Since July 2023, the Visual Sociology and Museum Studies Lab (VSMSlab) of the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts have been merged with the Museum Lab of the CYENS Centre of Excellence in Nicosia. Please visit our new website at https://museumlab.cyens.org.cy/ for more information.
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.
The major research themes of the VSMS Lab include: