Visual Studies Initiative

Visual Studies at Duke operates at the interface of science, social sciences and the humanities. Our scope is university-wide. The Visual Studies Initiative addresses work produced across a broad spectrum of areas in the humanities as well as the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, medical imaging, cartography, circuit design, information science, logic, and the many zones of graphic production in commercial and public sectors. The Visual Studies Initiative does not limit its investigation to the study of representation alone. Rather, it investigates the material production, dissemination, semiotics, and remediation of images and imaging systems in all their various forms—artistic, popular, scientific, commercial. Computation and the effects of digitality on knowledge-production are central to the VSI enterprise, both in theory and in practice. Our aim is to activate Visual Studies not only horizontally across disciplines and administrative structures, but also also vertically, from introductory coursework to advanced teaching and research collaborations. Our Steering Committee includes leaders from Art, Art History and Visual Studies; the Nasher Museum; the Scientific Visualization Lab; Information Science + Information Studies; the Center for Documentary Studies; Literature; Engineering; English; Computer Science; Film, Video, Digital; Duke’s Office of Information Technology, and the University Libraries.

The Visual Studies Initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.