What is Visual Studies?

Catalog description

Visual Studies at Penn bridges humanities, fine arts, and vision science. It is built on the premise that research in cognitive science, theories of seeing, humanistic study of visual artifacts, philosophical theories of the arts, and maker’s skill and knowledge can inform one another in surprising ways. As with any interdisciplinary endeavor, the synthesis across disciplines takes place primarily in the knowledge and skills of individual practitioners. As they proceed through the major, students find their own syntheses and connections in the rich domain of the visual. To foster such synthesis, this Seminar offers a chance to integrate ideas and practices. It is usually taken during the Spring Term of the third year. Its participants seek new insights into the interplay of art, perception, philosophical theories, and the history of visual practices (including cinema). The Seminar builds on topics introduced in “ VLST 1010 —Eye, Mind, and Image,” but engages at a more advanced level. It considers topics that expand on the science, philosophy, and history of art, and considers art making and reflections on it. Students undertake a research paper in close collaboration with the instructor and with their classmates. Scholars from Penn and elsewhere specializing in appropriate topics will visit the Seminar and offer new perspectives. The research paper often frames the initial steps toward the Senior Project in the fourth year.