Visual Literacy: Understanding Images across Europe – Past and Present (educational module, 4EU+) 3105-4EU-VL-K
The main objective of the module, consisting of online tutorials, online conversatory
classes and three field workshops, is to address the phenomenon of visual literacy
from theoretical, art historical and practical point of view. The students will have an
opportunity to experience first-hand the cultural framework of the ways in which
images were and are perceived through work on scientific-artistic projects carried out
in intercultural groups. These group projects will be developed under the supervision
of the tutor.
There are five tutorials to choose from:
1. Multiplied Images: Artistic Practices in the Twentieth Century
The aim of this tutorial, led by prof. Davide Colombo, PhD and Giulia Zompa, PhD is to
analyse different artistic practices in the twentieth century, which were based on
appropriation, collage, photomontage, found footage and re-enactment.
Heterogeneous and non-artistic images will be examined along with visual sources.
The contamination of low and high models, as well as the circulation of contemporary
art and artists’ iconic images in media and popular culture will also be addressed.
2. Visual literacy: Between Educational, Artistic and Curatorial Approaches
This is a tutorial conducted by Vendula Fremlová, PhD and Pavla Gajdošíková, PhD,
which will be focused on contemporary art, art education and curating as a form of
dialogue and as a way of broadening critical thinking. The students will be researching
the contemporary art field and analysing its tendencies, topics or “turns”. On this basis
the students will try to develop their own curatorial project together with educational
activities (art mediation). The students will be encouraged to their own artistic
attempts to understand the attitude of an artist as well.
3. Understanding Photography: Towards Grammar of Visual Narrative
This tutorial is led by Kamila Dworniczak, PhD and focused on the comprehensive
analysis of the photographic image and its historical and contemporary uses. We will
discuss how to interpret documentary, artistic, and reproductive photography and how
to use this knowledge in communication practices.
4. Games and Interactive Objects in the 16th-17th Centuries
This tutorial, led by Magdalena Herman, PhD, explores interactions between players
and games, focusing on the interactivity and materiality of card, board, and book
games, as well as their roles as objects of play and display. It also examines the
relationships between producers and the market, the depiction of games and
gameplay, and their role in Early Modern iconography.
5. Materiality of Colours in Late Medieval and Early Modern Art
This tutorial, conducted by Karolina Mroziewicz, PhD, will explore the physical
properties of colours, the economic value of pigments and their use in 15th- and 16th-
century art works. The students will experiment with the process of paint production
and colour printmaking as well as reflect on the conditions that made pre-modern
images legible, meaningful and precious to their pre-modern beholders. They will also
experience first hand the challenges and limitations of the reconstruction of the late
medieval and early modern colour palette.
Apart from discussing above mentioned aspects of visual culture and visual literacy,
each of the five tutorials will offer the students the chance to experiment with the
usefulness of material and digital images in developing and sharing ideas and will
contribute to raising critical thinking through “hands-on” investigation, discussion- and
inquiry-guided learning. The tutorial will take place twice or three times a month.
In the remaining weeks the students will partake in conversatory classes, which will
offer an overview of approaches and case studies that shed light on various historical,
social, cultural and artistic aspects of visual literacy and visual culture, corresponding
with the main subjects of tutorials.
The tutoring activities and conversatory classes will be complemented by three field
workshops: in Milan (January 2025), Prague (March 2025) and Warsaw (June 2025).
These two-day workshops will take place in art institutions collaborating with our
universities (e.g. Museo del Novecento, Milano, Civico archivio fotografico del Comune
di Milano; National Gallery and Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague; Print Room and
Early Print Department of the University Library in Warsaw, National Museum in
Warsaw) and will offer an opportunity for developing ideas for the group projects in an
interplay with objects of art and in discussions with peers, teachers and art curators.
Rodzaj przedmiotu
Koordynatorzy przedmiotu
Przedmiot dedykowany programowi
Efekty kształcenia
Acquired knowledge:
K_W04 Students gain detailed knowledge about selected historical and artistic
phenomena concerning visual culture and visual literacy;
K_W16 Students know and understand the connections between art history, cultural
studies, history and other academic disciplines;
K_W17 Students know and understand basic methods of analysis and interpretation of
art objects and can apply them to the particular study;
Kryteria oceniania
The module will be shaped by the active involvement of students and will highlight the
significance of collective knowledge construction and collaborative learning. However after one semester, students will be evaluating their own progress through an
individual self-assessment.
The main outcome of the module will be group scientific-artistic projects and
portfolios (i.e., the documentation of the progress of the work) that will also be the
subjects of the evaluation. Hence, the assessment of each student will be based on 1)
his/her active participation in group discussions and workshops (25 % of the final
grade), 2) progress reported in the self-evaluation (25% of the final grade), group final
project (30 % of the final grade) and individual portfolio (20% of the final grade).
Up to 2 unexcused class absences in one semester are accepted. Students may make
up missed work by making arrangements with the individual teachers.
Literatura
Baylen, D. & D'Alba, A. eds. (2015). Essentials of Teaching and Integrating Visual and
Media Literacy: Visualizing Learning. Cham: Springer.
Berger, J. (2008). Ways of seeing. British Broadcasting Corporation and Penguin.
London (and earlier editions).
Burke, B. (1978). Popular culture in early modern Europe. New York: Harper & Row.
Clapp, J.A. (2005). ‘”Are You Talking to Me?” New York and the Cinema of Urban
Alienation’. Visual Anthropology, Vol. 18, No. 1.
Cordell, D. (2016). Using images to teach critical thinking skills: visual literacy and
digital photography. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
Elkins, J., ed. (2008). Visual literacy. New York; London: Routledge.
Elkins, J. (2003). Visual studies: A skeptical introduction. New York; London: Routledge.
Gombrich, E. (1999). The Uses of Images. Studies in the Social Function of Art and
Visual Communication. London: Phaidon.
Gombrich, E. (1982). The Image and the Eye: Further Studies in the Psychology of
Pictorial Representation. Oxford: Phaidon.
Gombrich, E. (1979). Ideals & Idols. Essays on Values in History and Art. Oxford:
Phaidon.
Gombrich, E. (1960). Art and Illusion. A Study in the Psychology of Pictorial
Representation. London: Phaidon.
Heywood, I. & Sandywell, B. eds. (1999). Interpreting Visual Culture: Explorations in
the hermeneutics of the visual. London and New York: Routledge.
Kolb, D.A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and
development. London: Prentice-Hall.
Kress, G. (2010). Multimodality: A social semiotic approach to contemporary
communication. New York, NY: Routledge.
Neumüller, M., ed. (2018). The Routledge companion to photography and visual
culture. New York; London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Smith, M. (2008). Visual culture studies. Los Angeles, Calif.; London: Sage.
The bibliography includes only a general reading list. All readings and visual materials
required for the particular class will be emailed to students at least one week in
advance.
Więcej informacji
Dodatkowe informacje (np. o kalendarzu rejestracji, prowadzących zajęcia, lokalizacji i terminach zajęć) mogą być dostępne w serwisie USOSweb: