WdKA minor+ 
 
(This programme is only taught in person, not online—unless specified differently). 
 
General description: 
Visual Culture is a term used to describe the combination of all visual expressions within culture. Ranging from pop culture to governmental surveillance, visual culture is present within society at large. It is this omnipresence that is subjected to critical analysis and speculative reimagination in the minor Visual Culture at the WdKA. 

By building upon the creative impetus evident within the arts vis-à-vis the theoretical references within academia, this minor will delve into the following question: how can students, through theoretical and practical research, understand contemporary politics within the field of visual culture and reimagine their ramifications into either the near, or far future  

In terms of references and context, we will expand the main theme of the course by investigating concepts that are related to it directly or indirectly. This will allow the development of individual lines of research that will unravel by way of speculative explorations and analyses that will touch upon relevant investigations of themes, political moments, social developments, and all those context-related elements that do influence and shape the notion of visual culture. The individual researches will form the basis of a collective and collaborative effort in publicly presenting the work. 

What we offer:

• Skills in reading the politics of an image.
• Skills in formulating research questions.
• Skills in speculative artistic practices.
• Guest lectures by established artists and thinkers.
• Guest editorial support for the collective publications
• Working together with established art spaces.
• Working together with students from other disciplines.  
• Final public exhibition/event.
• Small excursions. 

 
What we expect: 

• The willingness to engage with reading & writing exercises.
• The willingness to collaborate.
• Having an individual and collective study approach.
• The willingness to self-organize. 

Contact:  

Practice leader: Sami Hammana – s.hammana@hr.nl 

• You are able to understand the core definition and the sociopolitical reach of visual culture.  
• You are able to integrate reading and writing efforts within art and design production.  
• You are able to apply critical and speculative thought in art and design production.  
• You are able to apply collaborative professionalism in working with guest lecturers and editors.  
• You are able to use peer review methods in giving and receiving feedback from fellow students and professionals.  
• You are able to navigate and organize the production of collective publications. 

This minor is open to WdKA students. Students from other institutes are required to send a portfolio and motivation. You will receive more information about this after you have registered for this minor. We advise students from other institutes to register at least one month before the deadline. The admission procedure takes at least two weeks. In case you are not accepted into the minor, you might need some time to register for another minor.

Deliverables: 

• Written research document (2000 words).
• Artistic project. 

Assessment: 
 
The written document will be individually and asynchronously assessed. 
The artistic component will be assessed after being presented in class.