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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Photography seems to establish what is worth __________ and what should be in a photograph.

2. Whitman's idea was to look beyond the idea of __________ and of ugliness to see more in the world.

3. Whitman strove to argue that the world should be seen as a ______________ whole, welded together.

4. The FSA project took pictures of __________ groups living in rural areas and experiencing rural problems.

5. One of the things that Sontag reminds the reader is that Surrealism is not a __________ art form.

Short Essay Questions

1. What do photographs do to the scale of an object within the photograph and in real life, according to Sontag?

2. Who were some of the groups of people who Diane Arbus took pictures of when she was creating portraits?

3. How does photography encourage voyeurism in those who look at photographs?

4. On what other artistic areas does photography impose standards according to Sontag in this chapter?

5. What do photographs of the same subject over the course of many years show about this person or this item?

6. What is the significance of the title of this particular chapter of this Susan Sontag book?

7. Why does Sontag believe that tourists always use cameras during their trips to new and exciting places?

8. What did Steichen thus do with his photographs in terms of creating importance with the subject of the picture?

9. What does Susan Sontag suggest that photography has made society do in relation to reality?

10. Why is photography a democratizing experience, according to Sontag in this particular chapter of the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Diane Arbus took pictures of people in society who might be considered freaks, something Sontag seems to judge.

Part 1: How do you define the idea of 'freaks'?

Part 2: Do you think there is value in the Arbus pictures? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you agree that those who are not 'normal' as defined by society are freaks? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Whitman strove to see what was similar in all beings as opposed to what was unique about people, it seems.

Part 1: Do you think people are unique or are we all the same? Why or why not?

Part 2: How does the perception of the world change when you realize all people are the same?

Part 3: Why do you think it's important to see similarities among people? Or isn't it?

Essay Topic 3

According to Sontag, painting favors beautiful items while photography favors less than attractive objects.

Part 1: Why do you think painting is used for beautiful items?

Part 2: Do you think painting can only be used for beautiful things? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think that photography focuses only on those things which are less attractive? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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