Visual Culture and Communication

Visual images permeate every aspect of daily life, through social media, advertising, music videos, TV shows, film, art, fashion, video games, and sports. But we are often so accustomed to the constant flow of images that we do not critically examine them. What happens when we peel apart at the many-layered meanings of visual images? How do images communicate important parts of culture, politics, or the construction of social value? How do individuals or social movements push back on dominant norms and construct their own forms of visual meaning and communication? This course focuses how meaning is embedded in images, through theoretical readings paired with contemporary examples. Students will learn how to read and analyze a variety of visual forms, including from popular culture, politics, art, and museums.