Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice - 12(3) • Summer • 2166-2173 ©2012 Educational Consultancy and Research Center www.edam.com.tr/estp Perceptions Concerning Visual Culture Dialogues of Visual Art Pre-Service Teachers Nuray MAMURa Pamukkale University Abstract The visual art which is commented by the visual art teachers to help processing of the visual culture is impor- tant. In this study it is tried to describe the effect of visual culture based on the usual aesthetic experiences to be included in the learning process art education. The action research design, which is a qualitative study, is conducted in this research. The study is conducted with the 12 pre-service teachers of Pamukkale University Faculty of Education -Department of Fine Arts Education, Program in Art Crafts Education. The data have been obtained through observation, interview forms and document analysis. The data are analyzed by using content analysis. As a result of the study it is observed that the critically cogitation skills provided that to be aware of the visual culture analyzes, in terms of the visual objects which included the apprehend series and to develop the pluralistic perspective that has got not only meaning in visible. As a consequence, Pre-service teachers have found that the analyzing of the visual culture and the learning area which included in education programs and to make more conscious choices in art and cultural events. Key Words Visual Art Education, Visual Culture, Visual Culture Education. In our era, there is a period in which there is a post- ing a personality in different identities and being modern expression getting common in every part tolerated against other identities (Gudjons, 1993). of life. Especially it is observed that expressions, Therefore, roles of art education and art educators strategies and politics about post-modern and post- are highly affected by this approach. It is suggested modern pedagogy are getting widespread. In this that art lessons particularly should take place in spread while art is tend to focus on differences and creating, spreading and adopting visual culture. variations in creating hypothetical fundamentals Consequently, unless art educators take a defensive (Eker & Seylan, 2005), education focuses on how role, it is pointed out that they have the opportunity to structure, how to live, how to listen and how to to contribute to the globalization of culture by tak- learn knowledge by removing it from being only a ing a constructive role (Duncum, 2000). set of visual proposals (Kale, 2002). In the base of According to Barnard (2002) it is a stubborn fact both fields post-modern understanding individu- that a human-specific communication way, cultural alism and identity concepts are emphasized more expression, is as important as language. That is be- and they head for creating a human being who is cause every age creates a human type suitable for its based on the approach of self-assertion, develop- own structure and within that human creates a cul- a Nuray MAMUR, Ph.D., is currently an assis- ture suitable for its own structure (Gençaydın, 1995). tant professor at the Department of Fine Arts What is the common culture of our age? It is easy Education, Her research interests include visual to answer this question when we glance at around culture and well being, with assessment and us. Our environment is full of various and compli- evaluation in visual art education, Correspond- cated visual images. In today’s world predomination ence: Assist. Prof. Nuray Mamur, Pamukkale University, Faculty of Education, Department of media such as photography, cinema, television of Fine Arts Education, Denizli/Turkey. E-mail: and internet lead to the rise of visual culture (Bülbül, [email protected] Phone: +90 258 296 11 2010). Our common culture has become a product MAMUR / Perceptions Concerning Visual Culture Dialogues of Visual Art Pre-Service Teachers of what we watch (Barnard). With the rapid develop- sual culture. In order for a visible thing to be con- ment of technology first the camera and then cinema sidered as part of a visual culture, it should include and television which determine animated images the indicators that reflect the beliefs and values of a were invented; therefore, the world has gone into a society. Kırışoğlu (2009), on the other hand, defines period in which “visual images culture” flows at a visual culture as the effective power of images in the rate that can be explained by its own rules (Parsa, communication web of the age we live in and the 2007). It is observed that in the last 40 years elec- unit and the effect of this power on people. tronic images and in the last 10 years numeric based Tavin (2009b) states three definition of visual cul- computer images have covered all areas of life (Parsa, ture which are related with one another. Accord- 2007). Nowadays, from occupation to art, amateur- ing to him visual culture; (i) Deeply affects images, ism to professionalism, individual to government, people experiences and pictures created