This text provides an accessible critical introduction to a variety ofdifferent analytic strategies for understanding the range of objectspaintings sculpture ad... » 

This text provides an accessible critical introduction to a variety ofdifferent analytic strategies for understanding the range of objectspaintings sculpture adverts furniture textiles photography fashionetc. that make up visual culture. Beginning with a discussion of whatunderstanding can be taken to mean in relation to visual culture it devotesseparate chapters to different approaches to its study using examples toillustrate the strengths and weaknesses of these. The major figures associatedwith particular analytic strategies Hebdige Panofsky Barthes Wolff etc.are critically discussed throughout. Alternative more advanced readings arealso explored and crucial questions posed such as Are we always or ever incontrol of our understanding? «