View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Sontag suggests that, for the most part, photographs received more serious attention when placed in which of the following scenarios?
(a) Books.
(b) Galleries.
(c) Newspapers.
(d) Museums.

2. Which of the following terms does Sontag define as a commonly used term for those whose profession like journalists takes them into war zones?
(a) Atrocity tourism.
(b) War tourism.
(c) Conflict exploitation.
(d) War voyeurism.

3. Which work of literature does Sontag cite as evidence that war was once seen as part of a man's life?
(a) The Iliad.
(b) The Odyssey.
(c) The Aeneid.
(d) The Republic.

4. Which of the following best describes the "CNN effect" as discussed by Sontag?
(a) Outrageous media coverage lead to a backlash against the media.
(b) Extensive media coverage directly affected local politics.
(c) Media coverage lead to the sentiment that something must be done.
(d) Distorted media coverage misleads the public.

5. Sontag suggests that photographs do NOT ask which of the following tasks of the viewers?
(a) To evaluate the morality of the situation depicted in the image.
(b) To work toward peace.
(c) To put an end to human cruelty.
(d) To retain specific knowledge about each human atrocity.

Short Answer Questions

1. In order to take pleasure in suffering, Sontag argues that one must necessarily have which of the following?

2. Sontag claims in Chapter 6 that, despite historical evidence to the contrary, we have come to see which of the following as the natural state of being?

3. Which sense did the ancient Greeks consider superior?

4. Which of the following works does Sontag site as containing the first recognition of the human fascination with mutilated bodies?

5. