Welcome to the Visual Literacy Blog Project

This site is the future “home base” of the Visual Literacy Blog Project.

Blogging may be the most perfect blend of image and language.  Therefore, during the fall semester of 2012, the Visual Literacy students of Holy Cross College will create blogs as part of the course’s curriculum.  The students will write posts that present their critical insights into the various topics presented during class.  More importantly, my hope is that the students also see their blogs as vehicles for creativity and self-expression.

Links to the students’ blogs will be posted to this site.  I will also blog about the topics covered in Visual Literacy in addition to other art-related issues.  My blog— http://rhettgerardpoche.wordpress.com/—will be up and running prior to the fall semester of 2012.   I intend for it to serve as an example for my students to follow.  For now, this project is a work-in-progress…stay tuned for more details in 2012.

I will also blog about the topics covered in Visual Literacy in addition to other art-related issues.  This blog will be up and running prior to the fall semester of 2012.   I intend for it to serve as an example for my students to follow.  For now, this project is a work-in-progress…stay tuned for more details in 2012.

-Rhett Gérard Poché

We are going to L.O.O.K. at L.H.O.O.Q.

Marcel Duchamp (one of your Instructor’s/Blogmaster’s personal heroes) created objects and images that questioned our expectations, perceptions, and interpretations of art.  He explored our abilities (and inabilities) to decipher images.  One could say that Duchamp made art that investigates what it means to be visually literate and illiterate (or just indifferent to art altogether).  Therefore, our semester will begin with a close look at his work.

Are you “readymade” for some “treacherous” images? (This will make sense later.)

Dear Future Visual Literacy Students:

This art-historical “mash-up” of Magritte and Duchamp (by the street artist ELBOW-TOE) illustrates many of the themes and theories we will be discussing in class.  O.K…O.K…I know what you are thinking: “I don’t get it?”—”That’s not art.”—”I don’t think this class is for me.”  Well, in all honesty and with sincerity, I want to you to know that you WILL get it.  You may even eventually appreciate this piece as art.  Visual Literacy is the right class for you!…Trust me.  You belong here.