COMR 1800-720
Visual Literacy: Images and Ideologies
Fall 2011
T/R 11-12:15
Professor Kendra Gale
Office hours: M 3-5; Thurs 5:30 – 7
and by appointment
Office: Buckingham S121
Email: kendra.gale@colorado.edu
Course Description and Goals
Images have always been used to inform, educate and persuade. Today, with the widespread adoption of
digital imagery, we are inundated with more images than ever before. Yet we often remain naïve about
how images persuade and the ways in which images are culture-bound. This course challenges the idea
that “seeing is believing” and encourages you to think more carefully about the visual world you
experience daily. In this course, you will learn how the brain processes images, why images look the way
they do, and how images are used to communicate, persuade and mislead. We’ll explore the development
of the Western European visual system through art, photography, film, and television, and how social and
political practices are embedded in images
Visual literacy requires an understanding of communication as part of a system of representation that is
neither naïve nor innocent. By the end of the course, you will have a vocabulary for discussing images
and an understanding of the following visual literacy principles:
• visual representations are constructions that can create a powerful illusion of reality
• images contain and are influenced by values and ideology
• both form and content can contribute to meaning and conventions vary by medium
• audiences can take an active part in interpreting and negotiating the meaning of images
Course Reading and Materials
Required Texts
Berger, Arthur Asa (2008) Seeing is Believing: An Introduction to Visual Communication. New York:
McGraw Hill.
CULearn readings. See Bibliography for full listing
Flashdrive with at least 4 gig
Supplementary Texts
Strickland, Carol (2007) The Annotated Mona Lisa: A crash course in art history from prehistoric to
post-modern.
Demonstration of Learning
Reading Response
Exams
Semiotic paper
Photos
Participation
%
20
50
15
5
10
A brief overview of each element is included below. Detailed explanations of each assignment are
distributed 2 weeks before it is due. Read these carefully. Assignments are also posted on CULearn if
you lose your hard copy.
Reading Response
Questions about the readings are posted on CULearn. These are designed to help you think about the
readings more deeply and to help you prioritize information. Periodically you are required to submit
written responses to readings (see schedule). These are due online via CULearn by 9 a.m. the day of
class.
Exams
The exam format is a combination of multiple choice, true/false, short answer, short essay and visual
identification. The first exam counts for 10% of the course grade and the second and third are each worth
20% of your final grade.
The final exam is Monday, Dec 12, 4:30 – 7. Period. No exceptions. Do NOT book a flight home
or make plans to leave campus before that time.
Semiotic Analysis
This is a short paper (3-5 pages) applying the terms and concepts of semiotics in a critical analysis of an
image. I will introduce the terms in the first few weeks. You will have the rest of the semester to practice
thinking about images this way.
Photos
You will each be assigned a week during the semester to take 20 photos documenting life in and around
Comm RAP. This assignment challenges you to play with various visual elements as well as engage with
questions about documentary.
Participation
I expect you to behave professionally. Part of your professionalism as a student is to be accountable for
your learning, including:
• abide by your contract (the syllabus)
• attend class regularly (see policy below)
• complete work on time
• arrive with an open attitude toward learning (“travelers’ eyes”)
• give respectful attention to the instructor and other students when they are speaking
• come to class prepared to discuss and apply material from the readings and exercises and engage in
discussions with attention and energy. Each of you provides a unique perspective no one else can
contribute
• attend movie screenings
• leave electronics outside the classroom
• respond to reading questions on CULearn
• ask questions. The only bad question is an unasked question.
• provide examples to support or challenge the issues talked about in class;
• make comments, raise objections, or provide observations about topics in the course, particularly those
which tie classroom materials to the world outside.
Grading
I do not grade on a curve. You are competing only with yourself to do your best possible work, not with
each other.
I have no plans to regularly offer extra credit assignments. If I do offer any extra credit, it will be
available to the entire class.
Course Policies, Rules and Procedures
Read these policies carefully. We are both accountable for following these guidelines.
Because my office is in Buckingham, I am in the hall most of the day during the week. If my door is open, you
are welcome to stop in. Generally I am also available immediately after class. The time right before class is
generally not a good time for extensive conversation.
I often send emails to the entire class via your CU account. You are responsible for this information. If you
are using another email account, check that it is being forwarded properly. I will try to respond to email
within 24 hours during the week (M-F). It may take longer over holidays and weekends.
You will also have a list of classmates and contact information. I encourage you to continue the conversation
outside the classroom: study together, talk about the readings, practice your visual skills, etc.
Classroom Environment:
We each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. If you fail to adhere to
such behavioral standards you may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are
especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture,
religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. At the beginning of the
semester I am given a roster with your legal name. However, I will gladly honor your request to address
you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so
that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at:
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at:
http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
Class time is used to illustrate ideas and concepts from the reading. We will go through many visual
examples that are not available outside of class time. Therefore, it is critical that you attend class, and
complete readings prior to the class period for which they are assigned so that you may be actively
engaged. Outlines of topics and key terms for each day are posted on CULearn. Some students find it
helpful to print these out before class to use as an outline for notetaking.
