Research subject Visual culture
Visual culture covers research about image cultures and visual practices in different historical contexts and from different theoretical perspectives. The field includes the traditional objects of art history in wider visual contexts.
Visual culture was established as a field of research at the end of the 1980s and is sometimes used as synonymous with visual studies and Bildwissenschaft. The shared point of departure is to explore the visual in relation to questions about for example knowledge, power and desire. Here is included studies of everything from photographic “mugshots” to anatomic plates in early-modern medical literature to the circulation of digital images online. Another focal point within the field is to explore how the use of optical instruments and other mediating technologies historically and today has formed different ways of viewing the world and its visual manifestations.
Related research subject
Art History
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Researchers
Andrea Kollnitz
Professor
Christopher Landstedt
Senior lecturer
Anna Näslund
Professor
Tanja Schult
Senior lecturer, associate professor
Jeff Werner
Professor
Research group
Courses and programmes
We offer two master's programmes, with admission every second year.
The International Master’s Programme in Art History gives you a deepened empirical and theoretical knowledge in art history. Particular focus is placed on developing skills that enables you to navigate the international art historical field, within the academy, museums, or related professional areas.
The International Master's Programme in Art History: Technical Art History and the Art Museum, gives you in-depth empirical and theoretical knowledge in the field of Art History with a focus on Technical Art History, the history of the art museum and its professional practice, as well as History of Collections and Archive Studies.
We also offer separete courses at Bachelor's and Master's level. Course offerings are different each semester.
Doctoral studies
The postgraduate studies at the Department of Culture and Aesthetics consists of four years of fulltime studies with employment: The writing of a doctoral thesis (180 ECTS credits) and PhD courses (60 ECTS credits).
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Departments and centres
The research activities takes place at the Department of Culture and Aesthetics.
Department of Culture and Aesthetics