Methodological issues within visual consumption stem from its interdisciplinary
roots. Researchers have debated central concerns such as agency vs. structure in image
interpretation and influence, the role of the unconscious, and consumer response vs. producer
intention. One overlooked aspect concerns the role of fellow scholars, particularly those with
visual expertise, in doing visual consumption research. Researchers consistently benefit from
art historians, artists, and others with specific expertise – yet many scholars rarely make the
effort to consult cross-disciplinary colleagues about their visual materials.