Announcements in class. You are responsible for knowing the information on the syllabus and for
announcements made in class, including changes to the schedule. Material distributed in class is available
on CULearn or on the door to my office if I don’t have an electronic version. I don’t bring old handouts,
uncollected assignments, etc. back and forth with me each day. You can pick these up during office hours.
If you miss a class or arrive late, please contact another student in the class first to find out what you
missed. You are welcome to come see me if you have additional questions after reviewing the notes and
materials from class.
Communication. I often send emails to the entire class via your CU account. You are responsible for this
information. If you are using another email account, check that it is being forwarded properly.
I am very email friendly and will try to answer simple questions via email within 24 hours Mon- Friday.
My response time on weekends and holidays may be a bit longer. If it is something more complex, I will
address it in class.
Late Work
Papers and assignments are due at the beginning of class. Work that is received late will lose one letter
grade per day.
Attendance. Poor attendance will affect your performance in the class as well as your grade. We all need
your presence here on a regular basis. I suggest saving these for unavoidable conflicts or illness. There
are no distinctions between excused and unexcused absences. Telling me about your absence - even if you
tell me in advance, it does not mean it is an excused absence. You get two misses without penalty. You
have two misses to accommodate illness, emergencies, job interviews, etc. It is not two misses in
addition to illness or conflicts.
That said, please come talk to me about major life issues that are affecting your participation in class:
mono, a major car accident, etc. Life happens. I get that.
Arrive on time. Late arrivals are distracting to me and to your classmates. Three late arrivals equals an
absence. Extreme tardiness will count as an absence.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
I strongly support all of these policies. Please come talk to me if you are impacted by any of the
following issues in any way.
Disabilities: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from
Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs be addressed. Disability Services determines
accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, or
http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
On Religious Observances: Please notify me within the first two weeks of the semester if you have
conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance due to religious observance. I will
make every effort to find a reasonable and fair way to accommodate you. More detail on university
policy is available at: http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
On Discrimination and Sexual Harassment: The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on
Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the
University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Any
student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of sexual harassment or
discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion,
sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH)
at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the
above referenced policies and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding
discrimination or harassment can be obtained at: http://www.colorado.edu/odh
On the Honor Code: All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing
and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include:
cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior.
All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu;
303-735-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject
to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not
limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). At a minimum, you will receive a 0 for any
assignment that violates the honor policy. More information about the Honor Code can be found at:
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at: http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/
Tentative Schedule
This schedule is subject to change to accommodate current events and the ebb and flow of our
discussions. Major changes will be announced in class. The most current version of the schedule is
always available on CULearn.
Date
Topic
Reading
Assignment
Week 1
8/23
Overview of the course
Syllabus
Physiology and Psychology of Sight
8/25
Physiology: Mechanics and Process
Metallinos
Week 2
8/30
Perceptual Systems
Stern and
Robinson; Berger
Ch 1
9/1
Cultural Influences
Nisbett; Hall 1-29,
Craig 1-6
Reading
Response
Deconstructing Representations
Week 3
9/6
Introduction to Semiotics
Hall 30-41
Semiotics
Berger Ch 2
Visual Elements
Berger Ch 3;
Thompson (173 182)
9/15
Design Elements
Thompson (173182); Berger Ch 4
Week 5
9/20
Color and Light
Zettl on Color, Zettl
on Light
9/22
Cultural, Social and Political Aspects of the Visual
Codes and Culture
Week 6
9/27
Origins of Western Perspective
Sturken Week 6,
Craig 23-29
9/29
The printing press and reproducible images
Craig 29-36,
Benjamin
Art Before Photography: status and the emerging
middle class
Strickland
9/8
Week 4
9/13
Week 7
10/4
Strickland 1-19,
24-29; Sturken
Week 5, and Craig
6-22
EXAM 1
Reading
Response
10/6
Advent of Photography and Challenges to
Perspective
Week 8
10/11
Contemporary Media
Camera Terms
10/13
The myth of photographic truth
Strickland 92-148,
Craig, 36-46,
Sturken Week 7
Reading
Response
Berger Ch 5
Goldstein, film
viewing
Fieldtrip
Sunday, October 16, 12:30 – 5 pm
Week 9
10/18
The Picture Press and Photojournalism
10/20
Exam 2
Week
10
10/25
Early Film
Becker
EXAM 2
Lester, view film
clips
10/26 Evening Film Viewing
10/27
Week
11
11/1
Horror Films
TBD
Editing
Reading: Berger Ch ,
Semiotic
Paper Due
11/3
Film “language”
watch opening
clips
Week
12
11/8
Contemporary Issues
The Gaze and the Other
Lester, Said
11/10
Week
13
11/15
Appropriation and Intertextuality
film
Commercial Culture
Sturken Week 13
11/17
Television
Berger Ch 7,
Gladwell
Reading
Response
FALL BREAK
Week
14
11/29
Global Entertainment
12/1
Class and gender
Week
15
12/6
Ethical Issues
12/8
Review
Final
exam
Monday, Dec 12; 4:30 – 7 pm
Gutman
Keith
Final Exam