The cross-disciplinary Advanced Master's degree in Visual Cultures primarily aims to enable students to think and act as a cultural critic, i.e. applying a reflective and critical approach to society through its past and present visual output. In this way, by the end of their 60-credit course, students will have an active and integrated expert understanding of a body of disciplinary and multidisciplinary knowledge (awareness, terminology, issues, methods, conceptual frameworks) essential for them to become experts in the different fields of visual communication and the history of images.
Students will be able to study and analyse an image or a corpus of images (regardless of the medium) or a complex issue using the methodologies specific to the disciplines of communication and history of art, while at the same time improving their critical eye.
They will be able to complete an original, individual research assignment dealing with a large and varied quantity of data, using a rigorous and systematic approach. They will demonstrate independence in managing a research project and an individual project, and more generally in keeping their knowledge updated.
This Master's degree therefore seeks to train people who are receptive to the cultural and socio-professional worlds, mainly in terms of their visual dimensions, and who are capable of integrating into them easily and efficiently.
On successful completion of this programme, each student is able to :
1. Think and act as a cultural critic: Apply a reflective and critical approach to society through its past and present visual output.
1.1. Be an active citizen who is aware of current issues related to visual output, by placing them in a complex socio-cultural and historical network;
1.2. Demonstrate intellectual independence in reasoning, apply a critical eye to visual output over a wide variety of media (cinema, television, video, photography, painting, sculpture, engraving, etc.);
1.3. Think and act in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary way by being open to other conceptual and methodological frameworks with a view to not only acquiring new knowledge but also being able to form hypotheses themselves.
2. Master knowledge: Attain an active and integrated expert understanding of a body of disciplinary (history of art, visual anthropology, semiology, sociology, narratology, cultural studies, etc.) and multidisciplinary knowledge (awareness, terminology, issues, methods, conceptual frameworks) essential for them to become experts in the fields of visual communication and iconology.
2.1. Attain a knowledge base in the fields of communication and the history of art;
2.2. Attain specialist knowledge in even more specific fields (visual studies, iconology, visual anthropology, semiology, etc.);
2.3. Link and compare knowledge from related disciplines (history, anthropology, sociology, etc.);
2.4. Starting from the basis of the knowledge acquired, contribute to the development of new hypotheses in the field of visual culture studies.
3. Apply disciplinary methodologies: Study and analyse an image or a corpus of images or a complex issue using the methodologies specific to the disciplines of communication and history of art.
3.1. Study an image or a corpus of images, in any medium, using technological, semiological, anthropological, iconological, etc. analysis methods;
3.2. Be capable of re-situating the above in their historical and socio-cultural context and understanding their interactions and challenges;
3.3. Reflect on the contribution of new methods and develop these methods with a view to adapting them to various different situations.
4. Carry out research using a scientific approach: Complete an original, individual research assignment dealing with a large and varied quantity of data, using a rigorous and systematic approach.
4.1. Develop and deal with specific issues surrounding a given subject. Demonstrate clear and structured reasoning by applying and, where necessary, adapting the conceptual frameworks provided;
4.2. Conduct research on a given subject or issue: describe, organise and summarise data in a systematic and rigorous manner. Critique and compare documents;
4.3. Examine the body of data in a relevant way: apply disciplinary methodologies while also providing their own reflective and critical perspective, developing new, individual insight into the issue;
4.4. Communicate the results of their research in a scientific and pedagogical manner, both orally and in writing.
5. Independently manage their work and developmental path: Demonstrate independence in managing a research project and an individual project, and more generally in keeping their knowledge updated.
5.1. Independently manage a research assignment using a scientific approach and applying knowledge and methodologies to new issues and multidisciplinary situations;
5.2. Plan and manage their own learning path, making individual choices relating to their education;
5.3. Develop their intellectual curiosity: be interested in and open to trends in the field of knowledge but also in relation to the methods for communicating that knowledge;
5.4. Be responsible for their own learning: independently manage the acquisition and updating of their knowledge and expertise;
5.5. Manage their time and plan the steps required to carry out a project.
