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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "COM 111-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Visual Culture"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2025
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Fiamma Mozzetta
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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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.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
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.
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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 and clearly communicate (verbally and in writing) how visual texts are constructed
· Perform image analyses on a variety of visual texts, including advertising, social media posts, and information graphics
· Distinguish communication strategies in visual media
· Assess and critique the role of visual media in shaping political & cultural discourse
· Produce a variety of visual texts that reflect key themes and theories from the course
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Midterm exam | Midterm exam is a written exam on the first part of the course (closed-book) | 25% |
| Final exam | Final exam is a cumulative written exam (closed-book) | 30% |
| Participation + readings | Class participation consists of your contribution to class discussions and other activities (e.g. pair and group work, class workshops). Students are required to come to class having completed the assigned readings. | 20% |
| Presentation | Detailed guidelines will be provided. | 25% |
-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.
A: (93-100) A- (90-93)
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.
B+ (87-89) B (83-86) B- (80-82)
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.
C+ (77-79) C (73-76) C- (70-72)
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.
D+ (67-69) D (63-66) D- (60-62)
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.
F: (59 and below)
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Please note that frequent absences automatically lower your participation grade.
Also consider that 3 unexcused absences (those not justified by a medical certificate or a note from the administration) will result in your final grade for the course to be dropped by one letter grade. Anything above five unexcused absences will result in failure.
Lateness: Students more than 10 minutes late are marked as absent. Late arrival (less than 10 minutes) is marked as such, and 3 late arrivals are counted as one absence.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Please check Moodle for the detailed version of the syllabus, assignment guidelines and updates.
Week 1: What is visual culture? / Visual literacy and visual texts
Week 2: The politics of representation
Week 3: Iconology
Week 4: John Berger’s Ways of Seeing
Week 5: "Traditional" media v "new" media (context, technologies, perspective)
Case study: self-portrait / the selfie
Week 6: Semiotics
Case study: the semiotics of subcultures
Week 7: Review + Midterm
Week 8: Roland Barthes' notion of the myth
Week 9: Ideology
Week 10: Representing Gender
Week 11: Representing Race
Week 12: Countervisuality and visual activism
Week 13: Student presentations
Week 14: Review
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