The aim of this course is to encourage students to engage with different theoretical and historical frameworks for interpreting images. It will cover a wide range of primarily western theories of the image including marxism, feminism, psychoanalysis, and phenomenology. It also deals with the culture industry, film, the televisual and with recent theories of technology. Students will be encouraged to think about how the various different interpretative methods addressed in the course might relate to their studio.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of important theoretical and historical frameworks for interpreting images in visual art discourse.
2. Demonstrate an ability to identify relevant theoretical and historical frameworks and apply them to contemporary visual art discourse and to your own studio practice.
3. Present written and oral arguments which are reasoned, structured and coherent.

Written essay (65%), oral presentation (25%), attendance and participation (10%); or equivalent.

Attendance at lectures and tutorials is compulsory.

Three hours a week.

ARTV1009, 1010; or with approval