Speaker
May 21, 2026: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Online via Zoom
Livestream Link
In an age of constant notifications and rapid technological change, educators and cultural institutions are rethinking how we pay attention. One approach gaining traction is “slow looking”—the practice of pausing to observe carefully and ask deeper questions. Used in classrooms, libraries, archives, and museums, slow-looking exercises encourage people to move beyond first impressions and engage more thoughtfully with what they see. Drawing on library science and visual literacy research, this presentation explores how these techniques help people sharpen their observation skills and develop a more critical, reflective approach to their news consumption.
Dana Statton Thompson '09 is a research and instruction librarian and associate professor at Murray State University where she teaches courses on information literacy and visual literacy. She holds a MLIS, MA in Art History, and MFA in Studio Art from Louisiana State University and a BA in Journalism & Studio Art from Washington and Lee University. Currently, Dana serves as the President of the International Visual Literacy Association. Previously, she served as a member of the ACRL Visual Literacy Taskforce and is an Institute for Research Design in Librarianship scholar. Her research and teaching interests focus on the intersection of visual literacy and news literacy, the integration of visual literacy instruction into higher education, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.