Our Introductory Course

Our Interdisciplinary Introductory Course

This team-taught, interdisciplinary course will provide students with an intensive grounding in the fundamentals of perceiving, representing, displaying, and analyzing visual materials. Taught by experts in art history, computer science, cognitive psychology, film and media studies, history, literature, optometry, and visual anthropology and sociology, this exciting, innovative course will explore the intersection of art, culture, and science, including the nature of vision, the philosophy of the visual arts, symbolism and semiotics, visual images as signifiers of culture, and the use of visual technologies as research tools.

This interdisciplinary course will explore the intersection of art, culture, and science. We will focus on aspects of visual culture with guest lecturers from across the curriculum and the city, including experts in art history, film and media studies, history, literature, optometry, visual anthropology and visual sociology. This class will examine the nature of vision, the philosophy of the visual arts, symbolism and semiotics, visual images as signifiers of culture, and the use of visual technologies as research tools. It will explore the fundamentals of sensing, perceiving, representing, displaying, and analyzing visual objects.

The course divides into four major units:

• Cognitive Science, the Science of Light and Vision, and the Visual Arts
• Philosophy and the Visual Arts
• The Visual Arts as Rich Cultural Texts
• Visual Media as Investigative and Research Tools

Links:

Visual Studies in the UH Catalog

Visual Studies Course Descriptions

Visual Studies Approved Course List for the minor

218 Hoffman Hall | Tracy Xavia Karner, Director 713.743.3961, txkarner@uh.edu | Jerome Crowder, Associate Director 713.743.4264, jcrowder@uh.edu