In this article, the nature of visual culture art education, the significance of teaching critical media literacy, and frameworks of teaching critical media literacy will be described. Then, how to apply social semiotics in analyzing visual culture will be reviewed. Second, I will share the insights gained from using critical media literacy teaching approaches when teaching an introduction to art education course with preservice generalist educators. The result shows that most preservice generalist teachers have not yet learned the importance of teaching critical media literacy in the teacher education program. Although most preservice generalist teachers have been aware of the significance of teaching critical media literacy in the elementary school after my hands-on workshop, several preservice generalist teachers have not yet fully understood the essential part of teaching critical media literacy is to foster students’ critical thinking abilities rather than to teach image-editing skills.