Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Visual Culture is an introductory textbook book on visual literacy, exploring how meaning is both made and transmitted in an increasingly visual world. It is designed to introduce students to the analysis of all kinds of visual texts, whether drawings, paintings, photographs, films, advertisements, television programmes or new media forms. The book is illustrated with copious examples that range from medieval painting to contemporary record covers and is written in a lively and engaging style, avoiding unnecessary jargon.

The first part of the book is concerned with differing theoretical approaches to visual analysis, and includes chapters on iconology, form, art history, ideology, semiotics and hermeneutics. The merits and disadvantages of each are discussed, and there is a special focus on one seminal writer for each topic.

The second part shifts from a theoretical to a medium-based approach and comprises chapters on fine art, photography, film, television and new media. These investigate the complex relationship between reality and visual representation.

As a whole, this textbookbrings seemingly diverse approaches together under one roof while ultimately arguing for a polysemic approach to visual analysis. Each chapter concludes with a section of recommendations for further study.

Visual Culture provides an ideal introduction for students taking courses in visual culture and communication in a wide range of disciplines, including media and cultural studies, sociology, art history and design.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface
• Introduction
• Part 1
• Chapter 1 Iconology
• Chapter 2 Form
• Chapter 3 Art History
• Chapter 4 Ideology
• Chapter 5 Semiotics
• Chapter 6 Hermeneutics
• Part 2
• Chapter 7 Fine Art
• Chapter 8 Photography
• Chapter 9 Film
• Chapter 10 Television
• Chapter 11 New Media
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Knowing how to read visual images, from social media to fine art, has become an increasingly valuable skill permitting those who possess it to derive meaning from what they view. In this third edition of Visual Culture, Howells (King's College, UK) and Negreiros, his former student, have continued their exploration of how to increase college and university students' visual literacy and how visual culture affects meaning. The book is organized into two parts, one exploring theory, the other media. The theory section covers iconology, form, art history, ideology, semiotics, and hermeneutics, while the media part examines fine art, photography, film, television, and new media. The authors have worked diligently to keep their work current, which is difficult in a field where ongoing change seems the norm. That being said, the study's central ideas remain remarkably constant, suggesting the complex relationship between visual culture and reality is ideally suited for their polysemic approach to visual analysis. Including over 50 black-and-white and color illustrations, this volume contains new sections on video games and images of power, fear, and seduction, as well as fresh material exploring subjective matters such as taste and judgement. Summing Up: Essential. General readers through faculty; professionals. --Stephen T. Schroth, Towson University

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Richard Howells is Reader in Cultural and Creative Industries at King's College, London.