Established in 2009

Objectives
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 working 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.

Statutes

Board 2010-2014
President
Regev NATHANSOHN, University of Michigan, USA, regev@umich.edu
Vice President (Research)
Dennis ZUEV, CIES-ISCTE, Portugal, tungus66@gmail.com
Vice President and Secretary
Elisabeth-Jane MILNE, University of Stirling, United Kingdom, elisabeth.milne@stir.ac.uk
Treasurer
Jerome KRASE, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, USA
Board members
Valentina ANZOISE, University of Milano Bicocca, Italy
Luc PAUWELS, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Timothy SHORTELL, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, USA
Eryn SNYDER, Temple University, USA (R. Tanur Prize Winner 2012-2014)
Judith TANUR, State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA
Gabry VANDERVEEN, University of Leiden, The Netherlands

Forthcoming Activities
Contemporary issues in long-distance commute work in the extractive industries and other sectors
University of Vienna, Austria
July 8-10, 2013
Abstracts: January 7, 2013

Prizes and competition
Rachel Tanur Memorial Prize for Visual Sociology

Publications
Newsletter 'Visual Sociology'

- October 2012
- May 2012
- November 2011
- June 2011
- January 2011

Membership
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