Welcome to the online version of Visual and Cultural Studies: A Critical Toolbox.

This course is a combination of theory and practice. It introduces basic skills in visual analysis and interpretation, as well as theoretical principles and concepts that we need to think and write effectively about visual culture and visual experience.

There's a lot more information about the structure and approach of the course in your first reading assignment, "Introduction to Visual Studies". What I want to do now is walk you through the course materials and resources we've created for you here in Blackboard.

1. At the top of the menu on the left is a link to the Syllabus, which includes an expanded course description, requirements, a breakdown of how you'll be graded, a list of required texts, information for students with disabilities, an academic honesty policy, and advice for reading and preparing for class Discussions -- the next item on the menu.

2. Our discussions take place outside of Blackboard on a specially designed blog. I want everyone to have as much flexibility as possible in posting and organizing comments, sharing images, links, and other resources. The blog is the best widely accessible and cost-free format for doing that. If you don't have experience blogging, don't worry. It's incredibly easy and there's lots of help available both on the blog site (at Wordpress) and from those of us who have more experience in the blogosphere. I've posted a brief set of instructions and a Quicktime movie that takes you through the steps needed to set up a username or account at Wordpress.

3. A chronological list of Reading and Writing Assignments can be found in the next two items on the menu. There are direct links to texts available in electronic format -- the course packet refered to on the syllabus -- and due dates for all assignments.

4. The next items -- Study Guides -- vary in format and approach. Some are multimedia summaries of the main points covered in a reading assignment, some are handouts that provide background information about a reading or issue covered in the course, others expand on the material covered in class discussions. You should consult these guides both before and after doing an assigned reading.

5. I've added a Wiki, the next item in the menu, for collaborative writing projects, a course bibliography to which we can all contribute, etc.

6. The Library menu item is a direct link to The New School and consortium libraries.

7. Faculty Information contains contact details you'll need for reaching me.

8. Wordpress is a direct link to the site where our discussion blog is located.

9. And, finally, Announcements, which is self-evident.

My general aim is to make it as easy as possible for you to get all the materials you need for the course and then get offline and into a comfortable place to read, think, look, and prepare for your online class discussions. The course materials are flexible, so we can always make changes as we go. Recommendations, critiques, and thoughtful observations are always welcome.

Next Steps

The next step is for you to create your blog account for our course discussions. Click here to begin.