Visual Literacy

COM 431

 Syllabus

 

 Instructor: Larry Mullen

Office: FDH 414

Phone: 895-4491

Office Hrs.: Tue. & Thur. 1-3pm; Wed., 1-2pm. Other times available by appointment

e-mail: mullen@ccmail.nevada.edu

 

Texts

Dondis, D. (1973). A primer of visual literacy. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Other readings as distributed by the instructor. Reading is critically important for facilitating class discussion and for your performance in-class assignments and on your projects.

 

Course Description & Goals

This course is both critical and creative. For this class you will critique images and make images. You will be immersed in visual media. The subject matter of this course is diffuse and amorphous. Topics are wide-ranging, and can take many forms. So, this course can only cover a limited number of topics associated with this vast field. You will get a taste of things in class, but it is important that you take the initiative to study ideas beyond what we can cover in class. That is why ample reading and immersion in an area of interest is a must to do well in the study of visual media.

The study of visual media is, in many ways, unstructured, at least in comparison to domains like math, science, and similar areas of study. This does not mean, however, that visual studies, as a field, is in some sense a "lesser" domain than other fields. It is simply the nature of this area to be more subjective and less quantifiable than other fields.

The course is, in some ways, an overview and continuation of the lower-level 220 course on visual communication, although COM 220 is not a prerequisite for this class. We will examine the visual elements of different media, but we concentrate on television and film. The main purpose of this course is to understand the nature of visual imagery through the use of various methodological techniques and various ways of understanding the visual world. We will analyze them to answer questions like: Why study visual media? What is an image? Why do mediated images look the way they do? How do visual images effect us? What are the components of an image? Can we evaluate an image? What is the relationship between reality and a picture? And, maybe the most important question that we explore concerns how we learn visually. Whenever you have a question, ask it--this course is designed for discussion. We look at and watch lots of stuff in this class-- old stuff and new stuff, all kinds of interesting stuff-again, with the goal to immerse you in visual images. (1) You will need to be creative and make stuff--fascinating, thought-provoking images, and write about things too.

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If you're able to answer these questions, or if you simply are unable to watch TV, a movie, or look at a photograph in the same way as you did before this class, then something has been achieved.

Additional Expenditures

You're going to need to spend a little money on additional things if you don't already have access to them. They include:

 

 

Presentation, or the look of your projects is very important (see next section).

 

Assignments

Creative

For all creative assignments use 8 ˝ X 11 paper. Use rubber cement for glueing paper images to each other. Take care in constructing the images--neatness matters and will be graded. The assignments are oriented around the concept of visual meaning with the goal of enhancing your visual creative processes and visual literacy. For some of the projects you will receive additional information

at a later time during the semester. The idea behind the creation of images is the need to be intimately involved with images. Making images, doing hands-on work is the best way to learn about something. All creative assignments should be included in the "Big, Lush Book of Images" (see below).

Visual Analysis I: Meaningful Imagery, (25 points)

For this analysis you will gather 10 images and construct them into some theme, idea, or something that has a central meaning.

Visual Analysis II: Meaningless Imagery (25 points)

For this project you are to attempt to construct something that has NO meaning whatsoever, or at least try to do so. This will require at least 10 images of some type . There are no constraints on the types of images you might use for this project.

Visual Analysis III: The Black Square Problem (25 points)

By using for black squares, create a graphic image to express meaning of a variety of different words which will be given to you at a later time.

Visual Analysis IV: Homage to André Breton Problem (25 points)

In an attempt to expand your perception of the creative process and discover subconscious forms and images buried beneath conventional appearances and habits, you will use three small, gridlike areas on an assignment sheet that you will be given to create images in the spirit of André Breton.

 

"The Big, Lush Book of Images" (200 points)

Collect images of all sorts to include in this semester-long project. Using a binder of some sort. Although I hesitate to place a numerical requirement to this assignment, keep in mind that it should ultimately be representative of the ideas of "big-ness," and "lush-ness." I don't think it's out of the question to have several dozen, even a 100 or more pages of images in your collection (some pages might have more than one image). Approximately 30%-50% of the book should be of your own images created photographically, or some other medium (painting, drawing, etc.) this semester. You'll hand this in midway thought the semester along with a rough draft/outline of your paper for 50 points.

Final Paper (50 points)

This paper is on some aspect of the visual literacy experience you had this term and should be related to the "Big Lush Book of Images," either by using examples from it, or in some other conceptual way. The paper should be about 5 pages long (roughly 10-points per page)

For this paper you must make sure to answer the following questions:

 

Exams

A midterm and final, each worth 50 points, are given in multiple choice form.

Class Participation

A variety of in-class projects will be done over the course of the semester. They are done in class with no chance for making them up if you are not in class the day they are assigned. They can occur at any time and are unannounced. Each is worth 10 points. As part of your class participation you will be placed in a group and asked to bring in things to watch during some of the open dates scheduled throughout the semester.

