Cultural Analysis and Representations

The course offers knowledge of key theoretical works in the field of semiotics, psychoanalysis, film and television theory as well as feminist art and media theory. Students are familiarized with, among others, the work of Roland Barthes, Christian Metz, Griselda Pollock and Victor Burgin, John Berger. The emphasis is on the deconstruction of processes of visualization in art, photography, film and television. This is explained in relation to theories of looking and power/knowledge mechanisms. This is then followed by analysis of the production of meaning in the image/discourse. Lectures are based on rich use of cases and hands-on studies.
In the conclusion, the construction of meaning is connected to studies of gender, race, national and ethnic identities. The use of visual technology in science, politics and advertising is explained.