In his introduction to The Matter of Images, Richard Dyer argues that, “how social groups are treated in cultural representation is part and parcel of how they are treated in life, that poverty, harassment, self-hate and discrimination … are shored up and instituted by representation” (1). Images are imbedded with arguments about national identity and the social body. In this course we’ll begin by constructing a shared vocabulary for reading visual culture. We will then look at a few key historical moments when representations of racial and ethnic groups were actively shaped by cultural and national narratives about the fitness of the U.S. social body.

Course Requirements:

Course work includes active reading, discussion, and four essays.