Communications Studies (COMS) 367 - Lecture 02
Introduction to Visual Culture
Fall 2008
Saturday: 8:00 A.M. Class dates: September 13, 20, 27; October 4, 18, 25; November 1, 15, 22, 29

 

Instructor:	Shane Halasz
Office Location:	SS 209
Office Phone:	N/A
E-Mail:	sdhalasz@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	Blackboard
Office Hours:	By appointment

 

Course Description

This course will introduce students to various methods of studying visual culture. By examining visual artifacts from multiple sources and historical periods we will seek to uncover the "hidden meanings" and ideological dimensions of images and spaces. Notions of hegemony and resistance will be applied to the study of advertising, fine art, fashion, photography and several genres of television and film.

Objectives of the Course

Through readings, lectures/discussion, and assignments students should be able to answer the following questions after taking this class:

• What is visual culture and how do you experience the visual world that surrounds us?
• What is the relationship between representations and cultural discourses?
• How do ways of knowing influence ways of seeing?
• What power relationships are at play in the production and consumption of various visual artifacts?

Textbooks and Readings:

Sturken, M. & Cartwright, L. (2001). Practices of looking: An introduction to visual culture. New York: Oxford University Press.

Assignments and Evaluation

1. Mid-term Exam (15%) October 4, 2008

This exam will involve the definition of key terms and an on-the-spot analysis of a given image or text using concepts and methods discussed in class.

2. Adbuster Project (30%) Due November 1, 2008

Students will work in small groups to identify and subvert the codes of meaning in a print or video (according to their technical capabilities) advertisement by "adbusting" it. Copies of the original and busted ad will be submitted to the instructor along with a one-page (single-spaced) explanation of how the original ad worked and how the adbuster subverts the messaging of the original. Original and busted ads will be presented and discussed in class.

3. Visual Culture Journal (25%) Due November 29, 2008

In a notebook, students are asked to collect images on a "regular" basis throughout the duration of the course. These images are to be accompanied by critical analyses or commentary, which link the images to methods of visual analysis, cultural discourse or other disciplinary fields with which the student has experience or interest.

The visual journals should contain approximately 15 pages of written entries, in addition to at least 15 -20 attached images. The individual journal entries may be of any length. The journals should start on the first day and be updated weekly and maybe used to focus discussions during class.

4. Final Exam (30%)

This essay-based exam will test students' knowledge of course concepts discussed throughout the year. Date to be determined by registrar.

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  YES

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

(Revised, effective September 2008)

 

	Grading Scale
A+	96-100
A	90-95.99
A -	85-89.99
B+	80-84.99
B	75-79.99
B-	70-74.99
C+	65-69.99
C	60-64.99
C-	55-59.99
D+	53-54.99
D	50-52.99
F	0-49

 

Where a grade on a particular assignment is expressed as a letter grade, it will normally be converted to a number using the midpoint of the scale.  That is, A- would be converted to 87.5 for calculation purposes.  F will be converted to zero.

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Research Ethics site: http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics

or the University of Calgary Research Ethics site: http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be handed out in the first class.