Visual Culture Research
Visual Culture Research is a multi-disciplinary field combining the humanities and social scientific perspectives of anthropology, art theory and film studies with workshops utilising visual media and relevant software. It aims to foster in students a well-developed understanding of and set of skills for working with visual materials. Graduates will achieve a high level of visual literacy - an ability to analytically grasp visual materials from a range of disciplinary perspectives, and an understanding of the key conceptual debates in visual studies. They will also develop a practical familiarity with a range of visual media and the relevant software for working with visual materials. Through 'hands on' exercises students will combine these analytical and practical skills, developing the ability and confidence to manipulate visual materials for research-related purposes.
Programs available
- Graduate Certificate in Liberal Arts (Visual Culture Research)
- Graduate Diploma in Liberal Arts (Visual Culture Research)
- Master of Liberal Arts (Visual Culture Research)
- Master of Liberal Arts (Visual Culture Research) (Honours)
Who Studies Visual Culture Research?
The program is designed to cater to the interests and needs of a range of potential candidates. These include:
- graduates seeking to develop specialist practical and critical expertise in the field of visual culture as a pathway either to Higher Degree Research or a career working with visual culture collections
- freelance and professional filmmakers, multimedia producers, researchers looking to extend their understanding of critical and cross-cultural issues in dealing with visual culture
- curators and collections managers wishing to undertake further study in the field of visual culture as part of their professional development
It is expected that some students will come to the program with a specific idea or theme or visual culture collection that they wish to explore. The flexible design of the program allows for a suite of courses to be tailored to such aims.
Why ANU?
The Australian National University is home to award-winning ethnographic film-makers and multi-media producers, as well as internationally renowned scholars in the fields of visual anthropology and visual art. The program draws on this expertise, offering high quality on-site teaching.
Visual Culture Research is the only visual culture program on offer at an Australian university that combines multidisciplinary conceptual approaches and practical engagement with visual materials and processes in the one program.
Collaborations with internationally respected cultural institutions including the National Film and Sound Archive, National Library of Australia, National War Memorial, National Archives of Australia and National Portrait Gallery provide unparalleled access to some of the most important visual culture collections in Australia, and foster an understanding of the integral role of visual research in collections management, exhibition and public outreach programs.
Internships and Professional Programs
Visual Culture Research students have the opportunity to learn on the job. Students may undertake up to 12 units of internship, which counts towards their degree and offers an excellent way to gain work experience. Internship courses are offered year-round, in semesters 1 and 2, and summer and winter sessions. The two courses may be taken over two semesters, or more intensively in one or two teaching periods. Students enrolled in the Master of Liberal Arts (Honours) (Visual Culture Research) also have the opportunity to undertake a more substantial professional development placement that counts toward their final assessment.
Career Opportunities
With an integrated focus on scholarly and practical methods for dealing with visual culture, graduates of the program will be well placed to pursue career prospects with a range of institutions which hold and manage visual culture collections.
Courses
- VISC8001: Visual Culture Research: Key Concepts
Entry Requirements
| Programs Offered |
Admission Requirements |
Weighting |
Advance Standing |
Time taken by student to completed program |
Graduate Certificate in Liberal Arts
(Visual Culture Research) |
Completion of an undergraduate degree of not less than three years study at a recognized university or higher education provider or approved professional experience. |
24 units |
None |
1 semester |
Graduate Diploma in Liberal Arts
(Visual Culture Research) |
(a) Completion of four years of study at a recognized University or higher education provider or approved professional experience.
or,
(b) Completion of an undergraduate degree of not less than three years study at a recognized university or higher education provider and successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Liberal Arts or equivalent postgraduate degree. |
48 units |
24 units if Graduate Certificate or equivalent successfully completed |
2 semesters |
Master of Liberal Arts
(Visual Culture Research) |
(a) Completion of four years of study at a recognized University or higher education provider or approved professional experience.
or,
(b) Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Liberal Arts or equivalent postgraduate degree. |
72 units |
48 units if Graduate Diploma successfully completed |
3 semesters |
Master of Liberal Arts
(Visual Culture Research) (Honours) |
Completion of relevant Masters award (with an overall average mark of 70% or higher) |
96 units |
72 units if ANU Masters program satisfactorily completed |
4 semesters |
Program Requirements
Graduate Certificate in Liberal Arts (Visual Culture Research) |
Graduate Diploma in Liberal Arts (Visual Culture Research) |
Master of Liberal Arts (Visual Culture Research) |
Master of Liberal Arts (Visual Culture Research) Honours |
| 24 units |
48 units |
72 units |
+24 units |
Students must complete:
At least two courses from this list:
• VISC8001: Visual Culture Research: Key concepts
• VISC8008: Visual Culture Research: Special topic
• VISC8010: Visual cultures of Asia
• VISC8009: Thinking with a Video Camera
• VISC8003: Masterclasses in Ethnographic Film
• VISC8005: Digital Media Methods
•VISC8006: Visual culture research project
•ANTH8041:Photography in Social Context
The remaining courses may be taken from Visual Culture Research offerings or from any area of the Liberal Arts specialisation. |
Students must complete:
• VISC8001 Visual Culture Research: Key concepts (must be taken within the degree but not necessarily in the first semester in which a student is enrolled).
At least two courses, other than internship courses from this list:
• MUSC8004: Internship 1
• MUSC8005: Internship 2
• HUMN8001Interdisciplinary Humanities Research: Methods, Theories and Skills
• VISC8008: Visual Culture Research: Special topic
• VISC8010: Visual cultures of Asia
• VISC8009: Thinking with a Video Camera
• VISC8003: Masterclasses in Ethnographic Film
• VISC8005: Digital Media Methods
• VISC8006: Visual Culture Research Project
•ANTH8041:Photography in Social Context
The remaining courses may be taken from any area of the Liberal Arts specialisation or by individual approval from the Program Coordinator. List of additional courses available |
Students must complete:
• VISC8001 Visual Culture Research: Key concepts (must be taken within the degree but not necessarily in the first semester in which a student is enrolled).
At least two courses, other than internship courses from this list:
• MUSC8004: Internship 1
• MUSC8005: Internship 2
• HUMN8001Interdisciplinary Humanities Research: Methods, Theories and Skills
• VISC8008: Visual Culture Research: Special topic
• VISC8010: Visual cultures of Asia
• VISC8009: Thinking with a Video Camera
• VISC8003: Masterclasses in Ethnographic Film
• VISC8005: Digital Media Methods
• VISC8006: Visual Culture Research Project
•ANTH8041:Photography in Social Context
The remaining courses may be taken from any area of the Liberal Arts specialisation or by individual approval from the Program Coordinator. List of additional courses available |
Students must complete:
HUMN8002 MLA Hons
Students select from one of these options:
A: A written thesis of 15,000 words;
OR
B: An applied professional practice or placement or project component and supporting thesis or exegesis. |
Other Specialisations
Courses from each of the other specialisations may be taken as part of the degrees specialising in Visual Culture Research. For more information about the courses available in each field follows the links to Cultural and Environmental Heritage, Museums and Collections and Writing, World Histories and Lives.
For more information
Contact the Visual Culture Research specialisation convenor:
Professor Nicolas Peterson
E: Nicolas.Peterson@anu.edu.au
How to apply
Applicants should apply directly to the University for entry into this program. Online applications can be completed at ANU Apply Online
Further details on graduate study at ANU are available at Graduate Study at ANU
