170.028 (21S) NGOs and Visual Communication

Sommersemester 2021

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
05.03.2021 09:00 - 11:00 online Off Campus
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Overview

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be necessary to make changes to courses and examinations at short notice (e.g. cancellation of attendance-based courses and switching to online examinations).

For further information regarding teaching on campus, please visit: https://www.aau.at/en/corona.
Lecturer
Course title german NGOs and Visual Communication
Type Seminar (continuous assessment course )
Course model Online course
Hours per Week 2.0
ECTS credits 6.0
Registrations 14 (18 max.)
Organisational unit
Language of instruction English
Course begins on 05.03.2021
eLearning Go to Moodle course
Seniorstudium Liberale Yes

Time and place

Please note that the currently displayed dates may be subject to change due to COVID-19 measures.
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Course Information

Intended learning outcomes

The course aims to develop a deeper understanding of and hands-on skills in visual communication related to NGO work. The course will draw from various theoretical approaches to provide insights into the field of NGOs, while exploring practical examples of how images are used for establishing/modifying public positions and mobilising people for social issues.

Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools

This course will be conducted online only. It consists of reading assignments, case studies, short writing assignments, class presentations, and discussions. As part of the course requirements, students are also expected to work in groups to create visual communication projects within imaginary NGO settings and write individual papers (max. 5 pages/25.000 characters) to be submitted at the end of the semester. 

Course content

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an essential role in participation, international governance, and collective action. At the same time, they continuously strive for visibility in public. Using a logo in a specific way, launching a fundraising campaign on social media, organising a public event in a particular location are all part of this contest over visibility. The goal of this course is to investigate the ways in which NGOs use images. Case studies from various fields, including human rights, environment, and humanitarian aid, will help analyse the use of images critically from power relations and ethics perspective. The course has a practice-oriented plan and aims to build participants’ visual skills in branding, campaigning, and advocacy concerning NGO work. 

The course consists of eight classes that are divided into three main parts. The first part will be dedicated to situating NGOs within a historical and contemporary agenda regarding politics and social issues and exploring how they use images to establish visual identity and strengthen their brand. In the second part of the course, students will study the usage of images from various cases from the NGO field, including campaigns and advocacy efforts. In the last part, students will work in groups to develop visual communication projects and present them in the class, followed by an individually-written reflection paper.

Literature

Students are expected to read and discuss articles and essays from academic and nonacademic sources, including but limited to the following:

Anheier, H.K. & Toepler, S. (Eds.). (2010). International Encyclopedia of Civil Society (3rd ed.). Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-93996-4

DeLuca, K. M. (2005). Image Politics: The New Rhetoric of Environmental Activism. Routledge.

Lang, S. (2013). NGOs, Civil Society, and the Public Sphere. Cambridge University Press.

Dogra, N. (2012). Representations of Global Poverty: Aid, Development and International NGOs. I.B. Tauris.

Save the Children. (2017). The People in the Pictures. https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/node/12425/pdf/the_people_in_the_pictures.pdf

Additional reading and study material will be provided at the beginning of and during the course.

Examination information

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Examination methodology

Final grade will consist of three components:

1) Active participation during the sessions, making a case study analysis and presentation, and an individual follow up paper after the first session (max. 5.000 characters) - 40%

2) Final (group) visual project preparation and presentation -  35%

3) Final (individual) reflection paper on the experience of making the visual project (max. 25.000 characters) - 25%

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Master's degree programme Applied Cultural Studies (SKZ: 842, Version: 12W.1)
    • Subject: Theorien und Methoden der Kulturwissenschaft (Compulsory subject)
      • Module: Kulturwissenschaftliche Perspektiven und Forschungsfelder
        • Kultur als Wertesystem ( 2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
          • 170.028 NGOs and Visual Communication (2.0h SE / 6.0 ECTS)
  • Master's degree programme Adult Learning and Education and Vocational Education and Training (SKZ: 847, Version: 20W.1)
    • Subject: Digitalisierung und Alltagskultur (Compulsory elective)
      • b4.1 LV zu Digitalisierung und Alltagskultur ( 0.0h XX / 8.0 ECTS)
        • 170.028 NGOs and Visual Communication (2.0h SE / 6.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 1., 2., 3. Semester empfohlen
  • Master's degree programme Social Pedagogy and Social Inclusion (SKZ: 846, Version: 20W.1)
    • Subject: Digitalisierung und Alltagskultur (Compulsory elective)
      • b4.1 LV zu Digitalisierung und Alltagskultur ( 0.0h XX / 8.0 ECTS)
        • 170.028 NGOs and Visual Communication (2.0h SE / 6.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 1., 2., 3. Semester empfohlen
  • Master's degree programme Diversity Education in School and Society (SKZ: 545, Version: 20W.1)
    • Subject: Digitalisierung und Alltagskultur (Compulsory elective)
      • b4.1 LV zu Digitalisierung und Alltagskultur ( 0.0h XX / 8.0 ECTS)
        • 170.028 NGOs and Visual Communication (2.0h SE / 6.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 1., 2., 3. Semester empfohlen
  • Master's degree programme Visual Culture (SKZ: 655, Version: 18W.2)
    • Subject: Visuelle Kultur im transkulturellen Kontext (Compulsory elective)
      • 5.2 Visuelle Kultur als Ausdruck und Agenten der Transkulturalität ( 0.0h VC, SE / 6.0 ECTS)
        • 170.028 NGOs and Visual Communication (2.0h SE / 6.0 ECTS)

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

This course is not assigned to a sequence of equivalent courses