by new every level of visual production and stocking is pos- technologies and tends to be various seeing prac- sible (Karadağ, 2004). When the images are in the tices, (ii) Is everything composed by sets of various centre, it is observed that eye-centered societies are objects and pictures?, (iii) Is a critical study area composed (Parsa, 2007). Also in daily life almost in commenting different sides of visual findings, ex- all corners, building entrances, subways, shops and periences and culture. parks optical electronic eyes are placed and they ob- serve everything. In this concept seeing is a brand In Talvin’s descriptions (2009b) it is obvious that new culture style. This new culture is basically a syn- there is a connection among association, overlap- thesis of seeing, the ones that are shown and the ones ping and enlightenment. In the first approach, a that are seen (Karadağ). social change and transformation is grounded on technological production and consumption of pic- Visuals, images are constantly talking to us and tures. In this context, pictures play an important leading us to reach decisions by different associa- role in the construction of information. Moreover, tions (Karadağ, 2004). Either by human hand or they can serve to the reasons such as immedi- by an electronic tool, images always keep various ate transfer of information, expressing pleasure, meanings inside. These meanings are attributed to strengthening values and believes or politic action images by the image producers either at the time or declaring mobilization (Tavin, 2009b). There- they are produced or later on (Parsa, 2007). At this fore, pictures and images around us have an unbe- point it is important to understand how visible is lievable effect on the constitution of personal iden- interpreted or how we define the image, how we see tities. They can affect people’s emotions in subjects it, what we see, what we do not see or what we are such as ethnic origin, race, nationality, sex, friend- not allowed to see. Therefore, recently the studies ship, family life, independency and citizenship. In are focused on new theories and techniques re- the second approach, visual culture is defined as an lated to this subject. In educational researches ap- area of materialistic culture. That is, pictures, ob- proaches called as “visual culture education”, “visual jects and tools are stated as materials of culture. Vi- culture theory” or “visual culture pedagogy” are the sual content including architecture, products of art, social and cultural review of visual experience and computer games, fashion, cinema, graffiti, internet, interested in how people see what they see and how photography, satellite images, design products, vid- they interpret what they see. eo clips is reviewed as elements which increase cul- tural experiences of people. In the third approach visual culture is stated as a study area. It includes What is Visual Culture? visual stimulants of a culture and interpretation of Parsa (2007) defines visual culture as a multi dis- visual experiences in a culture (Tavin, 2009b). This ciplinary approach which deals with social and is an approach which mainly includes critical theo- cultural interpretation of visual experience and ries adopted from sociology psycho-analysis, his- how people define what they see. Visual culture is tory of art, feminism and media studies as a multi- defined as the combination of all visual structure disciplinary field (Duncum, 2003). As a field this from visual ones which are paintings or images and approach is about two basic principles: pictures and from elite culture to folk culture, multi dimensional the ways to observe them. According to Duncum to one-dimensional cultures. Barnard (2002) tries (2003) in this subject visual culture studies are hard- to explain visual culture as a combination of “the ly different from philosophical esthetic field. These seen one” and “the cultural one”. According to him differences are: including a number of techniques visual culture covers all visible things. However, all and including man-made products in a wide area. visible things should not be defined as a part of vi- 2167 EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES: THEORY & PRACTICE However, what is researched here is problematic imaging devices, cell phones, cameras, newspapers, conditions and problems. In this are what pictures magazines and multimedia devices constantly show say about cultures, identities or individuals is tried us something. These devices are set to spread re- to be determined. Hence, visual culture is a concept lentless messages to see, to be seen and to represent which comes up due to analyzing and explaining new ideas (Tavin, 2009a). However, understanding the meaning of visual stimulants that an individual and analyzing the codes in these images which have come across and emerging of post modernism at a become a part of daily life and developing a point time when there are lots of information and media of view (Duncum, 2010) have become a necessity technologies.