Visual Culture

Unlock the hidden language of signs and symbols that shapes your world. From the words we speak to the images we consume, semiotics—the study of signs, symbols, and meaning—reveals how communication works beneath the surface. Signs, Symbols, and Meaning: Exploring the World of Semiotics and Its Lasting Influence introduces readers to this fascinating discipline, tracing its origins in philosophy and linguistics, exploring the groundbreaking theories of Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles Sanders Peirce, and uncovering how signs operate in language, culture, media, advertising, politics, ...

The History of Hong Kong Photography From colonial beginnings to the digital age, The History of Hong Kong Photography traces the city’s evolution through the camera lens — a visual chronicle of transformation, resilience, and identity. This richly illustrated volume journeys across nearly two centuries of photographic heritage, from fragile glass negatives and sepia portraits to the vibrant imagery of today’s digital culture. Photography first reached Hong Kong in the mid-nineteenth century, when the territory was still a British outpost on the South China coast. Early foreign ...

Audiobook narrated by author. “Madia’s adventurous tales transcend their rugged terrain, telling, at the crux of it all, very human stories”—The Source New York Times bestselling author of Nowhere for Very Long and Never Leave the Dogs Behind Brianna Madia considers putting down...

This study guide provides a structured review of the knowledge areas assessed in the Art Content Knowledge 5134 exam, including art making, media and processes, visual language, and historical and theoretical foundations. It is designed to support candidates preparing for entry into art education certification pathways by organizing essential concepts into clear, topic-based chapters aligned with major content domains. Coverage includes drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, digital media, installation, and time-based art, along with core principles of color theory, ...

Discover the Invisible Architecture Behind Your Favorite Animated Films Why does a Disney movie make you feel like you can conquer the world, while a Studio Ghibli film makes you want to sit quietly in a forest? Pull back the curtain on the four creative superpowers that have defined modern storytelling: Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, and Studio Ghibli. This is not just a history book. It is a deep dive into the divergent philosophies of East and West. Explore how Disney’s "Hero’s Journey" champions the triumph of the individual, while Ghibli’s "Kishōtenketsu" structure honors the quiet ...

Are you tired of boring Spanish textbooks that feel like a chore to read? Most language books for beginners are packed with endless grammar rules and childish dialogues. They leave you feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated. But what if you could learn Spanish naturally, just by enjoying a good story and looking at beautiful illustrations? Welcome to Easy Spanish Short Stories for Beginners, your visual ticket to mastering Spanish (Level A1) without the headaches. Unlike traditional methods, this book uses a unique Visual Storytelling Method designed specifically for adults. Through 7 engaging...

This study explores the phenomenon of the cults of Raphael and Michelangelo in relation to their death, burial, and posthumous fame—or second life—from their own times through the nineteenth century. These two artists inspired fervent followings like no other artists before them. The affective response of those touched by the potency of the physical presence of their art—works, personal effects, and remains—or even touched by the power of their creative legacy—opened up new avenues for artistic fame, divination, and commemoration.

Already a major international bestseller, Zeinab Badawi’s sweeping and much-needed survey of African history traces the continent’s extraordinary legacy from prehistory to the present from the African perspective. “Equal parts gripping and galvanizing. . . . Researched across more than 30...

Technology and screens are amazing and have the potential to serve us so well. Using evidenced-based methods as well as solution-focused strategies, Digital Jim Crow approaches the sensitive, yet often overlooked topic of digital wellness and digital literacy. Especially as it applies to marginalized populations. Extensively researched, while using a neuroaffirming approach, Digital Jim Crow acknowledges the broad factors that contribute to further marginalize and disenfranchise particular groups of people.

Learn Spanish naturally while exploring the wonders of Costa Rica! Are you an adult beginner (Level A1) looking for an enjoyable way to improve your Spanish? Forget about boring grammar tables and frustrating textbooks! Easy Spanish Short Stories for Beginners (Book 3: Costa Rica) is a visual and cultural adventure designed specifically to help you learn effortlessly. Follow relatable characters, Maya and Teo, as they taste traditional gallo pinto in a local soda, discover the secrets of Costa Rican coffee, hike around the majestic Arenal Volcano, spot sloths in the Monteverde cloud forest,...

“A culturally layered and gripping collection of stories that are also a testament to their resilience.”—Vanessa Walters, the author of The Lagos Wife ?In this stunning collection, nine Nigerian women discover what it means to confront traditional expectations that have held them hostage...

NATIONAL BESTSELLER A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! Winner of the NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction Shortlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize From National Book Award-winning author Elizabeth Acevedo comes the story of one Dominican American family told...

A RECOMMENDED READ FROM: The Washington Post Atlanta Journal-Constitution CrimeReads Library Journal A gripping, radically intimate debut novel about a group of enslaved women staging a covert rebellion against their owners On a struggling Texas plantation, six enslaved women slip...

Lean is not just about tools, boards, and processes—it is about people. In today's fast-changing world, true success comes from building a culture where individuals, teams, and leaders grow together. This book explores the human side of Lean, offering practical lessons on how to shape mindsets, habits, and behaviors that drive sustainable excellence. Drawing on real stories from Toyota's transformation journey, combined with modern practices and cultural insights, this book shows you how to: Understand the foundations of Lean culture and why it matters more than ever. Inspire people to ...

2024 Lambda Literary Awards Finalist 2025 Rainbow Book List Concrete Rose meets Things We Couldn’t Say in Pritty, a debut novel by Keith F. Miller Jr.—the inspiration behind the forthcoming animated short film of Kickstarter fame—that follows two boys who get caught in the crossfire of a...

Conquer the Art Content and Analysis 5135 Exam: Study Guide Covering Creating, Media, Techniques, History, Theory, Global Traditions, Interpretation, Criticism, and Visual Culture provides a structured review of essential concepts in visual art practice and analysis. The guide covers foundational visual language, elements and principles of design, and core approaches to composition and interpretation used across studio and academic contexts. The book addresses major media and processes including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fiber arts, photography, and time-based media. It ...

Perfect for fans of Angie Thomas and Jason Reynolds, this highly anticipated sequel to Lambda Literary Award finalist Pritty finds Jay and Leroy togetha again as they fight to save not only their home but themselves from the powerful Bainbridge family’s treacherous endgame to retake Savannah...

The inspirational story of one woman learning to surf and creating a new life in gritty, eccentric Rockaway Beach Unmoored by a failed marriage and disconnected from her high-octane life in the city, Diane Cardwell finds herself staring at a small group of surfers coasting through mellow waves...

From the NAACP Image Award–nominated author of Happily Ever Afters comes a dual POV rom-com about Reggie and Delilah, who fall in love through missed connections and chance meetings on holidays over the course of a year. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han, with crossover appeal for...

Rob Redding delivers a bold and addictive look at how America learned to see Black men as sexually dominant and how old stories of bucking slave masters still shape lies around sexual lust, desire, fear, and masculinity today. Using a new visual documentary drawing art form, he brings together a powerful collection of sexual images of bucking and evidence of abuses that most people have never seen and many have never been willing to talk about. This book reveals how white slave masters engaged in the rape of Black men as displays of power and created myths about Black men who were actually ...