Approaches to Understanding Visual Culture

Abstract

This text provides an accessible critical introduction to a variety of different analytic strategies for understanding the range of objects (paintings, sculpture, adverts, furniture, textiles, photography, fashion, etc.) that make up visual culture. Beginning with a discussion of what understanding can be taken to mean in relation to visual culture, it devotes separate chapters to different approaches to its study, using carefully chosen examples to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of these. The major figures associated with particular analytic strategies (Hebdige, Panofsky, Barthes, Wolff, etc.) are critically discussed throughout. Alternative, more advanced readings are also explored and crucial questions posed, such as ‘Are we always, or ever, in control of our understanding?’

Visual Culture and Critical Pedagogy in “Terrorist Times”

“…The other has affiliations to art history and aesthetics. This approach focuses attention on the design, form, and technicalities of image production in terms of light, optics, visual apparatus, and experience, the eye, scopic drive, and so on (Barnard, 2001; see also Mitchell, 2002). Both approaches inform the critical literacy and multiliteracies work discussed below.…”

“…The proliferating sociological and cultural studies interest in visual culture recognizes the need to research and analyse a culture dominated by visual images (Barnard, 2001;Emmison & Smith, 2000;Evans & Hall, 1999;Prosser, 1998;Sturken & Cartwright, 2001). Arising from this apparently obvious, but often disregarded, insight are a wide array of analytical approaches and perspectives.…”

The impact of the visual image of freelance on the identity formation of the freelance professional under contemporary socio-economic situation (based on image analysis in English- and Russian-language segments of the Internet)

“…Wagner (1979) [31], Barnard (2001) [32], Sztompka (2007) [33], Maresca & Meyer (2014) [34], and Pauwels (2015) [35] devoted their studies to the analysis of visualising of social practices. Author's own doctoral dissertation also provided study of the characteristics of harmonious identity, conditions of its formation, role of socio-cultural samples in the broadcasting of identity through mass media [36].…”

Leitura de imagens, cultura visual e prática educativa

“…Barnard (2001) identificou duas vertentes fundamentais nos estudos de cultura visual. A primeira, que no meu entendimento é a mais "restritiva", enfatiza o visual e trata de normatizar e prescrever seus objetos de estudo como sendo a arte, o design, as expressões faciais, a moda, a tatuagem e um longo etc.…”