Grading

Visual Analysis I 25

Visual Analysis II 25

Visual Analysis III 25

Visual Analysis IV 25

Class Participation 10 (each; between 2-10 will be assigned)

"Big, Lush Book of Images" (midterm) 50

"The Big, Lush Book of Images" (final) 200

Final Paper 50

Total (depends on the number of in-class assignments)

Grades are based on a straight curve where 92.5-100=A, 89.5-92=A-, 86.5-89=B+, 82.5-86=B, 79.5-82=B-, 76.5-79=C+, 72.5-76=C, 69.5-72=C-, 66.5-69=D+, 62.5-66=D, 59.5-62=D-, 59 and below=F.

 

Grading is a very subjective process in this class and so you need to be prepared to accept criticism on your creative and written work. Perceived effort is one very important element of the grading process, although there will be technical criteria associated with some of the work you do. Precision is one criterium associated with the technical aspects of the creative work. So, in a sense, this is a creative class-much like an art class-at least for some of the work you do.

 

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Schedule

Date/Day                        Topic                                        Suggested Reading

1-20 Tue.                        Course Intro                             Syllabus

1-22 Thur.                       Implications for Communication   Handout

Bring in a picture that says something about you. (This picture goes in "The Big,

Lush Book of Images")

 1-27 Tue.                       Visual Literacy                          Dondis 1

1-29 Thur.                       Visual Literacy                         

Visual Analysis I Due

2-3 Tue.                          Group I Viewing

2-5 Thur.                        Basic Visual Elements                 Dondis 2-3

2-10 Tue.                        Elements and Meaning                Dondis 5

2-12 Thur.                       Visual Meaning

2-17 Tue.                        Visual Meaning

2-19 Thur.                       Group II Viewing

2-24 Tue.                        Meaning                                   

Visual Analysis II Due

2-26 Thur.                      Symbolism                                 Handout

3-2 Tue.                          Group 3 Viewing

3-4 Thur.                        Visual Myth

3-9 Tue.                          Visual Myth

3-11 Thur.                       Pictures & Reality                      Handout

3-16 Tue.                        What is Real?                 

Visual Analysis III Due

3-18 Thur.                       Midterm

3-23 Tue.                        Visual Messages                         Dondis 4

3-25 Thur.                      Surrealism

 3-30 Tue.                       Surrealism                                Dondis 7

4-1 Thur.                         Group 4 Viewing

Visual Analysis IV Due

4-6 Tue.                          Spring Break

4-8 Thur.                        Spring Break

4-13 Tue.                        Something Visual Here

 

4-15 Thur.                       Motion                                      Handout

 

4-20 Tue.                        More on Motion

4-22 Thur.                      More on Motion

4-27 Tue.                        Group 5 Viewing

4-29 Thur.                      Graduate Presentations

5-4 Tue.                          Graduate Presentations

5-6 Thur.                        Graduate Presentations

5-11 Tue (10:10am)           Final Exam,

Big, Lush Book Final Due with Paper

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Services, Rules, and Other Policies

Learning Services

Learning Enhancement Services (LES) houses Disability Services, Tutoring Services, and Learning Strategies. If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact LES for coordination in your academic accommodations. LES is located in the Reynolds Student Services complex, Suite 137. The phone number is 895-0866 (TDD 895-0652). You may also visit our website at http://www.unlv.edu/studentlife/les.

Copyright and Fair Use

The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The University will neither protect nor defend you nor assume responsibility for employ or student violations of fair use. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability as well as disciplinary action under University Policy. To help familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, the University encourages you to visit its copyright web page.

Missing Class

Religious Holidays. As a general rule, if you plan to miss class because of observance of a religious holiday you will have the opportunity to make up missed work. You must, however, notify the instructor of anticipated absences at least a week before the missed class.

Illness, Death in Family, Car Accident, or Some Other Malady. If you miss an assignment due to illness, death in family, or some other tragedy or malady, you will be allowed to make it up, but only if the excuse is legitimate (determined by the instructor) and you show the instructor proof in the form of a doctor's note or some other evidence for missing class.

Extracurricular Activities. If you represent UNLV at any official extracurricular activity, you shall have the opportunity to make up assignments, but you must provide official written notification no less than a week before the missed class(es).

One caveat on missed assignments: There will be absolutely no make ups for the in-class assignments regardless of the reason.

Cheating & Plagiarism

No form of academic dishonesty is acceptable. If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing from other people's work, you will, at a minimum, fail this course with the possibility of suspension from the university.

 

Grade Posting

I do not post any of your grades. However, if you want, you can e-mail me with a request for a particular grade and I will respond to you request.

 

Disclaimer: Changes to the syllabus and the class schedule may be made at the discretion of the instructor.

 

 

1.       WARNING: Some of the things we will be looking at may contain R-rated material, nudity, violence, and possibly shocking material or things you might find offensive. Please consider this your warning and please let the instructor know if you have concerns about such material. The instructor will, however, always try to warn you in advance on the day any such material will be shown. Keep in mind that all the material is used with the purpose of learning. It is expected that you act like adults when such material is shown and used for examples.

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