Drawing on perspectives from critical theory, art history, literary and media studies, students will explore how meaning is produced through images and how images operate within specific cultural, historical, and political contexts. The course engages with a wide range of visual material, including art, film, photography, activism, popular culture, museums, and advertising.

Key themes include the relationship between images and power, the role of images in propaganda and surveillance, and the potential of images to challenge dominant narratives and enable forms of resistance. The course also explores how images circulate, how they are interpreted and misinterpreted, and how they move between different spaces such as screens, institutions, and public life.

A central component of the course is experimentation. Through workshops and assignments, students will develop ways of “thinking with images,” combining analytical and creative approaches. E.g. personifying the image/ taking it for a walk/ using it as a tool for a collage. In doing so, the course positions visual culture as a crucial field for understanding contemporary society and equips students with tools to critically and creatively engage with images across disciplines.

Coordinator

Dr. Aylin Kuryel & Noa Roei

Timetable

All lectures will take place on-campus and we assume you can be physically present during the scheduled hours. You can find the timetable on Datanose.

Course registration

Registration is possible for students participating in an Honours program. The registration period for the Honours courses will be from Thursday, June 4, 10:00 am to Tuesday, June 9, 11:59 pm. You can register through the online registration form that will appear on Honoursmodules IIS. (registration is NOT through SIS)

Please note: Placement is not guaranteed if you register after June 9, so make sure you register on time. You will hear which course(s) you are registered for before the end of June 

For questions about registration, please contact us at: Honours-iis@uva.nl.