Images are everywhere in contemporary society. In such an environment, they often become mere background noise and are rarely viewed critically. What purpose do these images serve? How does the style of their presentation affect their meaning? This course employs a wide range of imagery to address these questions, including painting, sculpture, architecture, public monuments, photography, film, and graphic design. This course aims to develop a visual literacy by teaching the student how to read and decipher the social and cultural messages of images that lie hidden beneath their aesthetic surfaces.