The Visual Sociology and Museum Studies Lab (VSMS lab) of the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts of the Cyprus University of Technology aims to produce cutting edge research in the fields of visual sociology and museum studies. Research in the VSMS lab revolves around two main themes: 1) the critical examination of photographic images (artistic as a well as everyday), their distribution and consumption and 2) the study of museums as part of a cultural landscape and their effects on society. When it comes to visual sociology, research topics include: the construction and uses of photographic archives; online user-generated image databases; vernacular photography and tourism photography; uses of historical and artistic photography in museums; and the relationship between photography, memory and identity. When it comes to museum studies, research topics include: cultural sustainability; cultural policies; the social and political impact of museums and galleries; museums’ effect on memory and identity; and audience studies.
Visual Sociology and Museum Studies Lab 