California State University, Fullerton
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Visual Communications: Image is Everything?
This course attempts to explore several questions. Since the widespread use of Gutenberg's
printing press, there has always been the cultural assumption that information is best
communicated through written formats. But since the invention of the computer and desktop
publishing, the role of visual messages in the communication process is expanding.
Much of the information in the course and textbook will be new to you. Such a predicament is
not your fault because you have been raised to mainly consider words as the most important form
of human communication. This course is an attempt, as many others have tried, to even up the
score between words and images. It is important to understand, however, that an emphasis on
visual messages for this course does NOT mean that words are considered less important than
images. The most powerful, meaningful and culturally important messages are those that
combine words and pictures in equally respectful ways.
Visual Communications is an exploration into the idea that memorable visual messages with text
have the greatest power to inform, educate and persuade an individual. This course is an attempt
to discover why some images are remembered while most are not.
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Textbooks:
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Online Resources
visual communication home page
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Web Search Engines
Internet Search
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Grading:
Test 1: 25 percent
Attendance will be taken. Each absence will count five points off your attendance grade unless you talk to me before the class. NOTE: I will only allow three excused absences a semester.
You will receive five points added to your attendance grade for each typewritten, two-page analysis of any visual message you choose taken from the book, Images that Injure Pictorial Stereotypes in the Media. You may turn in up to 15 extra credit papers. You can also write a ten-page paper and receive 25 extra credit points. These papers are due at any time during the semester up until the last class. If you don't miss any classes, your potential attendance grade can be as high as 200.
I will not tolerate unnecessary chatter. As specified by University policy, I have the right to ask you to leave the class, if talking is a problem. I will also subtract five points from your attendance grade.
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Course Outline:
Notes for the First Test
Week 1
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Required Recommended
Visual Communication Workbook
The printed version of online notes listed below is available in the Titan Bookstore.
digital literacy and visual communication
media history project
Student Net
Online Newspapers Directory
Yahoo
Lycos
Webcrawler
SavvySearch
Inktomi
Test 2: 30 percent
Final Exam: 35 percent
Attendance: 10 percent
Notes for the Second Test
Notes for the Third Test
All the Notes for the Class
Introduction to the Course
Readings: Preface and Chapter 1
Light and Color
Readings: Chapter 2
Week 2
Eye and the Brain
Readings: Chapter 3
Color and Form
Readings: Chapter 4
Week 3
Depth and Movement
Readings: Chapter 4
Sensual Theories
Readings: Chapter 5
Week 4
Perceptual Theories
Readings: Chapter 5
Visual Persuasion
Readings: Chapter 6
Week5
Pictorial Stereotypes
Readings: Chapter 7
TEST ONE
Week 6
Image Analysis
Readings: Section Four and Time Line
Typography
Readings: Chapter 8
Week 7
Typography
Readings: Chapter 8
Graphic Design
Readings: Chapter 9
Week 8
Graphic Design
Readings: Chapter 9
Informational Graphics
Readings: Chapter 10
Week 9
Informational Graphics
Readings: Chapter 10
Cartoons
Readings: Chapter 11
Week 10
Cartoons
Readings: Chapter 11
TEST TWO
Week 11
Photography
Readings: Chapter 12 and Virtual Reality story
Photography
Readings: Chapter 12
Week 12
Motion Pictures
Readings: Chapter 13
Motion Pictures
Readings: Chapter 13
Week 13
Television and Video
Readings: Chapter 14
Television and Video
Readings: Chapter 14
Week 14
Computers
Readings: Chapter 15
Computers
Readings: Chapter 15
Week 15
Networked Interactive Multimedia
Reading: Chapter 16
Conclusion
Reading: Chapter 17
30. FINAL EXAM