Global Perspectives on Visual Culture

This introductory course provides a foundation in global visual culture, bringing together key artistic traditions from Western, Asian, and other world contexts. Through the study of diverse artists, artworks, and movements, you will explore how the human figure, objects, architecture, and landscapes have been represented across cultures, and connect these historical expressions to your own design and media practice.

The course's second half traces major developments from the late nineteenth century to the present, including the innovations of modernism, the evolution of design, the emergence of photography and cinema, and the rise of new media art. Adopting a global perspective, the course aims to ground your creative work in a nuanced understanding of art's interconnected narratives while establishing a strong historical foundation for advanced studies in ADM's design and media disciplines.

By the end of the course, you will develop core art historical skills in visual, contextual, and comparative analysis. These analytical, research, writing, and communication abilities will enable you to interpret and discuss artworks within broader social, historical, and cultural contexts. You will learn to articulate ideas clearly, ground creative decisions in historical understanding, and engage critically with visual culture in your chosen specialisation.