When Words Meet Images: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Figurative Language and Aesthetics at ELIT

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, students of “Introduction to Literature” (ELIT101.1), taught by Dr. Damir Kahrić, an expert in literature, Shakespearean studies and research methodology in the ELIT and ELT study programs, attended a guest lecture titled “Aesthetics in Figurative Language”, which was delivered by Senior Assistant Ermina Ušanović, MA, from the Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design (VACD) study program.

The lecture explored the connections between literature, visual communication, literary devices and aesthetics, encouraging students to examine how language, rhetorical figures, imagery and symbolism shape meaning across different forms of artistic expression. By bringing design perspectives into literary studies, Senior Assistant Ušanović offered students a valuable interdisciplinary learning experience that encouraged critical thinking and broadened their understanding. During the lecture, students explored how figures of speech, including metaphor, pun, hyperbole, simile and many others, can be expressed through visual language and artistic representation. By examining how rhetorical devices translate into images, shapes and visual concepts, they gained a deeper understanding of the relationship between literature and visual communication. The session also included a creative, hands-on activity in which students were encouraged to develop and represent their own figures of speech visually, applying their knowledge through imagination and critical thinking.

This initiative highlights the importance of interdepartmental collaboration within FASS, demonstrating how the exchange of expertise between ELIT/ELT and VACD enriches teaching, strengthens interdisciplinary learning, and supports IUS's student-oriented approach to education.

ELIT extends its sincere appreciation to Senior Assistant Ermina Ušanović, MA, for her valuable contribution to students' academic development, and to Dr. Damir Kahrić for his continued commitment to interdepartmental and interinstitutional collaboration, particularly his ongoing engagement with the VACD Program. These collaborative efforts create meaningful learning opportunities, broaden students' perspectives, and reinforce the shared commitment of FASS and IUS to an engaging, interdisciplinary, and student-centered educational experience.