Picturing Democracy

“Picturing Democracy” is a series of programs designed to encourage critical thinking about the role of imagery in American democracy and how both information and misinformation can be spread through images.

Join us in the Fall of 2021 for three public programs addressing media literacy, the future of photojournalism, and the influence of meme culture. All three programs are free and open to the public but registration is required. 

Programs include:

Media Literacy Workshop

Media Literacy can be defined as the way we access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. As we delve further into a more tech-centered world, it is more important than ever to be able to critically evaluate digital media, especially when it comes to the manipulation of “truth.” Join South Carolina Humanities and artist Mahkia Greene on Wednesday, September 8th for a Media Literacy Workshop and conversation exploring topics of media manipulation and the future of journalism. This event is free and open to the public but registration is required. Read more.

The Future of Photojournalism

How do the ethics and practices of staffed, professional photojournalists differ from non-staff photographers who fill in the gaps? What are the consequences of the de-professionalization of photojournalism? What does the future of photojournalism look like? Join moderator Tara Mortensen and panelists Kyser Lough, Sean Rayford, and Cecil Williams at the College of Charleston Sottile Theatre on Wednesday, October 13 for a riveting discussion about the challenges photojournalists face in the current media environment. Read more.

The Influence of Meme Culture

What are memes? How do memes contribute to the spread of misinformation? How can journalists use memes in their work? Join South Carolina Humanities and the College of Charleston School of Humanities and Social Sciences for a panel discussion about the influence of meme culture on news and journalism. This event is free and open to the public but registration is required. Read more.

“Picturing Democracy” is presented by South Carolina Humanities and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the College of Charleston.

“Picturing Democracy” is a part of a national initiative spearheaded by the Federation of State Humanities Councils titled “Democracy and the Informed Citizen.”