Movies, magazines, TV, billboards, the Web—the world is filled with captivating photographic images competing for viewers’ attention. Not surprisingly, citizens of the Global Village are experiencing a growing need for visual literacy: the ability to read between the lines and extract meaning from that daily bombardment. This program takes a close look at the vital importance of visual language skills, how information overload is shortening the human attention span, the proliferation of iconographic communication, and implications for America’s education system. A capsule history of photography, with insights into the medium’s future, is included. (27 minutes)