GEOG3651: VISUAL GEOGRAPHIES: REPRESENTING AFRICA

• Any Level 1 or level 2 module in Geography.

• None.

• None.

• To explore geographies of visual culture in order to expand students knowledge and understanding of the politics of representation in the construction of people and places.
• To enhance students grasp of theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of visual geographies.
• To promote critical reflection on the cultural geographies of identity, representation and geopolitics with respect to Africa.

• Theoretical and methodological approaches to visual culture and geographies.
• Historical trends in the representation and performance of Africa and the legacies of empire.
• Analysing representations: content analysis of African issues in the news, visual analysis of place representations, geopolitical imaginations, and the enactment of other cultures.
• Culture and identity: constructions of identity and difference in visual culture and media.
• The global image economy: analysis of the visual economy of documentary photography, photojournalism and world cinema.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Application of theoretical approaches to the analysis of visual culture and geographies.
• Critically discuss the historical and political dimensions of cultural production and consumption.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Construct visual analyses of geographical issues with respect to Africa.
• Demonstrate the role of photography and cinema in constructions of place and identity.

Key Skills:

• Critically interpreting visual culture.
• Assessing the merits of contrasting theories and methodologies used in the analysis of visual culture.
• Taking responsibility for their own learning and developing habits of reflection upon that learning.
• Group work and presentation skills.

• Lectures will be used to impart basic information (empirical and conceptual) necessary to fulfil the aims of this course.
• Concepts introduced in lectures will be explored in more depth in workshops, which will be conducted by the lecturers and form the core of the course.
• Students will select one of three workshops in each term, each workshop will be limited to 1/3 of the course enrollment to ensure small group teaching, and last nine hours over three weeks.
• Group work skills will be developed in a practical project, the results of which students present in a workshop talk that constitutes the formative assessment.
• When not in a workshop students will be undertaking a practical task individually (the completion of a reflective visual diary).
• Students ability to interpret and apply theoretical concepts will be tested through an examination and an individual practical exercise (visual diary).

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.