Survey of visual and media studies theories. Development of analytical methods to critically engage with analog and digital visual media production, circulation and consumption in a global context. Overview of the historical development of visual studies and media studies as distinct critical fields with intellectual ties to cultural studies, art history, philosophy, sociology, literature, communications, and information science. Exploration of contemporary convergences between visual and media studies, in dialog with scientific visualization, cognitive neuroscience, and quantitative approaches to image processing. Course required for VMS majors. Instructor consent required.