This course examines the cultural significance and social impact of different types of visual images and artifacts beyond the art world, such as advertisements, entertainment media, photojournalism, political activism, scientific illustration, social media, and street art. It is designed to introduce students to a variety of conceptual tools and strategies for analyzing, interpreting, and thinking critically about visual media and their contexts. By strengthening visual competency and foundational abilities to make sense of images, this course not only informs students’ creative practices, but also enhances their visual literacy and communication skills across other academic disciplines and in the workplace. This course can be used to satisfy University Studies requirements.