Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 111-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Visual Communication"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2020

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Marco Fulvio Palmieri
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 9:55-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
From photojournalism to Instagram, 21st century communication is primarily image-based. Whether its mass media, individual expression, social media or alternative media, images are used for promoting ideas, products, information and political discourses. In this course students investigate the role of visual culture in daily life, exploring fine art, popular culture, film, television, advertising, business communications, propaganda, viral social media and information graphics. As a critical introduction to visual communication, this course mixes theory, analysis and practical activities for an applied understanding of key issues, including the relationship between images, power and politics; the historical practice of looking; visual media analysis; spectatorship; historic evolution of visual codes; impact of visual technologies; media literacy; information graphics literacy; and global visual culture.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Topics include the evolution of visual culture from the Renaissance to Postmodernism; an introduction to semiotics; the influence of photography from its early inception to Instagram; image politics in elections, terrorism and war; the role of visual and reproduction technology; the study of images in popular culture, ads and viral media; fonts, visual data and information graphics; global visual culture; and image ethics.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The course’s content and activities are meant to prepare students for future studies in communications and media studies. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

· Describe key theories and concepts of visual studies

· Identify how ways of looking are culturally constructed

· Perform semiotic media analysis

· Use media literacy to analyze a range of visual texts, including advertising, social media memes and information graphics

· Distinguish communication strategies in visual media

· Critique the role of images in shaping political discourses

· Asses ethical dilemmas posed by images

· Generate visual media that reflect key themes from the course

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
Media Semiotics: An Introduction Second Edition	Jonathan Bignell	Manchester University Press	978-0719062056
Visual Culture	Howells and Negreiros	Polity	0745650716
Introduction to Visual Communication	Susan N. Barnes	Peter Lang	1433112574

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Participation and Attendance	A combination of class participation, attendance and evidence of reading required texts will be graded.	10%
Journal	You are required to keep a journal and take physical notes during class.	5%
Midterm Exam		20%
Detailed Image Analysis		20%
Create a Visual Text		25%
Final Exam		20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

WEEK 1: Introduction

Lesson 1.1: Monday 31 August

Introduction

Sensing+Selecting+Perceiving = Seeing

Lesson 1.2: Wednesday 2 September

Basic Visual Principles

Color Theory

Gestalt Theory

WEEK 2: Visual Theory I

Lesson 2.1: Monday 7 September

Semiotics I

Lesson 2.2: Wednesday 9 September

Semiotics II

WEEK 3: Visual Theory II

Lesson 3.1: Monday 14 September

Art: Iconology

Lesson 3.2: Wednesday 16 September

Art: Formalism

WEEK 4: Visual Theory III

Lesson 4.1: Monday 21 September

Art: Art History

Lesson 4.2: Wednesday 23 September

Ideology

WEEK 5: Midterm Exams

Lesson 5.1: Monday 28 September

Hermeneutics

Lesson 5.2: Wednesday 30 September

MIDTERM EXAM

WEEK 6: Advertisement

Lesson 6.1: Monday 5 October

Advertisement and Persuasion

We will look over the midterm exams at the beginning of class

Lesson 6.2: Wednesday 7 October

Image Analysis Workshop (Deadline Monday 26 October)

WEEK 7: Visual Elements

Lesson 7.1: Monday 12 October

Typography

Lesson 7.2: Wednesday 14 October

Graphic Design

WEEK 8: Fine Art

Lesson 8.1: Monday 19 October

Fine Art I

Lesson 8.2: Wednesday 21 October

Fine Art II

WEEK 9: Visual Text Assignment

Lesson 9.1: Monday 26 October

Visual Text Assignment Workshop I (Assignment due Monday 23 November)

IMAGE ANALYSIS DUE

Lesson 9.2: Wednesday 28 October

Visual Text Assignment Workshop II

WEEK 10: Photography

Lesson 10.1: Monday 2 November

Photography I

Lesson 10.2: Wednesday 4 November

Photography II

WEEK 11: Film

Lesson 11.1: Monday 9 November

Film I

Lesson 11.2: Wednesday 11 November

Film II

WEEK 12: TV

Lesson 12.1: Monday 16 November

TV I

Lesson 12.2: Wednesday 18 November

TV II

WEEK 13: New Media

Lesson 13.1: Monday 23 November

New Media I

VISUAL TEXT ASSIGNMENT DUE

Lesson 13.2: Wednesday 25 November

New Media II

WEEK 14: Final Exam Preparation

Lesson 14.1: Monday 30 November

Preparation for Final Exam

Lesson 14.2: Wednesday 2 December

Preparation for Final Exam

FINAL EXAMS: Date TBC