Welcome to Objects of Art

It’s me, Miss M, and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.

This is Objects of Art, and as my About Page says, I decode visual culture, art history, and classic film — revealing the symbolic structures of power, myth, and identity. Across all of my platforms, my mission is to teach you how to read art. Not just interpret it — read it the way you’d read a sacred text, a secret letter, or an encrypted message.

I deeply believe that understanding the arts — in all their myriad forms — is a key to unlocking how the world works. Visual literacy isn’t just an academic skill. It’s a form of power. It helps us see what’s hidden, name what’s unnamed, and question what’s presented as truth.

Yet visual literacy is rarely taught. Not in schools. Not even in places where it should be central: art history, the humanities, studio art, or cultural studies.

That’s why I’m here.

On this Substack, I’ll share videos, podcasts, and short essays — each one unpacking a powerful work of art or visual media. I’ll focus especially on two-dimensional art and film, but I’ll also touch on photography, music, TV, literature, and pop culture.

Whether I’m breaking down symbolism in a Renaissance painting or exposing subliminal patterns in a Hollywood classic, my goal is the same:
To open up a world of meaning you may never have imagined before.

Subscribe for essays, decoding lessons, and visual literacy tools each month.
And join the conversation on Instagram, X, and YouTube

Image: The Japonette. By Charles Dana Gibson

As illustrated above, The Japonette by Charles Dana Gibson captures the kind of bold visual presence I want to reawaken in our cultural conversations. She's more than an illustration — she's a symbol of performance, perception, and the hidden codes embedded in every image. And I’d like her to represent me, the mistress of ceremonies, while I show you what I see behind the curtain.