COMMUNICATION AND DESIGN
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
COM1006 Art and Visual Culture Spring 3 0 3 5
The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester

Basic information

Language of instruction: En
Type of course: Must Course
Course Level: Bachelor
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Assist. Prof. DENİZ GÜRGEN
Course Objectives: This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of key theories and concepts in visual culture studies, emphasizing the relationship between visual practices and social, political, and cultural contexts. It aims to develop students' critical thinking skills in analyzing and interpreting images, media, and artistic expressions while gaining a historical perspective on the evolution of visual culture through art history. Additionally, the course encourages independent research, allowing students to explore issues of representation, identity, and global visual culture in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Learning Outputs

The students who have succeeded in this course;
I. Understand and apply key concepts and theories in visual culture studies.
II. Analyze the relationship between visual practices and social, political, and cultural contexts.
III. Gain a historical perspective on the evolution of visual culture through art history.
IV. Develop critical thinking skills in interpreting and evaluating images and visual media.
V. Conduct independent research and present findings on a topic related to art and visual culture.

Course Content


This course explores the dynamic field of visual culture, examining how images and visual practices shape and reflect social, political, and cultural values. Students will engage with key theories and concepts in visual culture studies, including representation, the gaze, spectatorship, and the politics of looking. Through a combination of lectures, readings, and discussions, the course will investigate the relationship between art, media, and society, considering the role of visual technologies, brand culture, and global media in everyday life. The course also includes a brief exploration of art history, providing students with a contextual understanding of how visual practices have evolved over time. We will trace the development of visual culture from Classical Antiquity through to contemporary art movements, examining the impact of historical events, technological advancements, and cultural shifts on visual representation.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1)
1)
2) What Is Art and What Is Art History? Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 1-25
2) What Is Art and What Is Art History? Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 1-25
2) What Is Art and What Is Art History? Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 1-25
3) Judging by Appearances Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 26-45
3) Judging by Appearances Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 26-45
4) Looking Beyond Picture Frame Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 46-80
4) Looking Beyond Picture Frame Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 46-80
5) Art Today: Contemporary Ways of Looking Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 80-105
6) Art in Museums and Galleries: Spectacle and Display Categorizing Art Art Movements Teach Yourself Art History, pp. 106-165
7) Introduction to Visual Culture: What is Visual Culture?; The Politics of Looking; Overview of the course structure and objectives. Images, Power, and Politics: Representation, ideology, and photographic truth Intro. VC Chapter 1(pp.13-50)
8) Midterm Exam
9) Realism and Perspective: Perspective from Renaissance painting to digital media Challenges to perspective in contemporary visual culture Intro.VC Chapter 4 (pp.139-178)
10) Modernity: Spectatorship, the Gaze, and Power. Intro. VC Chapter 3 (pp. 89-138)
10) Modernity: Spectatorship, the Gaze, and Power. Intro. VC Chapter 3 (pp. 89-138)
10) Modernity: Spectatorship, the Gaze, and Power. Intro. VC Chapter 3 (pp. 89-138)
11) Postmodernism: Irony, Parody, and Pastiche: Key concepts of postmodernism in visual culture Intro. VC Chapter 8 (pp. 301-336)
12) Visual Technologies, Reproduction, and the Copy: The impact of visual technologies on art and culture, Walter Benjamin and the concept of mechanical reproduction, Digital images, 3D reproduction, and issues of copyright. Intro. VC Chapter 5 (pp. 179-218)
13) Visual Culture and Digital Media: The impact of digital technologies on visual culture. The rise of social media and its influence on visual practices Brand Culture and Consumption: The visual language of brands and consumer culture, Commodity fetishism and consumerism, social media, consumer data, and the changing spaces of consumption. Selected sections from Chapter 6&7 Intro. VC Chapter 7 (pp. 257-300)
14) Course Conclusion & Review

Sources

Course Notes: Pooke, G., & Whitham, G. (2008). Teach yourself art history. Teach Yourself Books. Sturken, M., & Cartwright, L. (2017). Practices of looking: An introduction to visual culture (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press
References: Pooke, G., & Whitham, G. (2008). Teach yourself art history. Teach Yourself Books. Sturken, M., & Cartwright, L. (2017). Practices of looking: An introduction to visual culture (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance % 0
Laboratory % 0
Application % 0
Field Work % 0
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) % 0
Quizzes % 0
Homework Assignments % 0
Presentation % 0
Project % 0
Seminar % 0
Midterms % 0
Preliminary Jury % 0
Final % 0
Paper Submission % 0
Jury % 0
Bütünleme % 0
Total % 0
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 0
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 0
Total % 0

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 14 42
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship (Work Placement)
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 12 72
Presentations / Seminar 2 10
Project
Homework Assignments
Quizzes
Preliminary Jury
Midterms 1 4
Paper Submission
Jury
Final 1 4
Total Workload 132

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) Create design oriented application for the visual communication design field.
2) Resolve visual communication problems via concept based designs and an integrated perspective in the visual communication design field.
3) Qualify in design directing through analysis and design processes.
4) Display creative thinking, approach and production process skills.
5) Integrate basic fields of visual communication; print, time-based and interactive media, through mastering each one of these fields individually.
6) Identify complementary design solutions in the visual field in order to solve communication problems.
7) Perform necessary operational skills in order to finalize products in the visual communication design field.
8) Evaluate recent design trends and the evolving aesthetic perspectives.
9) Use recent design softwares that coincide with the developing information technologies and communication channels.
10) Interpret theoretical, historical and intellectual roots of the visual communication design field.
11) Perform necessary time management in order to complete a visual communication design project.
12) Demonstrate leadership qualities in a design team as well as individual skills during the progress of a visual communication design project.
13) Display compositional solutions and aesthetic skills to fulfill design needs in a visual communication design work.
14) Develop academical, intellectual and critical point of view for global, local and individual visual communication design works.