Visual Culture
PostgraduateGRF-COM1202025
Take a look at the aesthetic, social and economic power of visual culture.Put photography, film and television, visual art and fashion in the frame. Understand the visual medium's power in advertising. Further your ability to read visual languages.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 6 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 14 July 2025
- Price from
- $3,125
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Visual Culture
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Understand the histories of visual culture practices and industries
- Develop and extend understanding of visual languages
- Gain experience in applying this knowledge to the study of current transformations in visual culture
- Introduction and overview
- Art, Artists and Audiences
- Mass communications media
- The eye of the camera
- At the Movies
- The Simpsons: cartoons, comedy and satire
- Style, fashion and scenes
- Advertising: the magic system
- Making the news
- Big things
- Review
- Review
- Review
This subject develops your understanding of the aesthetic, social and economic significance of visual culture by critically examining visual art practices, photography, film and television, style and fashion, advertising, news media genres and exhibitionary technologies. You will develop familiarity with a range of visual languages, genres and cultural industries, historical and contemporary practices of visual culture.
- Quiz (30%)
- Essay (45%)
- Research Task (25%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 18
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- 21
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- GRF-MCM-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate in Communication
Elective
- OUA-PSU-GCE-2025 - Postgraduate Single Subjects
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
one of
- GRF-COM110-Introducing Communication Studies
- GRF-COM190-Communication Research Skills
GRF-COMM110 (Not currently available)
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
GRF-COMM120 (Not currently available)
Others
If you are an existing student working towards the pre-2015 structure you will not need to into COM190. New students must enrol in both COM110 and COM190 prior to enrolling in COM120.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
PostgraduateOUA-PSU-GCE