Visual Culture_Day

Academic Year 2025/26

Visual Culture

Welcome session

Index

Introduction

Expected Learning Outcomes

Assessment and Grading System

Classroom Policies

Other relevant details

Introduction

This course focuses on the visual experience, as it shapes our sense of identity, history and social relations. As such, it is geared toward building a toolbox through which students can:

• explore theoretical approaches to the study of Visual Culture;
• outline the historical and sociocultural context of the production, circulation and reception of visual representations;
• develop critical visual literacy (understood as the development of critical inquiry and thinking about images and objects, as well as their media);
• examine the rhetorical dimension of visual representations and practices;
• consider the relationship between visual and written texts;
• analyse comics and graphic novels as complex visual/textual forms;
• critically assess the impact of digital media.

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Expected learning outcomes

Produce and present integrated visual/textual analyses collaboratively;

Understand images as culturally and politically active forms of communication;

Critically analyse visual culture using appropriate theoretical and methodological tools;

Demonstrate advanced visual literacy across multiple media and contexts;

Expected learning outcomes

Reflect critically on their role as viewers, interpreters, and producers of visual culture.

What are your expectations?

Scan the QR Code with your smartphone and share your views.

Assessment and Grading System

Assessment and Grading System

Learn more about the course's assessment & grading system by accessing our online tools.

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sharing time!

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Classroom Policies

Plagiarism

What are classroom policies?

Attendance & Punctuality

Guidelines that aim to create a structured and respectful learning environment. They outline expected behaviors, responsibilities, and procedures.

Electronic Devices

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Participation

Classroom Policies

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using somebody else’s ideas and work as your own in either written or oral work and constitutes a very serious academic offence. Work found to be plagiarised or written with AI tools (including paraphrasing tools) will immediately get zero. Make sure you are well acquainted with the FLUL Assessment Regulations with regards to fraud and plagiarism.

Classroom Policies

Attendance and Punctuality

As stated in the School of Arts and Humanities Assessment Regulations, students are required to comply with 100% attendance. Absence must be justified up to 10 days. Note that 29 classes are planned for this semester + 15% of your final mark will concern your attendance & participation. Students that miss more than 20% of classes (that is, 6 classes) without justification will automatically be given a zero for attendance & participation. Classes start five minutes after the hour. Your presence and arrival on time is essential and will be reflected on your final mark. In addition, please note that:

• while occasional delays may occur, regularly arriving 30 minutes after the start of class is unacceptable. If you are unable to arrive within the first 10:00-15:00 minutes, attending the class at that point serves little purpose;
• frequent movement in and out of the classroom is highly disruptive. It causes unnecessary interruptions and significantly interferes with the learning process for both the professor and other students;
• asking other classmates to sign the register on your behalf seriously undermines trust and represents a serious breach of course expectations. This behaviour is objectionable and must be avoided. As a result, students who request or allow others to sign the register on their behalf will receive a zero for attendance and participation.

Classroom Policies

Laptops, Smartphones & Other Devices

Laptops and tablets/iPads may be used only for academic purposes directly related to the class, including:

• Taking notes related to lectures, discussions, or presentations;
• Accessing required course materials, such as readings, slides, or documents shared;
• Participating in in-class activities, including polls, quizzes, collaborative documents, or research tasks explicitly assigned during class;
• Consulting dictionaries or reference tools when relevant to the task at hand;
• Viewing or annotating audiovisual materials when instructed;
• Accessibility purposes, where laptop use is required as part of an approved accommodation.

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Classroom Policies

Participation

Participation is understood as active, respectful, and consistent engagement in the learning process. This includes:

• Being prepared for class (having completed required readings or tasks);
• Contributing to discussions in a meaningful and respectful manner (asking questions, offering comments, or responding);
• Actively listening without unnecessary interruptions;
• Engaging in in-class activities, including group work, practical exercises, and guided tasks;
• Demonstrating focus during class;
• Respecting classroom norms, including turn-taking, academic integrity, and professional conduct;
• Participating in alternative forms of engagement when speaking is not the primary mode;
• Maintaining a constructive attitude, even when disagreeing or debating ideas;
• Participation is assessed on quality and consistency, not frequency alone.

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Other details

TP2: Tuesdays (room: C138.A) and Thursdays (room: C247): 3:.30-5:00pm

Timetable & rooms

Office Hours

Wednesdays: 2:00-3:00pm

Email address:

anaritasilva@edu.ulisboa.pt

Getting to know you

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For our last activity today, let us share something with each other! Scan the QR code and share a recent photo or image. Then write some details about the selected image/photo.

For our last activity today, let us share something with each other! Scan the QR code and share a recent photo or image. Then write some details about the selected image/photo.

Thank You Very Much!

See you next class!

Extra Notes:

• Silence does not automatically indicate lack of participation; however, habitual disengagement does;
• This is an English language course. Do not speak Portuguese in class with either your classmates or your teacher.

Conditions of Use

Laptop use must be silent and non-distracting (notifications muted; no audible media). Screens should not be used in ways that distract other students. The instructor reserves the right to restrict or suspend laptop use during specific activities (e.g. discussions, exams, peer work).

Go to our moodle page and access:

Visual Culture: Syllabus"

ACTIVITY

1) Join a group of 4 2) Read the information in "Assessment" and look for dates and other relevant details about the different assessments listed.