End of year announcements! 
  • Assignment 2:
    • Details here
    • Part 1 (outline) due 12.6 (on Bruin Learn)
    • Part 2 (paper) due 12.13 (on Bruin Learn)

  • (Old) Assignment 1 Details here.

ABOUT
Prof. Gabriel Greenberg [[email protected]]
Philosophy 138: Visual Representation (UCLA)
When: T/Th 12:30-1:45 (PST), Fall 2024
Where: Zoom link here. 
Office hours: W 12:30-1:30 (PST), Zoom link here.
Course policies + grading: here.

THEME
This course examines the meaning of visual signs, through the lens of philosophy, cognitive science, and social science.  In Part I, we'll focus on the the roots of depiction in visual perception.  In Part II, we examine the relationship between pictures, truth, and knowledge.  In Part III, we'll look at the role of pictures in modern society and in the exercise of power.

REQUIREMENTS

See course policies for grading breakdown.
  1. Participation: Every class: participation in discussion, with video on.
  2. Reading question: Every class: prepare three reading questions.
  3. Presentation: Once: prepare an interesting image for discussion.
  4. Assignment 1: Short illustrated paper (~1500 words / 5 pages).
  5. ​Assignment 2: Longer multi-media project (equivalent to ~4000 words / 12 pages).

SYLLABUS 
Subject to revision!  Please refresh regularly.
Readings must be completed before class on the day they are due.

PART I: PICTURES & PERCEPTION

W1.1: Light into paint
10.1 - Tues
W1.2: Seeing-in
10.3 - Thurs
  • Handout
  • Reading: 
    • ​Wollheim 1984 "Painting as an art"
    • Focus questions:
      • What is the concept of "seeing-in"?
      • What role is played by the "standard of correctness"?
      • Which is primary, representation or seeing-in?
W2.1: Beyond mimesis
​10.8 - Tues
  • Handout
  • Reading: 
    • ​Goodman 1968 "Reality remade" [1-20]
    • Focus questions:​
      • What is wrong with the "imitation theory" of representation?
      • What is the myth of the "innocent eye"?
      • What does Goodman say about Gibson's optical theory?
W2.2: Depiction-as
10.10 - Thurs
  • Handout
  • Reading:
    • ​Goodman 1968 "Reality remade" [21-41]​
    • Focus questions:
      • When does a picture denote an X?
      • When is a picture an X-picture?
      • What is "realism" in depiction?
W3.1: Perspective
​10.15 - Tues
  • Handout (large pdf)
  • Reading: 
    • Video: Introduction to perspective projection (YouTube)
    • Read: Willats 1996 "Projection systems" [37-55]
    • Focus questions:
      • How can you tell if a picture is in perspective?
      • How does perspective projection work?
      • Why do distant object appear smaller in perspective?
      • What kind of pictures are not in perspective?
W3.2: Systems of space
10.17 - Thurs
  • Handout (large pdf)​
  • Reading: 
    • Greenberg 2021 ”Semantics of Pictorial Space” [pdf pgs 1-23 (sections 1-4)]
    • Focus questions:
      • What is pictorial space?
      • What is a viewpoint?
      • What’s the difference between parallel and perspective projection?
      • What is the relationship between projection and pictorial space?
W4.1: Systems of line
10.22 - Tues
W4.2: Non-western and indigenous art
​10.24 - Thurs
10.28 - Mon: Assignment 1 Outline - DUE (11:59 PM): 1-page outline for assignment 1
​Assignment 1 details here.

PART II: PICTURES, TRUTH, & KNOWLEDGE

W5.1: Can pictures lie?
10.29 - Tues
W5.2: Pictorial truth
10.31 - Thurs
11.4 - Mon: Assignment 1 DUE (11:59 PM): Short paper with illustrations
Assignment 1 details here.
W6.1: Photography as perception
11.5 - Tues
W6.2: AI Art
11.7 - Thurs
W7.1: Drawing as cognition
11.12 - Tues

PART II: PICTURES & POWER

W7.2: Images and ideology
11.14 - Thurs
W8.1: Painting and capital
11.19 - Tues
W8.2: Photography in society
11.21 - Tues
W9.1:
11.26 - [NO CLASS]
W9.2:
11.28 - [NO CLASS]
W10.1: Painting and the male gaze
​12.3 - Tues
W10.2: Maps and empire
​12.5 - Thurs
[CANCELED] Maps and power
Reading:
12.6 - Fri: Assignment 2 Outline - DUE: Longer project
12.13 - Fri: Assignment 2 DUE: Longer project
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