2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
COMM5160M Critical Studies in Visual Communication
30 creditsClass Size: 48
Module manager: Holly Steel
Email: H.Steel1@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
This module explores the role that visual imagery plays in contemporary society, by means of looking at the visual as a key communication as well as economic and cultural resource. The module offers both an overview of established critical theories of visual communication and more contemporary takes on visual analysis and visuality at large.Objectives
This module aims to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of visual communication and its impact on various aspects of society, while also developing the skills to critically analyze and ethically engage with visual media. Through a series of linked lectures and seminars that engage with images and written scholarship, it aims to help students to:-1. Understand the significance of visual communication in the broader field of media and communication studies, including its cultural, political, and economic implications.
2. Develop critical analysis skills to examine and interpret visual texts, considering their language, materiality, and the contexts in which they are produced and received.
3. Explore specific case studies and controversial issues within the field of visual communication, with a particular focus on the power dynamics involved.
4. Reflect on the ethical responsibilities and role of both producers and users of visual images in social science and humanities research, as well as everyday contexts.
5. Gain an overview of established critical theories of visual communication and engage with contemporary approaches to visual analysis and visuality.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. describe the significance of visual communication for the broader field of media and communication studies and illustrate the cultural, political and economic elements of visual communication and the debates around them
2. critically analyse visual texts in relation to language, materiality and the contexts of their production and reception
3. examine specific case-studies and controversial issues within the field, especially the relations of power involved in visual communication
4. reflect on their role and ethical responsibility as producers and users of visual images in social science and humanities research and everyday contexts alike.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes
1. The ability to express knowledge and understanding of visual communication.
2. The ability to weigh up different arguments and perspectives in relation to chosen case studies, using supporting evidence to form opinions, arguments, theories and ideas on the significance of visual communication in society.
Syllabus
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Supervision | 1 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Lecture | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
| Private study hours | 279.50 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.50 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
- Students will be expected to read in advance of classes and participate in weekly discussions. Those who fail to do so will be encouraged and/or met out of class to discuss any problems.- The assessed assignments are designed in such a way that the individual essay due on week 8 should lay the conceptual foundations for the project report due on week 12.
- In addition, the module leader will meet with each student during office hours for support, advice and formative feedback in relation to their projects (see tutorials). Ideally, students will meet with the module leader at least once during the semester, although students will be encouraged to see the module leader regularly during office hours.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 2,500 - 3,000 words. | 50.00 |
| Project | 2,500 - 3,000 words. | 50.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
The essay focuses on the conceptualization and analysis of key dimensions of visual communication in relation to specific media texts. Students will be required to write 2,500 – 3,000 words for this assignment. The project will require for students to conduct original research on a specific set of visual communication practices or cases, which they will research through archival/library research methods and through fieldwork within the city of Leeds. Students will be required to write 2,500 – 3,000 words for this assignment.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 08/01/2024
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- Undergraduate module catalogue
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