Joshua Thorson Headshot

Joshua Thorson

Associate Professor

School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
College of Art and Design
Graduate Program Director, Photography and Related Media

Joshua Thorson

Associate Professor

School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
College of Art and Design
Graduate Program Director, Photography and Related Media

Education

BA, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; MFA, Bard College; Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute


Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Shows/Exhibits/Installations
Thorson, Joshua. Oklahoma! Video Projections. 2018. St Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua. Oklahoma! video projections. 2019. Circle in the Square Theater, New York City. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua. Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Projection Design nomination. 2019. Town Hall, New York City. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua, et al. Special Citation Obie Award for Oklahoma!, video projections. 2019. New York, New York City. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua and Nick Hallett. To Music, Act IV, video projections. 23 Oct. 2019. Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua and Nick Hallett. To Music, Act III, video projections. 21 Jun. 2019. Issue Project Room, Brooklyn. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua, Five by Five, and Missy Pfohl Smith. Source of Light. 7 Dec. 2018. Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua. In Xanadu. 12 Apr. 2017. Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY. Installation.
Thorson, Joshua. Words and Works. n.d. Malmo University, Malmo, Sweden. Exhibit.
Thorson, Joshua. In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Director. Nigel Maister. 12-21 Oct. 2017. University of Rochester Todd Union Theater, Rochester, NY. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua. To Music (Act II). By Nick Hallett and Joshua Thorson. 15 Dec. 2016. Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua. In Xanadu (part of Words & Works collab with MURIT). 11-22 Oct. 2016. Rochester Design Center, Rochester, NY. Installation.
Thorson, Joshua. To Music. By Nick Hallett and Joshua Thorson. 1 Apr. 2015. Roulette, Brooklyn, NY. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua. Requiem Reimagined. By Sleeping Giant, Daniel Fish, and Joshua Thorson. 21-22 Mar. 2015. Troy Music Hall, Troy, NY. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua. Oklahoma! Director. Daniel Fish. 6/25-7/19 Jun. 2015. Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Performance.
Thorson, Joshua. Untitled (Room). 4-5 Dec. 2015. Lyric Opera, Rochester, NY. Exhibit.
Thorson, Joshua. Urban Renewal. By Kyle deCamp. 16-17 Jan. 2015. Storefront Theater, Chicago, IL. Performance.
Book Chapter
Thorson, Joshua. "untitled." Charles Atlas. Ed. Raphael Gygax, et al.. Zurich, Switzerland: JRP Ringier, 2019. 75-77. Print.
Published Review
Thorson, Joshua. "Aura Satz: Eyelids Leaking Light." Rev. of Eyelids Leaking Light, ed. Francis Morgan. The Wire 1 Apr. 2015: 82. Print.
Invited Article/Publication
Thorson, Josh. "Evenings in New York." Connu.co. (2014). Web.

