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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 214"
COURSE NAME: "Visual World Politics: The Role of Images, Art and Architecture in Contemporary Power Politics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Eszter Salgo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course explores how the realm of international politics is visually constructed and how pictures, digital images, films, art works, monuments, and buildings shape public perceptions. It uses a multidisciplinary approach and relies on cultural theory, anthropology, political science, and art theory to provide students with a solid theoretical framework. Case studies will focus on the functions that visual sources perform in international conflicts and in strategies addressing global challenges such as poverty, famine, human rights violations, migration and climate change. Overall, the course develops students’ analytical skills related to the critical assessment of visual information and encourages them to challenge their thoughts about factors driving world politics.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

 This course uses a multidisciplinary approach and elaborates on many of those theoretical perspectives that focus on visual world politics. Students will analyze the different forms that visual storytelling can take (how visual narratives are used to legitimize the existing order) and how visual counternarratives seek to challenge hegemonic power structures. Case studies will focus on the functions that visual sources perform in international conflicts and in strategies addressing global challenges such as poverty, famine, human rights violations, migration and climate change. On-site classes will allow students to appreciate the importance of what William A. Callahan (2020) describes as ‘feeling visually’ in international politics. Course fee (for museum tickets): Euro 20 (or less)
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course students will be able to: understand the importance of the “visual turn” that has taken place in the discipline of International Relations;  evaluate critically the use of images in political propaganda in political protests/contestations;  understand the role memory politics through the analysis of monuments, statues and buildings; gain a better understanding of political problems relating to development, geopolitical conflicts, gender equality, environmental degradation, through the use of visuals; and possess skills and ability to independently explore, present and discuss issues related to visual world politics.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Sensible politicsCallahanOxford0190071745  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and participationStudents are required to attend classes, read the assigned chapters/articles (watch the assigned videos/films/documentaries) and participate in the discussions with thoughtful comments.15%
Research filmStudents are expected to conduct a research project on a topic of their choice, give a powerful (informative, clear and thought-provoking) 15-minute-long presentation, participate in the class debate and submit their bibliography (in APA citation style). 30%
Midterm examThe midterm exam consists of essay questions. Students are graded on depth of analysis, logical content and creative thinking; on their ability to formulate sophisticated arguments, show understanding of alternative explanations, provide imaginative interpretations and offer a personal approach.15%
Final examIn terms of structure, the final exam is similar to the midterm exam. It is cumulative.40%

-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. The final exam period runs until ____________
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

Tuesday: Introduction

Thursday: Using visual sources (images, videos, artifacts, monuments, etc.) Individual research

 

Week 2

Tuesday: Aesthetic Turn in the discipline of in the discipline of in the discipline of International Relations

Reading: Bleiker (2001) Aesthetic Turn in International Relations, Millenium: Journal of International Studies

Thursday: Visual turn in the discipline of International Relations

Reading: Bleiker (2018) Visual Global Politics, Routledge, Introduction

 

Week 3

Tuesday: Ways of seeing

Reading: watch BBC TV series by John Berger

Thursday: Visualizing International Relations

Reading: Callahan (2020), Sensible Politics: Visualizing International Relations, Oxford University Press, Introduction and Part I 

 

Week 4

Tuesday: Research methods, filmmaking

Reading: Callahan (2020), Chapter 4

Thursday: Visual art, ethical witnessing

Reading: Callahan (2020), Chapter 6

 

Week 5

Tuesday: visit to MAXXI

Thursday: World politics and popular culture

Reading: Caso, Hamilton (2015) World politics and Popular Culture, E-international Relations, Chapter 1 

 

Week 6

Tuesday: Artifacts in world politics

Reading: MacGragor (2012) A history of the World in Hundred Objects, Penguin, Part 16

Thursday: Photography and politics

Visit to Trastevere Museum

Reading: D. Hodson (2021) The Politics of Documentary Photography: Three Theoretical Perspectives

 Friday (make-up class for May 1): Image Politics in Russia

Reading: Leo Goretti and Sofia Mariconti (2023) Let’s Learn Judo with Putin. Sport, Power and Masculinity in 21st-Century Russia, IAI

 

Week 7

Tuesday: Review

Thursday: Midterm exam

 

Week 8

SPRING BREAK

 

Week 9

Tuesday: Image politics in China

Reading: Reading: Jiang Changa and Hailong Ren (2018) The powerful image and the imagination of power: the ‘new visual turn’ of the CPC’s propaganda strategy since its 18th National Congress in 2012 plus Joyce Lee (2014) Expressing the Chinese Dream: Imagery and ideograms in the “Chinese Dream” campaign posters send a message to an increasingly pluralized society.

Thursday: Image politics in India

Reading: Clare Harris and Andrew Gordan (2023) Modi’s “New India” and the Politics of Architecture, Council on Foreign Relations

 

Week 10

Tuesday: Image politics in Hungary

Reading: Szebeni, Z., & Salojärvi, V. (2022). “Authentically” Maintaining Populism in Hungary – Visual Analysis of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Instagram. Mass Communication and Society, 25(6), 812–837.

Thursday: The EU’s image politics. Visit to EU multimedia center

Reading: Sandrin&Hoffman (2018) Silences and hierarchies in European Union Public Diplomacy

 

Week 11

Tuesday: The FAO’s image politics. Visit to the FAO

Reading: Reading: FAO (2019) Inside FAO: a Truly Global Forum

Thursday: Aesthetics of global protest

Reading: McGarry, Erhart, Eslen-Ziya, (eds) (2019) The Aesthetics of Global Protest: Visual Culture and Communication, Amsterdam University Press, Introduction

 

Week 12

Tuesday: Visuals and Human rights

Reading: Nancy Lipkin Stein & Alison Dundes Renteln (2016) Images and human rights: local and global perspectives, Cambridge

Thursday: The role of visuals in the fight for gender and racial equality

Reading: Eszter Salgó (2022) Simone Leigh’s Brick House: America’s Mighty-Mighty New Colossus, Postmedia Books

Friday (make-up class for April 22): Visuals and development

Reading: Bleiker (2018) Chapter 24

 

Week 13

Tuesday: OP

Thursday: OP

 

Week 14

Tuesday: no class (make-up class on April 11)

Thursday: AI and IA

Reading: Ingvild Bode (2024) AI Technologies and International Relations

Do We Need New Analytical Frameworks? The Rusy Journal, pp. 66-74

 

Week 15

Tuesday: Concluding reflections and review

Thursday: Holiday