After successful completion of the course, students are able to critically analyse different phenomena and settings of visual culture and to formulate independent conceptual approaches in this regard.

The blocked course „Introduction to Visual Culture” (formerly Architecture and Art History 2) offers an introduction to the various subject areas, methods and debates in the field of visual culture. Particular attention is paid to theoretical and historical questions that are relevant in the course of architecture studies.

In addition to a general introduction to questions of representation, visuality and picture theory, the course looks into three conceptual areas: bodies, spaces and media. The examination of individual sites and phenomena of visual culture ranges from early image technologies such as the panorama and the diorama to digital portals such as Instagram and Snapchat, and from visual performance in the cinema, museum and theater to the performative dynamics of skateboarding, graffiti and parkour.


MVRDV, The Mount, London (Photo: Peter Mörtenböck, 2021)

lectures, presentations, audiovisual media, discussions

Changes in this course due to the corona pandemic (information as of 1 March 2022):

For further updates, please see the German version of this course.

Reading material (in German only) has been made available via the course's TUWEL site. Dates for written exams (in German only) will be announced via TISS.

written exam or presentation