View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Sontag claims that Jacques Callot's 1633 painting, "The Miseries and Misfortunes of War" was unprecedented for which of the following reasons?
(a) The painting emphasized the savagery of the conquering army.
(b) The painting glorified the horrors of war.
(c) The painting portrayed shocking violence and bloodshed.
(d) The painting was the first anti-war protest work.

2. The protagonist of J'Accuse, the 1938 anti-war film, cries out which of the following in German and in English?
(a) "The horror!"
(b) "War is ugly!"
(c) "The face of war!"
(d) "Your sacrifices were in vain!"

3. How many images did the "Here Is New York" exhibit originally receive?
(a) Less than one hundred.
(b) More than one thousand.
(c) Less five hundred.
(d) More than one million.

4. Which was the first war to be covered by television cameras?
(a) The War on Terror.
(b) The Vietnam War.
(c) The Korean War.
(d) Desert Storm.

5. Although the camera captures the scene in front of it, Sontag suggests that the ______ may manipulate the image.
(a) Photographer.
(b) Editor.
(c) Press.
(d) Media.

6. Which famous surrealist thinker does Sontag quote as saying "Beauty will be convulsive, or it will not be?"
(a) Virginia Woolf.
(b) Salvador Dali.
(c) Pablo Picasso.
(d) Andre Breton.

7. Sontag suggests that a catastrophic event that is experienced in real life. . .
(a) "will often seem eerily like its representation."
(b) "induces more stress when it is televised."
(c) "does not often seem to be happening."
(d) "causes greater pain than one that is experienced on television."

8. Sontag notes that images of war most significantly influenced which of the following groups?
(a) Those who had experienced war, and were suffering from post-traumatic stress.
(b) Artists whose work centers on conscientious objection.
(c) Those who had never experienced war first-hand.
(d) Governing officials making war decisions.

9. Which of the following was NOT true of the "Here Is New York" exhibit?
(a) The images were displayed uncaptioned.
(b) One image from each contributer was selected.
(c) Images were selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.
(d) The identity of the photographer was kept secret until after the image was purchased.

10. Sontag compares the desire for images of people in pain to which other recurrent type of image?
(a) Images of nude bodies.
(b) Images of natural disasters.
(c) Images of happiness.
(d) Images of love.

11. Sontag argues that the most extensive kind of censorship is which of the following?
(a) The self-censorship of broadcast companies.
(b) Government censorship.
(c) The censorship implied by public sensibility.
(d) Military censorship.

12. According to Sontag, why do images of atrocities fail to convey a singular, universal message?
(a) They inspire only disgust.
(b) They require context and explanation.
(c) They are inappropriate for mass publication.
(d) They are too graphic.

13. Sontag discusses one year in European history in which the photograph was able to truly capture the nature of human atrocities. Which year was it?
(a) 1902.
(b) 1945.
(c) 1975.
(d) 1912.

14. In discussing the difference gender makes in perceptions of war, Sontag agrees with which of the following authors?
(a) Henry James.
(b) Joyce Carol Oates.
(c) Virginia Woolf.
(d) Tyler Hicks.

15. Photographic representations of the Vietnam War was essential to promoting:
(a) New methods of communication.
(b) The anti-war movement.
(c) Patriotic sentiment.
(d) International relations.

Short Answer Questions

1. Sontag lists which of the following as images that the artist "takes"?

2. Sontag discusses reactions to the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Which of the following is NOT a reaction Sontag recalls hearing?

3. Sontag observes that "Here Is New York" had no need for captions, but suggests that:

4. According to Sontag, _________ also influences the public's perception of war.

5. Discussing the "co-spectatorship" and "indecency" of the image of the Vietcong suspect's execution, Sontag asserts which of the following?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 684 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample