J250 Visual Communication

SYLLABUS: J250_FA22_10397.pdf

Tuesday 9am-11:45am, Manzanita Hall 361
Prof. David Blumenkrantz
818 677-2855
david.blumenkrantz@csun.edu

Enrollment limited to majors only. Non-majors may add course on a space available basis.
This is a Hybrid class (OH) in which students attend class sessions on campus and in an online environment. The class typically meets approximately half online and half on campus.

WHEN THE CLASS MEETS ONLINE:
https://csun.zoom.us/j/88669549190?pwd=WHl0VWd6TEo3MEJGcjZkdDhCRUZXdz09
Meeting ID: 886 6954 9190
Passcode: 276484

Office hours: MZ326
MONDAY 10am- 12 & TUESDAY 12-2pm (online via Zoom)
https://csun.zoom.us/j/86987815733
Meeting ID: 869 8781 5733

Special in-person meetings can be arranged upon request

Visual Communication is interwoven with Visual Literacy, defined as the ability to find meaning in imagery, and Visual Culture, which focuses on aspects of culture that rely on visual images. Both are indispensible components of contemporary life, essential to a wide range of disciplines, sciences and enterprises including anthropology, sociology, psychology and engineering, as well as governmental and commercial interests.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course students should be able to:

Describe how images are processed physiologically by the eye and brain
Explain how key theories of perception and communication relate to visual literacy
Explain the role that Semiotics, Gestalt and other psychology-based cognitive processes play in perception, and the relationship of images to meaning
Analyze visual messages through the application of various perspectives
Compare the personal, social and political impact that various types of visual messages have on consumers
Compare and contrast the intent and effectiveness of design principles
Explain the significance of persuasion, and identify uses of distortion, stereotyping and propaganda in visual messages
Evaluate the ethical considerations inherent in visual communication, and the tremendous responsibility that goes with the creation and dissemination of visual messages in the mass media

Textbook: Perception: A Guide to Visual Communication (download here)

There are several good apps to choose from for running the eBook. The simplest and completely sufficient is AdobeReader, but students using tablets are free to use whichever app they are comfortable with. GoodReader, for one, allows more student interaction with the PDF document than even Adobe's own app.

Attendance and participation
Students who arrive late and leave early as part of a general habit should not expect to do well in this class. Final grades may be affected by poor attendance and participation.

MASKING

Masks are required during instruction in classrooms, laboratories and the University Library. The wearing of masks is strongly recommended, but not required, in all other indoor areas and outdoors.
We are kindly asking anyone walking into the Journalism Office to please wear a mask. Masks can be required in private offices, if desired.
Masks will be required of everyone in MZ 337, the part-time faculty office.
For more information please see: https://www.csun.edu/covid-19

Students and employees who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 must wear a highly protective mask indoors for 10 days from the date of exposure or the positive test date. Please refer to Exposure and Reporting for isolation and quarantine guidance.

For more information, visit the CSUN as One webpage at csun.edu/csunasone.

For more information, visit the CSUN as One webpage at csun.edu/csunasone.

Complete information on Covid-19 safety protocols and procedures can also be found at the Matadors Forward website.