Throughout time and across cultures, humans have experienced the persuasive power of the visual environment.

Program Focus & Rationale:
This unit is important for students to study so that students develop a sense of discernment when viewing the vast amount of visual messages that surround them. Students will develop a sense of visual literacy and be able to interpret the messages that they see in art as well as the visuals that they see everyday. This is necessary because the visuals they see everywhere embody values and messages of the culture from which they originate. Exploring the idea of the persuasive power of the visual environment can be important to the lives of students because as students of the 21st century, they are bombarded by visuals everywhere. The implied messages that they see may (or may not,) apply to how they think or feel about their lives, community and world.

As students develop their sense of self in the world, they can experience a powerlessness or identity struggle when they do not understand visual messages around them. By analyzing visual messages and their meaning, they will discover confidence in forming and presenting their own ideas visually. By learning to compare contemporary and historical visuals, they will become empowered as they begin to understand the relationship between the media, pop culture and the powerful influence that visuals can have over people. This is achieved through an in-depth study in this visual arts curriculum.

This course will help students develop a discerning, critical eye. Students will also experience a wide array of visual styles that can inspire their personal artistic style should they decide to pursue the arts in their future classes or careers.