Students in this course will examine contemporary western visual culture; as it is constituted by visual modes of communication. The course begins by questioning the philosophic and ideological significance of 'seeing' in western culture; and examines methods of interpretation and representation in the visual realm. Through analysis of images in art; print advertising; documentary photography; and a range of television; video; and film genres; students will investigate the relation of cultural practices; ideologies and institutions to the production and reception of visual messages. Aesthetic philosophy; semiotics; psychoanalysis; discourse analysis; feminism; and postmodern criticism will be considered as research methods. Pre-requisites: ELA 30-1 or equivalent