Jordan Thompson

Art 133
Unit paper 2
2/16/16

Visual culture is a very important concept in todays art education. Visual culture can be
defined as an aspect of culture that is expressed by a visual image. It can is also defined
differently by others. Visual culture is important in todays art education because of the invention
of photography and the more use of technology. For example, movies, internet, video games,
magazines, and shopping malls are all apart of visual culture. Visual culture is new to art
education which means there is no set way on how to teach it (Hurwitz and Day, 2007). Art
education needs to be meaningful and be able to make connections for the students. Denotation
and connotation are two things that can help a teacher teach a student on how to read and
proceed art. These things are helpful practices for the students that can help them explore visual
culture by evaluating, enjoying, making connections, and understand the art. (Barrett, 2003)
Visual culture is an important thing to teach others about because it is all around us and is
seen every day. It will help students look at a picture and see a deeper meaning to it. Denotation
and connotation is a great way to help the students explore visual culture. Having the students
give an explanation on what the picture is of and then explain what they think is means. A great
art for this would be Michael Ray Charles cut and paste artwork.
References
Barrett, T. (2003). Interpreting visual culture. Art Education, 56(2). 6-12
Hurwitz, A., & Day, M. (2007). Children and their art: Methods for the elementary school, (8th
ed,). Thompson Wadsworth