Teach Critically

Teach Critically

Teaching Critical Thinking Through Images.

Teach Critically is an open-access resource based at Northumbria University that encourages tutors to use imagery as a powerful tool to help students develop critical visual literacy skills. In a world saturated with images, the ability to read and question what we see is more important than ever; yet it’s rarely taught systematically in education.

The Terrible Sublime: Feeling the Bomb

Power and Politics, Violence

Target Age Group: 14–15 years old (Year 10 / GCSE) Time Required: 45–50 minutes Subject Links: History, English, Art & Design, PSHE, Philosophy & Ethics…
Read more: The Terrible Sublime: Feeling the Bomb

Staging the So-Called “Primitive”: Colonial Photography and the Construction of Indigenous Identity

Colonialism, Exploitation, Identity and Representation, Indigenous Identities, Memory, Power and Politics, Race

Level: A-Level / Year 12–13 (Ages 16–18) Time Required: 50–55 minutes Subject Links: History, Photography & Media Studies, Sociology, Post-Colonial Studies Image InformationArtist: Daniel Scotland…
Read more: Staging the So-Called “Primitive”: Colonial Photography and the Construction of Indigenous Identity

Pretty Deadly: Gender, Cuteness, and the Marketing of Firearms

Advertising, Consumer Culture, Power and Politics, Violence

Level: Undergraduate (Level 4) Time Required: 45 minutes Subject Links: Media Studies, Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, Visual Culture, Sociology Image Credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin, Russian…
Read more: Pretty Deadly: Gender, Cuteness, and the Marketing of Firearms

Faith, Flag, and the Fallen: Reading a WWI Propaganda Postcard

Borders, Memory, Power and Politics

Target Age Group: 14–16 years old (Key Stage 4 / GCSE) Time Required: 50–55 minutes Subject Links: History, Religious Studies, Media Studies, French, Politics Learning…
Read more: Faith, Flag, and the Fallen: Reading a WWI Propaganda Postcard

Race / Ethnicity / Gender / Gender Expression / Sexuality / Queerness / Class / Socioeconomic Status / Disability/ Embodiment / Age / Generational Identity

Political messaging / Propaganda / Colonialism / Postcolonialism / Nationalism / Borders / Activism / Resistance / Labor / Exploitation

Beauty Standards / Body Image / Consumption / Materialism / Celebrity / Fame / Technology / Digital Culture / Environment / Sustainability / Religion / Spirituality

Advertising / News / Journalism / Social Media / Influencer Culture / Stereotypes / Tropes / Authenticity / Artifice

Historical Movements / Cultural Exchange / Globalization / Localization / Memory / Archives