POV4337 Picture TheoryBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs SOCIOLOGYGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
SOCIOLOGY
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
POV4337 Picture Theory Fall 2 2 3 5
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Instructor DENİZ EYÜCE ŞANSAL
Course Lecturer(s): Assoc. Prof. LEWIS KEIR JOHNSON
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: The chief aim of this course is to introduce students to significant and influential theorisations of what different kinds of pictures are, mean, do or can be made to do. The course aims therefore to guide students in making sense of and evaluating a range of visual material that comprises visual culture, but it also aims to enable students to think about what makes a picture or a pictorial work or text stand out as different or exceptional.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
1. Recognize different methodological languages of analysis of images and media.
2. Recognize different aims in the conceptualization of the analysis and evaluation of images and media.
3. Demonstrate ability to alter frameworks of analysis of images and media.
4. Demonstrate ability to alter frameworks of explanation of images and media.
5. Demonstrate ability to alter frameworks of evaluation of images and media.
6. Generate ability isolate what resists analysis in images and media.
7. Respond to complexity of sense and meaning of images and media.
8. Produce images that echo, respond to or exceed these problematics of analysis and evaluation.

Course Content

This course studies the techniques of analysis that have been developed for reading and understanding visual elements of our culture. It aims at developing the students’ ability to decipher the major mediums that form our visual culture. It also enables the students to present their earlier visual works in class, in order to help them develop their presentation and critical skills.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction: truth, reality and representation
2) Form, iconography and iconology and formalism Weekly readings will be assigned.
3) Art, history, pictures and ideology Weekly readings will be assigned.
4) Assignment 1 Working on the assignments.
5) Semiology and semiotics Weekly readings will be assigned.
6) Hermeneutics and discourse theory Weekly readings will be assigned.
7) Revision for midterm exam and Assignment 2 Working on the assignments.
8) Theorising realism in art and photography Weekly readings will be assigned.
9) Theorising digital photography Weekly readings will be assigned.
10) Assignment 3 Weekly readings will be assigned.
11) Theorising film and television Weekly readings will be assigned.
12) Theorising video Weekly readings will be assigned.
13) Theorising new media, the website, the music video and the image stream Weekly readings will be assigned.
14) Revision Weekly readings will be assigned.

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Howells, R. (2003). Visual culture. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers.
References: 1. Comer, S. (2009). Film and video art. London: Tate.
2. Manghani, S., Piper, A. & Simons, J. (2006). Images : a reader. London Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
3. Wells, L. (2003). The photography reader. London New York: Routledge.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 10
Homework Assignments 3 % 30
Midterms 1 % 20
Final 1 % 40
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 14 3 42
Study Hours Out of Class 14 6 84
Midterms 1 2 2
Final 1 2 2
Total Workload 130

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To learn and compare major sociology perspectives, both classical and contemporary, and apply all of them to analysis of social conditions.
2) To be able to identify the basic methodological approaches in building sociological and anthropological knowledge at local and global levels
3) To be able to use theoretical and applied knowledge acquired in the fields of statistics in social sciences.
4) To have a basic knowledge of other disciplines (including psychology, history, political science, communication studies and literature) that can contribute to sociology and to be able to make use of this knowledge in analyzing sociological processes
5) To have a knowledge and practice of scientific and ethical principles in collecting, interpreting and publishing sociological data also develop ability how to share this data with experts and lay people, using effective communication skills
6) To develop competence in analyzing and publishing sociological knowledge by using computer software for quantitative and qualitative analysis; and develop an attitute for learning new techniques in these fields.
7) To identify and to have a knowledge of the theories related to urban and rural sociology and demography, and political sociology, sociology of gender, sociology of body, visual sociology, sociology of work, sociology of religion, sociology of knowledge and sociology of crime.
8) To have knowledge of how sociology is positioned as a scientific discipline from a philosophical and historical perspective
9) To have the awareness of social issues in Turkish society, to develop critical perspective in analysing these issues and to have a knowledge of the works of Turkish sociologists and to be able to transfer this knowledge
10) To have the awareness of social issues and global societal processes and to apply sociological analysis to development and social responsibility projects
11) To have the ability to define a research question, design a research project and complete a written report for various fields of sociology, either as an individual or as a team member.
12) To be able to transfer the knowledge gained in the areas of sociology to the level of secondary school.