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This course is specifically designed to address various visual material that challenges notions of truth and evidence, such as hoaxes, forgeries, photomontages, fake news, deepfakes, and AI hoaxes. Various types of analysis, from the wider fields of cultural analysis and art history to digital humanities, are employed to understand, discover, and analyse such media examples. Students will learn about concepts of truth and evidence in wider area of media studies and overlapping fields (semiotics, journalism, political science, sociology) and practice how to employ discourses and their methods critically, analyzing their significance and effects of visual cultures on society and communication and identifying the meaning of visual perception in the communication and design of information.

Can an image be true? Identifying elements affecting visual perception and meaning making change as rapidly as the media carrying it.

Ana Peraica

Krems External Faculty

WHO THIS IS FOR

You do not need to be a writer to be here. You need to be someone who has lived long enough to have stories worth thinking about, and curious enough to want to think about them seriously. Writers, readers, people who have never written anything but have wanted to — all equally welcome. No academic background required.

"Built for curiosity — no prior background needed."

This course is part of the Expanding Horizons category: serious academic engagement without career pressure.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Participants move between two modes of engagement throughout the course. In the content sessions, you will encounter ideas from across the history and theory of storytelling — not only as an academic exercise, but as material to think and work with. In the lab, you will use that material however fits you: some participants will write; others will read closely and respond; others will experiment with both.

There is a Wachau excursion built into the schedule. Writing in landscape is one of the oldest storytelling traditions there is, and the Wachau has stories layered into it that most people walking through it do not hear. There are group feedback sessions where participants share what they have made or discovered, led by course faculty.

What you walk away with depends on who you are when you arrive — but everyone leaves with something they made, something they begin to read differently, and a set of questions they did not have before (... and perhaps new friends and a new favorite place).

    

wcoones visualization

    

Introduction to image science topics and methods (recorded) – 3 ECTS
The course introduces the methods of image science. It is important to get an overview of the approaches of different disciplines. In addition, image science work techniques such as source studies as well as specialist literature research and evaluation are taught.

Visual and Digital literacy (live online) – 3 ECTS
Basic knowledge of central topics of image science is conveyed: Participants receive an overview of visual cultures, visual perception, and information aesthetics. This course deals with the definition of truth in visual media, starting from early discussions in image aesthetics (painting vs. photography) till the most contemporary discussions in mastered evidence. It overviews different concepts of truth in epistemology and shows their applications in practice.

When, Where & Formats

Times and Locations

what

when

where

Image Science Topics 1

asychronous

online

Visual & Digital Literacy
discussion 1

zoom mtg
2 x 90 min

 online

Image Science Topics 2

 asychronous

online

Visual & Digital Literacy
discussion 2

zoom mtg
2 x 90 min

 online

Image Science Topics 3

 asychronous

online

Visual & Digital Literacy
discussion 3

zoom mtg
2 x 90 min

 online

wrap-up & goodbye

after last mtg

online
ECTS
Image Forensics Lab

  • Contents

    This collaborative lab environment offers students the invaluable opportunity to immerse themselves in an intensive active learning environment that encourages collaboration. Students work in teams to tackle practical challenges in Arts & Culture under the mentorship of experienced practitioners in dynamic environments. The course emphasizes the development of collaboration and strategy development skills, which are essential in interdisciplinary teams, community arts projects, and roles that require adaptation to diverse perspectives and societal needs. Through hands-on projects and real-world scenarios, students will learn to reflect on teamwork effectiveness and utilize the strengths of each individual member. They will also develop and evaluate strategies that enable the effective integration of Arts & Culture within various sectors, including academia, creative industries, and broader society.

PARTICIPATION OPTIONS

Every Krems Culture Stacks microcredential is available at three levels. Choose the level that fits your goals — the content is the same for everyone.

OBSERVER — Zuhörer/in
3 credits · 30% of full price

Access the content sessions from the Knowledge Transfer & Storytelling course — lectures and discussions on modes of narrative, from Aboriginal traditions to AI.

You receive: attendance statement. No assessment.

PARTICIPANT — Teilnehmer/in
6 credits · 60% of full price

Full course access: content sessions plus the Arts & Culture Lab, writing experiments, Wachau excursion, and group feedback sessions.

You receive: active participation statement. No assessment.

CREDITING — Kreditierung
9 credits · 100% of full price

Everything in the Participant tier, plus individual faculty feedback on your written work and a formal assessment.

You receive: a certificate with the course name, learning outcomes, and your grade — portable to any institution via standard academic transcript.

Assessment: a reflective written piece (approx. 600–800 words) demonstrating engagement with the course learning outcomes. Individual faculty feedback provided before final submission.

Where can I stack these credits as an elective or embed into a curriculum?

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