judging or verifying images.
- Be able to formulate a crucial research question within the field indicated by the course that is relevant to your Ph.D. project
- Be able to handle complex academic questions and challenge established knowledge within the field
General competencies
- Be able to communicate research to the general public and specialists
- Be able to ask well-grounded academic questions and identify new relevant issues about photographic manipulation and photorealistic images
- Be able to reflect critically on various practices for handling visual disinformation
- Be able to take part in discussions within the field in academic arenas nationally and internationally
Admission to the course
This course is open for students admitted on PhD programs at the University of Oslo or other Norwegian institutions. Interested participants should provide the following documents:
a short description of the doctoral project (max 1 page, ca 400 words), including information on work done so far.
a motivation letter explaining how this course is relevant for their doctoral research?
for students from other institutions than UiO: an admission confirmation from their host institution.?
Documentation should be sent to the course coordinator (professor?Liv Hausken) by?31 January 2026.?
Recommended previous knowledge
It is recommended that you have some knowledge about photography. For example through the course MEVIT3535 - Fotografi, kultur, samfunn - i et medievitenskaplig perspektiv?or?MEVIT4535 - Fotografi, kultur, samfunn - i et medievitenskaplig perspektiv.
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with MEVIT4517 – Photofake.
Teaching
The teaching consists of four workshops, each lasting about four hours. It is anticipated that everyone will show up prepared for these gatherings. Everyone is also expected to develop individual projects and work independently between meetings.
Attendance is expected at all workshops: you are part of a learning community, and the point of the workshops is to learn from teachers and fellow students, be inspired, let your knowledge and opinions be challenged and get feedback on your work. Students are also required to participate actively in class discussions. Attendance, staying informed, and engagement with the teacher, fellow students, and the course material are expected for you to get the most out of the course and to be able to do your best in the final exam.
The?course is offered at two levels jointly, in this case, both at Ph.D. and Master's levels. There will be both master's students and Ph.D. candidates at the workshops.
Compulsory activities:
To be allowed to take the exam in this course, your topic, research questions and any adjustment to the syllabus must be approved.
The compulsory activity will be assessed as approved/not approved. Approval of the assignment is a prerequisite for being allowed to sit for the examination.??
If you get ill or have other valid reasons for not being able to meet the deadline of the compulsory activity, you must apply for valid absence or postponed deadline.?Read more about compulsory activities at the Faculty of Humanities and find link to the application form.?
Approved compulsory activities are only valid the semester you attend the course.
Syllabus:
The course has a syllabus of approximately 500 pages. Up to 30% can be replaced in consultation with the course coordinator.
Examination
The exam consists of a short speech ("TED talk" style), a submitted script for the speech as well as a brief academic report that explains the academic basis for the speech.
A "TED talk" is a recorded public-speaking presentation that showcases essential research and ideas and explores how they are connected. The talk should have a clear aim/research question, be long enough for a speaker to formulate an idea but short enough for a listener to absorb, digest, and understand.? The talk aims to teach how to think critically about new or challenging information.
The talk can be presented, and the submitted script?and the academic report?can be written in English, Norwegian, or other Scandinavian languages.
Language of examination
You may submit all tasks in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.