The Visual Experience
ARTH117 - Fall 2005
Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe

SCHEDULE

REQUIREMENTS

RESOURCES

REQUIREMENTS

  • The Course
    • An introduction to how we look at, analyze and understand both art and "non-art" images encountered in everyday experience

  • Meeting Place and Time
    • Pannell 015: Wednesdays 1:30-4:20

  • Reading
    • The materials on this website
    • Photocopies

  • Student Responsibilities
    • Active class participation, which includes being prepared for each class, and taking part in discussion.
    • Two Reports, written and orally presented to the class
      • FIRST REPORT (visual and perceptual analysis)
        Select ONE photograph from the exhibition "The Madness of Paradise" in Pannell Gallery and write a two-part paper (12 to 15 pages)
        Part 1 (10-12 pages): Examine the image and write an analysis covering the following issues and areas:
        1. Seeing (your initial visual encounter)
        2. Looking (recount how you 'looked' at the image in terms of eye movement, attractive features, visual interest, visual attention)
        3. Impressions (derived from color, line, shape, texture, space, and composition)
        4. Associations (recognition and identification, interpretation of visual information)
        Part 2 (3-5 pages): Compose a narrative or story to 'explain' what the image shows, noting all the visual clues or cues available to you and what they seem to indicate, refer to, allude to, or mean.

      • SECOND REPORT (image-making)
        Choose a meaningful visual experience and write a two-part paper (10 to 12 pages). Topic suggestions:
        • Commercial advertising campaign
        • Non-commercial marketing campaign
        • Magazine cover design
        • Website design
        • Movie
        • Art exhibition (on campus)
        • Room on campus (or at home)
        • Men
        • Women

        Part 1 (8-10 pages): Analyse your selected topic in the following ways:
        1. Seeing and Looking: How did the image(s) catch your attention?
        2. Impressions: Comment on the use color, line, shape, texture, space in terms of their use in creating an effective or appropriate image
        3. Associations: Identify the types of visual information employed (identifiable objects and/or figures) and analyse their place and role in the composition of the whole design
        4. Visual Effectiveness: Consider the intent or purpose of the overall content and composition of the image(s) - sell a product, tell a story, provide information or educate, entertain, promote pleasure or delight, attract or seduce - and then discuss how the image(s) are effective in this regard.
        Part 2 (2-4 pages): Write a critical analysis of your visual experience describing your own response to the image(s) in both visual and psychological terms. In particular, identify the parts and/or overall composition that you found most interesting or provocative, and explain why they affected you in this way. Comment, too, on the parts and/or overall composition that failed to interest you. Suggest ways in which the image(s) might be improved to increase effectiveness and fulfill the desired intent or purpose.

  • Grading
    • Class participation = 20%
    • First Report = 40%
    • Second Report = 40%

  • Office and Hours
    • Pannell 04: Tuesdays 9:30-10:30. Others times by appointment
    • phone: 6194
    • email: witcombe@sbc.edu
    • © Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe