Module overview
This module is designed to develop knowledge of the critical issues that surround contemporary illustration practice and the wider image cultures in which it operates. It introduces key ideas and concepts through a review of the social, political and cultural influences shaping the discipline.
Using a range of critical texts, case studies, projects and practitioners, you will be introduced to methods and approaches that support critical analysis of contemporary practice. You will examine how illustrators engage with current issues and consider the role of illustration in shaping narratives, publics and cultural discourse across different contexts and platforms.
You will identify relevant sustainable and ethical contexts and explore how these inform both written and visual responses. Through this, you will further develop your academic skills in research and writing, alongside your ability to communicate critical ideas using credible and substantiated sources to support your arguments and creative work. As part of the module, you will produce creative work that synthesises your understanding of current and emerging debates, issues and critical contexts.