Minor in Visual Culture and New Media Studies
Berklee's motto, Esse quam videri, can be translated as "to be, rather than appear to be." What does that mean in a culture that is increasingly visual, with appearances substituting for reality, and increasingly technological, with digital and virtual representations eclipsing analog and physical reality?
The visual culture and new media studies minor at Berklee provides students the opportunity to explore this central issue. Blending theory and practice, visual culture and new media studies combines the study of visual art, media, advertising, computer interfaces, software design, photography, fashion, digital video, the web, graphic design, architecture, video games, music video, urban design, and emerging visual and multimedia forms. These visual forms are explored in many contexts: in comparison with each other, as parts of a system of meaning, within social institutions, as elements in the process of culture, and as an influence in the formation of identity.
The visual culture and new media studies minor provides a framework for exploring digital narrative-multimedia storytelling-and offers students a way to combine creative and critical work. The visual culture and new media studies minor also emphasizes how people use technology to make art and to make culture.
Students must take LENG-111: Introduction to College Writing and follow the regular declaration of minor procedure as outlined in the Registration Guide.
- College students: submit the Declaration of Major/Minor form to the Liberal Arts Department. See detailed instructions in the Registration Guide.
- Conservatory students: submit the Declaration of Minor form to the Registrar's Office.
Upon completion of a minor in visual culture and new media studies, students will:
- synthesize creative and critical work in projects that include graphics, moving images, writing, and music;
- evaluate critical perspectives on contemporary visual culture, art, media, and technology;
- analyze how new technologies change artistic representations and the cultural contexts in which they are created and received;
- apply skills of critical reading, writing, thinking, and speaking; and
- apply technology skills.
Required Courses (two courses; 6 credits):
- LVIS-333: Approaches to Visual Culture (3 credits)
- LHUM-433: Digital Narrative Theory and Practice (3 credits)
Choose one course from the following list (3 credits):
- LVIS-231: The Ancient and Medieval Worlds (3 credits)
- LVIS-232: The Renaissance to the Present (3 credits)
- LMAS-230: Indian Art, Music, and Culture (3 credits)
- LVIS-223: Art History Topics (3 credits)
- LVIS-234: Japanese Art and Culture (3 credits)
- LVIS-238: Scandals and Vandals: Forgery, Theft, and Destruction in the History of Art (3 credits)
Choose one course from the following list (3 credits):