Art, Design and American Politics

Read profile here.

Course Description:

This course explores the history, social and political impacts of American political design forms since the American Revolutionary War, with specific focus on contemporary political design.

Analysis of formal elements of art/design within political advertising and campaigns will be considered, including subliminal marketing, iconography, color perception/psychology, and typography. Discussion of both positive and negative visual political communication will be addressed, including visual encouragement of citizen action (e.g. War Bonds, Victory Gardens).

Intentional and unintentional disinformation campaigns within political design will be scrutinized and students will participate in creating their own visual campaigns to educate the public on how to differentiate effective and accurate visual political communication.

Taught By:

Adrienne Schwarte

Professor of Design and Coordinator of Sustainability Studies Minor

Maryville College

Student Campaigns: