Established in 2009

Visual Sociology is a diverse field of study which gathers sociologists involved in visual studies and studies of the visual. As a relatively new discipline and methodology within the sociology, Visual Sociology attracts growing numbers of scholars and students who are using visual methods, and/or interested in the production, use and dissemination of visual knowledge.

The overall goal of the thematic group in Visual Sociology is to bridge discussions on theoretical and practical aspects of the analysis of visual data. The thematic group provides the opportunity to share, exchange and develop ideas which are relevant to Visual Sociology in the global arena. The focus of the thematic group is on applying visual methods in sociology at large, and developing theoretical perspectives as well as specific sociological methods, such as web-site analysis, photo-elicitation interviews, sociological video and photo production and analysis.

The group aims to generate further discussions concerning the collection of  visual data in the field (in archives, photo albums, media, websites etc.) as well as the production of visual materials by the researcher (photography and documentaries) with an emphasis on methods of analysis of these data.
Another objective of the group's work is the contemporary and historical analysis of the socio-cultural locus of the visual. The key concern here is how the visual is produced, used and disseminated, and how it intersects with the verbal and other means of communication and sensual experiences.

Lastly, it is our goal to put to debate broader theoretical issues of the sociology of the visual sphere and discuss the applicability of various sociological theories in the analysis of the visual data.

Board 2009-2010
Secretary: Regev Nathansohn, University of Michigan, USA, regev@umich.edu

Dennis Zuev, Siberian Federal University, tungus66@gmail.com,
Matteo Vergani, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, Italy
Luc Pauwels, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Pavel Romanov, Center for Social Policy and Gender Studies, Saratov, Russia
Elena Iarskaia-Smirnova, Saratov State Technical University, Russia
Gabry Vanderveen, University of Leiden, Holland
Mateusz Halawa, The Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland
Valentina Anzoise, University of Milano Bicocca, Italy
Ayelet Kohn,  Haddasah Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel
Elisabeth-Jane (EJ) Milne, School of Health Studies, University of Bradford, UK
Judith Tanur, State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA
Agata Nowotny, University of Warsaw, Poland

First elections are to be held at the ISA congress in Goteborg, 2010

Prize
Rachel Tanur Memorial Award for young sociologists (more details will be posted soon)

Dues for a 4-year period.:
Category A, USD 40
Category B, USD 20
Category C and students, USD 10

ISA membership registration form is available on https://secured.com/~f3641/formisa.htm