VIZ COMM THEORIES.jpg

Prof. David Blumenkrantz
david.blumenkrantz@csun.edu

Monday & Wednesday 2:00-3:15pm

THIS IS AN ONLINE (ZOOM) CLASS:
Meeting ID: 829 4412 6135
Passcode: 721202

Zoom video policy
Students are asked to please keep their video function on during class

Office hours: MZ326
Tuesday, 12-2, Wednesday 12-2
(online via Zoom)
https://csun.zoom.us/j/86987815733
Meeting ID: 869 8781 5733

Special in-person meetings can be arranged upon request

SYLLABUS: J250_FA21_10395.pdf

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. This course is primarily concerned with evaluating numerous forms of visual communication in the mass media.

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

COURSE STRUCTURE
Course material is presented through a series of visual demonstrations and lectures, along with various discussion formats, group activities and presentations. Generally, Tuesdays will involve lectures and presentations by the instructor, and Thursdays will be mainly spent on student presentations.Weekly quizzes-- posted on Canvas and based directly on the textbook-- will be assigned as homework, scheduled in advance of the lectures. There are also a number of writing and creative activity assignments. Both the midterm and final exam which are writing assignments.

Textbook: PERCEPTION: A Guide to Visual Communication; the eBook can be downloaded free here on Canvas.

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.

GRADING: Based on weekly Canvas quizzes, the Magazine Design project and other online assignments, group presentations, the midterm and final exams, and participation. While attendance does not directly affect one’s grade, numerous tardies and absences will affect your ability to participate in activities and discussions, which does affect the grade.

LATE WORK: Accepted one week after deadline, but only worth half credit. The online quizzes must be taken before the lectures, so they cannot be accepted late.

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.

Covid-19 safety protocols

CSUN is permitted by LACDPH to hold on-campus classes on the condition that everyone adheres to the following protocols:
- Complete a health self-screening survey through the CSUN app before coming to campus and follow corresponding instructions.
- Monitor your health. Take your temperature once a day. If you have a fever of 100.4 or other symptoms of COVID, or are just feeling ill, call your doctor or the Klotz Student Health Center at 818-677-3666.
- Please do not come to campus if you feel sick.
- When on campus, please adhere to the following:
  - Maintain at least six (6) feet distance from others
  - Wear a face covering
  - Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  - Avoid touching eyes, nose, and face
  - Follow university signage on walkway paths and distancing markers for lines
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.