Currently Teaching

FDTN-141
3 Credits
4D Design introduces students to the basic concepts of art and design in time and space. The course explores elements of moving images such as continuity, still and moving image editing, transitions and syntax, sound and image relations, and principles of movement. Computers, video, photo, sound and lighting equipment are used to create short-form time-based work relevant to students in all majors and programs required to take this course. The course addresses the both historical conventions of time in art and recent technological advances, which are redefining the fields of Fine Art and Design. In focusing on the relations between students' spacing and timing skills, 4D Design extends and supplements the other Foundation courses, and prepares students for further work with time-based media.
PHAR-150
3 Credits
An introduction to technical, aesthetic, and conceptual topics in black-and-white still photography for non-photography majors. Through weekly assignments, students will become familiar with the operation of a 35mm camera body, lenses, and film processing and printing, while exploring basic principles of lighting, depth of field, principles of design, blur, stop motion, exposure, and tone control. Lectures will address photographic aesthetics, in addition to historical, contemporary and innovative practices. Students will engage in the language of the critique through participation in discussions of photographic shooting assignments. Students are required to provide their own 35mm camera, film and processing, and photo paper. Non-Photo majors only. **Fee: This course has a facilities fee for Non-SPAS students**
PHAR-160
3 Credits
An introduction to digital photography – technical, aesthetic, conceptual – for non-photography majors. Through weekly assignments, students will become familiar with the operation of a DSLR camera body/lens, while exploring the basic principles of lighting, depth of field, design, blur/stop motion, accurate exposure, and image manipulation. Lectures will address photographic aesthetics, contemporary and historical practices, and professional applications. Students will learn to critique work through participation in discussions of photographic assignments. Students are required to have their own DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera. Non-photo majors only. **A materials fee is required for this course and an additional facilities fee for non-SPAS students**
PHAR-599
1 - 3 Credits
Photography Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, will propose a course of study. Photography Independent Study students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll.
PHFA-556
3 Credits
This course explores the history and evolution of the moving image in visual art. Students will utilize digital and analog imagery to create new work that expands on the disciplines of photography and video. Throughout this course, students will develop a body of diverse work that explores time-based art for production, installation, web-based and social media platforms. Exploring a wide range of video, digital imaging, projection, and photographic artists and methods, students will have an opportunity to integrate the moving image into their individual discipline and portfolio of work. Students will work with photographic processes, digital tools, mobile devices, editing and compositing software, and projection technologies to create and display work. Published writings and work by established artists are also read and discussed.
PHGR-656
3 Credits
This course will explore the history and evolution of the moving image in visual art. Students will use digital and analog technology to create new work that expands on the disciplines of photography and video. Throughout this course, students will explore time-based media for production, installation, web-based, and social media platforms using mobile devices, editing, compositing software, and projection technologies to create and display work. Exploring a wide range of video, digital imaging, projection, and photographic artists and methods, students will have an opportunity to integrate the moving image into their individual discipline and portfolio of work. Students will also read and discuss published writings and work by established artists.
PHGR-698
1 - 3 Credits
The Photography Internship will provide students with the option to work in the photographic field. Students may apply for internships to businesses based on the availability of positions and business needs. Students must obtain permission of an instructor.
PHGR-716
3 Credits
In this course students will integrate writing, research methods, and experimental problem solving skills to further develop studio practices through integrated project based assignments and projects. Students will hone their skills in art practices, critical analysis, strategies for making, and writing about artwork through developing expanded practices within studio experimentation and artistic thinking. Throughout the semester, the students will become familiar with multiple research facilities throughout the University and the region.
PHGR-723
3 Credits
This course is the second in a sequence of two courses focusing on the completion of the thesis publication and thesis defense. Supported by the research tools and resources outlined in Research Core I, students will conduct mock defenses and complete all components of the thesis publication. At the conclusion of the course, students will successfully submit their thesis publication to ProQuest.
PHGR-799
1 - 4 Credits
An independent study allows graduate students in the Photography and Related Media program the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined goals and outcomes. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. **NOTE: Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA *
PHGR-887
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide photography students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
PHGR-890
6 Credits
Students produce a thesis as a component of the MFA degree in Photography and Related Media. The completion of the thesis exhibition, from artwork to the installation, is the focus of this course.
PHGR-892
0 Credits
The Continuation of Thesis Imaging Arts course provides students additional semester(s) to complete their thesis research, project, and thesis document.

In the News

  • August 19, 2020

    students in a classroom throwing paper airplanes.

    RIT students start semester with encouragement and precautions

    RIT welcomes a record number of first-year students today as classes begin in a semester that will look like no other due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new students were welcomed Tuesday afternoon during an online convocation that featured several speakers, livestreamed without an audience from Ingle Auditorium.

  • May 4, 2020

    assistant professor Josh Thorson.

    Josh Thorson culminates rewarding, challenging year with Eisenhart Award

    It’s been an eventful year for Josh Thorson. The assistant professor of photography created the live video projections for the Broadway production of Oklahoma!, which won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival. He also was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Projection Design. And he is now the 2019-20 recipient of the Richard and Virginia Eisenhart Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Featured Work