當前藝術教育理論的趨勢是從後結構主義、符號學、文化與社會學理論的視角，重新將人類定義為一個能在視覺文化中主動建構意義、同時也被建構並予以回應的主體 (Anderson, Gussak, Hallmark, & Paul, 2010; Chung & Kirby,2009; Duncum, 2010; Smith-Shank, 2004)。這些當代思潮奠定了新興理論架構的基礎，由此我們得以建立一套實現社會正義的批判性視覺識讀教學法。批判性藝術教育希望培養年輕一代的批判性視覺識讀能力，使他們更從容地面對這個視覺媒體主導的社會，並具備力量對抗文化表達／消費當中的商業霸權，同時參與以解放與民主為目標的視覺實踐政治。致力於培養批判性視覺識讀的藝術教育強調解構式文本的批判與創造能力，希望讓下一代能順利適應不斷擴張的（虛擬）社會，傳授他們必備知識與技能，以處理深具娛樂性、但也常夾帶性別與種族歧視、同性戀恐懼症性戀與背離人性等特質的視覺奇觀。本文旨在探討以社會正義為目標，進行視覺識讀教育的觀念性基礎。文中將介紹幾項批判性視覺識讀能力的開發策略，並指出視覺識讀能力可以促使年輕人（尤其是中等／高中階段）推廣社會正義與文化民主精神。

Current theoretical shifts in art education aspire to reconceptualize the
human subject-via poststructuralist, semiotic, cultural, and social theories-as one who actively constructs meaning from, is constructed by, and responds to visual culture (Anderson, Gussak, Hallmark, & Paul, 2010; Chung & Kirby, 2009; Duncum, 2010; Smith-Shank, 2004). These contemporary thoughts form the basis of an emerging framework on which to establish a critical pedagogy of visual literacy on behalf of social justice.A critical approach to art education creates the possibility for fostering critical visual literacy in young people so that they are better prepared to navigate in a visually mediated society, and have access to power to counter corporate domination of cultural expression/consumption, and engage in the politics of visual practices for purposes of emancipation and democratization. Art education for critical visual literacy places on emphasis on critique and creating deconstructed texts so as to prepare new generations for the expanding (cyber)society, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to process a plethora of pleasurable, and though often sexist, racist, homophobic, and dehumanizing, visual spectacles. This article explores the conceptual underpinnings of teaching visual literacy for social justice. It describes several approaches to developing critical visual literacy and advocates its importance in enabling youths (particularly at middle/high school level) to promote social justice and cultural democracy.