this course will introduce students to important theories of visual culture that may be useful for accounting for the influence of visual technologies in shaping arguments for social change. we will explore the development of criticism of visual technologies initially considered as revolutionary forms of expression that would transform social relations. we will survey important works from the frankfurt school, as well as early semiotic applications, and british cultural studies attempts to bridge frankfurt school neo-marxism and structuralist semiotics, as well as later foucauldian-inflected analyses. we will explore the specific implications of these by considering two specific contexts:: the WPA coverage of poverty and labor, and the abu ghraib photos/videos. all readings will be in a course packet. students are required to sign up to initiate one class discussion; writing a response to reading for a separate day; submitting a proposal/abstract for discussion; and a final 12-15 page essay/critique.