Visual Studies 1: Understanding Visual Culture

I needed a course to fit around my life and OCA provides just that

Level:: 1 (HE4)
Credits:: 40
Length:: 12 months approx.
8hrs per week
Cost:: £625
payment options

Course Overview

Elective Option for BA Hons Photography, BA Hons Painting, BA Hons Creative Arts

How do we look at the world; and how do we understand the visual vocabulary that describes it? Visual Studies 1 takes you through the core theories that underpin a contemporary understanding of visual culture; particularly it looks at the ideas in Structuralism, Post-Structuralism and Post modernism. This course is suitable for students engaged in a course of study in any of the creative visual arts, particularly those intending to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree. However it is equally suitable as a stand-alone course by anyone interested in the workings of our visual culture.

This course serves as an excellent introduction to a complex and fascinating field of study.

Visit the OCA blog

Visit We Are OCA - the OCA's official blog.
We Are OCA

(*Formerly called Visual Studies 1: Looking and Seeing)

Introduction to visual studies
Ways of seeing
Of signs and symbols
Looking and subjectivity
Concepts of reality

Upon completion of Introduction to Visual Studies you will be able to:

understand the range of the core themes found in the writings of Barthes, Benjamin, Foucault and Lacan as well as the development of those themes by a number of contemporary writers. (Berger, Sontag, Debord, Baudrillard etc.)
understand how you can utilise a number of these themes to explore the workings of the visual in today’s society
have the confidence to explore further

29 projects and five assignments. Students also maintain a learning log.