Week 4 | Community & Independent Movem

JR (2017) Giant Picnic. Mexican-US border installation

Visual Culture

L03

L02

L01

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the process and contexts of interpreting visual material. Show an understanding and independent interpretation of the roles of both producer and viewer in visual communication. Apply research skills in the construction and presentation of a coherent discussion on topics relevant to the course material.

Learning outcomes

Your Draft must include the following sections: Title Page Introduction Research and Discussion Visual Analysis 1 (secondary Source Image) Visual Analysis 2 (Secondary Source Image)

Draft Submission: Week 6 July 6th, 5:00 pm

draft submission reminder

Weekday and Weekend Groups

Evening Groups

Info & Instructions

week 4

practical exercises & portfolio development

session 1

session 1 objectives

Week 4 Session 1 Objectives: Teacher Led Exercises 1) To develop exercises (group and/or individual) considering the visual analysis framework discussed in the previous sessions [Formal – Contextual - Conceptual]. 2) To identify images from different sources [public, private, and community] 3) To discuss ways of engaging and discussing an image’s context. 4) To present findings to the class.

This image illustrates the Visual Analysis Framework we are using for the VC portfolio. As you can see, every corner is essential to complete the anaysis; if one part is missing, the analysis is incomplete.

visual analysis framework

contextual analysis

conceptual analysis

formal analysis

notes to remember on the visual analysis framework

community and independent movements analysis and discussion

session 2

session 2 objectives

• Week 4 Session 3
• Objectives:

1) To explore and discuss visual culture developed by communitarian and idependent movements. 2) To understand how images have been used as a tool for social justice. 3) To examine how globalization, migration, memory, culture and community are reflected in social justice movements around the world.

Independent Image Producers: Artists, neighbourly initiatives, NGOs, or Non-Profits.

Community or Independent movements refer to a sector of society that produces images uninfluenced by the resources of public and or private institutions. At times, the sector works articulated to private and public entities; however, they follow their own agendas.

Community / independent movements

week 4 Glossary

In visual cultures, communities, independent movements, non-profits, and NGOs as visual producers encompass grassroots groups, individual creators, and organized entities that generate visual content outside mainstream commercial or institutional frameworks. These sector is often driven by collective, social, or political goals, aiming to represent marginalized voices, challenge dominant cultural narratives, or advocate for specific causes.

community & independent movements

The Raised Fist Origin: Associated with labour movements in the early 20th century, various community-based movements have widely adopted the raised fist, including the Black Power movement in the 1960s. Meaning: The raised fist symbolizes solidarity, resistance, and strength in the face of oppression. It continues to be used in protests for racial justice, workers’ rights, and anti-colonial movements worldwide.

visual symbols from community organisations

community as a visual producer

The Rainbow Flag Origin: The rainbow flag, created by artist and activist Gilbert Baker in 1978 for the LGBTQ+ movement, was originally commissioned by San Francisco’s community leaders. Meaning: The flag represents diversity and pride within the LGBTQ+ community, with each colour symbolizing different aspects of the community, such as life, healing, and spirit. It is now a globally recognized symbol of LGBTQ+ rights.

visual symbols from community organisations

community as a visual producer

The Peace Sign Origin: Designed in 1958 by British artist Gerald Holtom for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), it was quickly adopted by various anti-war and community movements, especially during the 1960s counterculture movement. Meaning: It symbolizes peace, anti-violence, and opposition to war. It remains one of the most widely recognized symbols of activism and pacifism.

visual symbols from community organisations

community as a visual producer

The Red Ribbon Origin: The red ribbon became an international symbol of AIDS awareness in the early 1990s, designed by the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus to raise consciousness during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Meaning: It symbolizes support for people living with HIV/AIDS and awareness of the global fight against the disease.

visual symbols from community organisations

community as a visual producer

The Red Handprint (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Movement - MMIWG) Origin: Used by Indigenous activists across North America, the red handprint across the mouth has come to symbolize the MMIWG movement, drawing attention to the high rates of violence against Indigenous women. Meaning: The red handprint represents the silencing of Indigenous voices and the need for justice and awareness of the violence faced by Indigenous women.

visual symbols from community organisations

community as a visual producer

The V-for-Vendetta Mask (Guy Fawkes Mask) Origin: Originally used in the graphic novel and movie V for Vendetta, the Anonymous hacker collective and other global anti-capitalist movements adopted the Guy Fawkes mask. Meaning: The mask symbolizes resistance to authority, anti-corporate movements, and the fight against surveillance, making it a global symbol for protests against inequality and corruption.

visual symbols from community organisations

community as a visual producer

The Zapatista Red Star Origin: The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in Mexico adopted the red star as a symbol of Indigenous and anti-capitalist resistance. Meaning: It symbolizes the fight for Indigenous rights, autonomy, and anti-neoliberalism, especially within Latin America. It is widely associated with anti-globalization and grassroots movements.

visual symbols from community organisations

community as a visual producer

non-profits

other forms of independent visual production

non-profits

other forms of independent visual production

Jenny Holzer (1950) is an American conceptual artist based in Hoosick, New York. Her work focuses on presenting words and ideas in public spaces and includes large-scale installations, advertising billboards, projections on buildings and other structures, and illuminated electronic displays.

artists

other forms of independent visual production

Andy Goldsworthy OBE is an English sculptor, photographer, and environmentalist who produces site-specific sculptures and land art situated in natural and urban settings.

artists

other forms of independent visual production

Cecilia Vicuña is a Chilean poet and artist based in New York and Santiago, Chile. Her work is noted for themes of language, memory, dissolution, extinction and exile.

artists

other forms of independent visual production

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation, and is also active in painting, performance, video art, fashion, poetry, fiction, and other arts.

artists

other forms of independent visual production

Independent visual producers work autonomously or in small groups. Their work may challenge aesthetic norms, address personal or political issues, and is frequently distributed through alternative channels like social media, independent galleries, or public spaces. Non-profits and NGOs act as key visual producers by using art and media to advance social, humanitarian, or environmental causes. These organizations often collaborate with local communities or artists to create visual campaigns, exhibitions, or public artworks that raise awareness, mobilize support, or advocate for social change. Their visual outputs aim to educate and inspire, aligning with the organization's mission while fostering cross-cultural understanding. Together, these movements play a critical role in shaping visual culture, democratizing visual production, and offering alternative narratives to those found in mainstream media.

notes to remember

Communitarian and independent visual production is vital in democratizing art and shaping visual culture. These grassroots initiatives provide platforms for marginalized voices, challenging dominant narratives and offering alternative perspectives often overlooked by mainstream media and institutions. They create spaces for cultural representation, resistance, and collective identity-building by fostering collaboration and community engagement. Independent creators and non-profits similarly produce innovative, socially conscious images that reflect diverse experiences and address urgent political and social issues. The visual output from these movements enriches the cultural landscape and drives social change by raising awareness, mobilizing action, and inspiring dialogue around issues. As visual producers, they remind us of the power of imagery to transform public consciousness and create solidarity, offering pathways for both personal expression and collective empowerment in the fight for a more equitable and inclusive society.

conclusion

practical exercises & portfolio development

session 3

session 3 objectives

• Week 4 Session 2
• Objectives:

Portfolio Development.

• To research and find 2 suitable community images.

• Remember, images can be from any part of the world. Read the assignment brief instruction regarding the time-frame limitations of each option.

• To conduct visual analysis using the visual analysis framework [Formal – Contextual - Conceptual].