FINA 399
Cultural Theory and Images
3.0 Credits
Description
FINA 399 examines the ways different theories of culture inform the processes and practices of visual production, circulation, and reception. It focuses on the ideas of major cultural theorists, such as Antonio Gramsci, Michel Foucault, Stuart Hall, and Edward Said, whose work on the intersection/interaction of power and meaning has influenced much current research on representation. Critically engaging with and responding to the thoughts and opinions of other participants is one of the most significant activities in this course. Theory is for thinking, and in this case, it is specifically for thinking about looking. Students select issues or research problems of interest, conduct literature and web research, assess sources of information, and present findings. The course requires thorough and critical engagement with texts and images, web research, independent work, and conference based discussion.
This course is one in a series of upper-level critical analysis and research courses offered by TRU-Open Learning. Other courses offered in the 399 series are:
- BISC 399: Plants and Society
- ENST 399: Environmental Studies: Sustainability
- GEOG 399: Global Climate Change and Regional Impacts
- HUMN 399: Issues in Science and Society
- POLI 399: Globalization and Its Discontents
- PSYC 399: Psychology of Human Resilience
- SOCI 399: Sociology of Diversity: Issues for Canadians
Delivery Method
This course is delivered online. Delivery is self-paced, allowing you the flexibility to proceed through the course according to your own schedule. TRU-Open Learning has no admission requirements and you can register for this course at any time throughout the year.
Prerequisites
60 credits.
Objectives
After you have completed the work in this course, you should be able to:
- Identify and discuss major theoretical models and critical concepts in visual studies, including theories of representation, strategies of cultural production and consumption, and theories of power and discourse.
- Define and discuss many of the specialized terms that refer to representations and how they function in society, including image, ideology, truth value, interpellation, hegemony, discourse, and the Other.
- Choose theoretical concepts and vocabulary that are appropriate and/or relevant and use them to describe and discuss images.
- Demonstrate the ability to think critically about visual and textual materials and the relationship between them. (What makes each distinctive? How do they inform each other?)
- Raise questions and develop arguments about cultural theories that take a variety of perspectives into account, and communicate these questions and arguments in various written forms, including web discussion and written assignments.
Course Outline
The course is divided into four units, which are further divided into topics of study:
Unit 1: Theory, Culture, and Images
- Topic 1: Theory
- Topic 2: Culture
- Topic 3: Image
Unit 2: Thinking about Representation
- Topic 1: Representation
- Topic 2: Ideology and Truth Value
Unit 3: Viewers and Meanings
- Topic 1: Hegemony
- Topic 2: Interpellation
- Topic 3: Viewing Positions and Representational Strategies
Unit 4: Power, Discourse, and the Other
- Topic 1: Gender and the Gaze
- Topic 2: Discourse
- Topic 3: The Other
Maximum Completion
30 weeks. As the course is self-paced, students may choose to complete this course in less than the allowed maximum time.
Required Text and Materials
You will be consulting a variety of resources throughout the course, including books, articles, and web resources. Links to Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files for most of the required readings are provided in the course units.
UNIT 1 READINGS
- Carter, M. (1990). Why theory? In "Framing art: Introducing theory and the visual image" (pp. 31-43). Sydney, AU: Hale & Iremonger.
- Sewell, W. Jr. (1999). Excerpt from The concept(s) of culture. In V. E. Bonnell & L. Hunt (Eds.), "Beyond the cultural turn: New directions in the study of society and culture". (pp. 52-58, notes on p. 61). Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
- Mitchell, W. J. T. (2003). Word and image. In R. S. Nelson & R. Schiff (Eds.), "Critical terms for art history" (2nd ed., pp. 51-61). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
UNIT 2 READINGS
- Representation, meaning and language. (1997). In S. Hall (Ed.), "Representations: Cultural representations and signifying practices" (Excerpt from Chapter. 1, The work of representation, pp. 15-29). London, UK: Sage Publications.
- Sturken, M., & Cartwright, L. (2001). Excerpt from Practices of looking: Images, power, and politics. In "Practices of looking: An introduction to visual culture" (pp. 10-24). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
UNIT 3 READINGS
- Hegemony. (2002). In A. Edgar & P. Sedgwick (Eds.), "Cultural theory: The key concepts" (pp. 164-165). London, UK: Routledge.
- Althusser, L. (1970). From 'Ideology and ideological state apparatuses'. In A. Easthope & K. McGowan (Eds.), "A critical and cultural theory reader" (1992, pp. 50-58). Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
- Sturken, M., & Cartwright, L. (2001). Excerpt from Viewers make meaning. In "Practices of looking: An introduction to visual culture"(pp. 56-71). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
UNIT 4 READINGS
- Discourse. (2002). In A. Edgar & P. Sedgwick (Eds.), "Cultural theory: The key concepts" (pp. 116-119). London, UK: Routledge.
- Foucault, M. (1978). From "The history of sexuality". In A. Easthope & K. McGowan (Eds.), "A critical and cultural theory reader" (1992, pp. 90-95). Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
- Other. (2002). In A. Edgar & P. Sedgwick (Eds.), "Cultural theory: The key concepts" (p. 266). London, UK: Routledge.
- Said, E. (1978). From "Orientalism". In A. Easthope & K. McGowan (Eds.), "A critical and cultural theory reader" (1992, pp. 59-65). Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
- Chandler, D. Notes on "The Gaze."
- Mulvey, L. (1975). Visual pleasure and narrative cinema. "Screen", 16(3), 6-18.
Tutor Information
Your course tutor will facilitate online discussions, mark and comment on your assignments and project exam, keep a close watch on your progress, and provide you with any assistance you may need with the course content. You will receive a welcome email from the tutor with contact information when you start the course.
Assessment
In order to successfully complete this course, you must obtain at least 50 % on the final mandatory project exam and 50 % overall. It is strongly recommended that students complete all assignments in order to achieve the learning objectives of the course. The total mark will be determined on the following basis:
Students must pass the final project exam to receive a passing grade in the course.
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