For the past year, I’ve been collaborating on a visual literacy research project exploring photo ethics and game-based learning with Savannah Dodd, Founder and Director of the Photography Ethics Centre, and Dana Thompson, Assistant Dean of Libraries at Murray State University and President of the International Visual Literacy Association. We’re developing a tabletop card game designed to help students think critically and collaboratively through real-world image dilemmas in photography and visual media.
I’m excited to share that Dana and I will be presenting on this work at the 57th Annual Conference of the International Visual Literacy Association, themed “The Power of Images in Sacred and Festive Spaces,” taking place October 31–November 2, 2025, in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
The conference theme resonates deeply with me—exploring how images carry meaning, stir emotion, and operate within sacred, spiritual, and celebratory contexts. And as a bonus, I’ll be in Mexico during Halloween and Día de Muertos, with hopes of making a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan—if I can figure out how to get there!
57th Annual Conference of the International Visual Literacy Association
“The Power of Images in Sacred and Festive Spaces”
October 31- November 2, 2025
Hosted by The Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
About the Conference
The theme “The Power of Images in Sacred and Festive Spaces” underscores the enduring power of images to evoke transcendental experiences, foster communal bonds, and mediate the interface between the material and the spiritual realms in diverse cultural landscapes. Within the rich array of rituals, images hold a prominent place, acting as potent symbols that communicate complex meanings and evoke profound emotional responses.
The intended focus will be research that is contributing to a deeper understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping human experience, cultural identity, and religious and celebratory expressions.
The 2025 IVLA conference will include a collaborative forum featuring online keynotes in advance of the in-person conference from October 31st – November 2nd, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The on-site conference is a 3-day event, with optional afternoon excursions and/or free time to explore the city and engage in the Día de Muertos festivities.
Campfire Session Abstract
Exploring games-based learning in visual literacy education (campfire session)
Can students develop visual and ethical literacy by playing a tabletop card game? The Photo Ethics Card Game challenges players to navigate real-world ethical dilemmas in photography and visual media. Through engaging scenarios and discussions, players critically analyze how images are captured, used, and shared, considering issues such as consent, manipulation, and context. The goal is to develop a deeper understanding of visual ethics while exploring different perspectives in a fun and interactive way. In the game, images are used to deepen students’ understanding of shared human experiences. These images contain complex meanings and are meant to provoke profound emotional responses in the player, all while dealing with scenarios in an ethical manner. Led by game designers and researchers, this campfire session will inform attendees about the Photo Ethics Card Game while testing their usefulness in a facilitated setting.
