Visual Culture – (M.A.)

Contents

The MA Visual Culture pathway – Art, Photography and Film – will introduce you to the new and fast-growing intellectual field of Visual Culture by examining the histories, theories and practices of cultural production and consumption of visual images / objects in the contemporary and modern world. Western and, increasingly, global culture is dominated by the visual images, whether material or virtual, and by visual experience.

This pathway works through an exciting interdisciplinary framework – you will be encouraged to connect your studies across visual arts, architecture, film, cultural studies and critical theory, cultural geography and history.
You will have the opportunity to concentrate on the modern period (post-1750), as well as the option to use your modules from a range of disciplines in which visual culture is a key research focus.

The core module – Critical Approaches to Art History and Visual Culture – covers a range of theoretical issues relating to the study of art history and visual culture. The objective is to help you consider both the practical demands of research and the philosophical questions we need to address in order to undertake a historical analysis of images. In particular, the course is designed to foster critical thinking and develop analytical skills.

The material we cover on this module is extensive and includes: the contemporary debate between art history versus visual culture; ways of looking; the construction of the artist; histories of the image; the culture industry; and, issues raised by psychoanalytic and feminist criticism. As such the readings and images under discussion are diverse, from Vasari to Amelia Jones, and from Bernini to Maurizio Cattalan. You will also be asked to attend weekly meetings to share your ideas and debate the issues arising from the reading and visual materials set by the staff.

Although this pathway is offered by the Department of Art History, you will be required to take one module in the Institute of Film Studies. You will also be eligible – with the permission of the Course Leader – to take modules from other Schools within the Faculty of Arts.