What is Visual Culture?

Visual Culture is the study of a culture that relies on images. Includes all images that are seen, made to be seen, and the way it is understood.

It is a communication through images and pictures, rather than words.

“This is visual culture. It is not just a part of your everyday life, it IS your everyday life.”

Nicholas Mirzoeff

Visual culture is concerned with the production, circulation, and consumption of images and the changing nature of observation.

Bob and Roberta Smith“Hijack Reality” 2008

In other words, what we see everyday, where is comes from, and where it goes

Why Study Visual Culture?

Our daily experiences are now more visual than ever. In the age of the visual screen, your viewpoint is crucial. For most people, life is told through television, film, and the Internet.

Images change based on their context

…For example, Barbara Kruger’s I Shop Therefore I am contrast in meaning based on the way its message is presented.

How images change…

Constructing the Image Images are meant

to be seen in a certain way. This makes the image unnatural.

As a viewer of visual culture, we must see images as a place where meanings can be created and challenged.

“24” 2008

Consumerism in Visual Culture American culture revolves around

BUYING things and CONSUMING them

Just think about it…Ads are EVERYWHERE!http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM

How to “Read” an Advertisement

Effect of Consumerism Sweat shops Natural

resources and earth destroyed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCGEvOmKo98

Anti Consumer Ads

Find Visual Culture

Look through a magazine and find a piece of visual culture that shows consumerism.

Use scissors, glue, and markers creatively to SPEAK OUT against consumerism! Examples: instead of playing games…play outside! Saving the environment from harmful waste Eating healthy and being HAPPY!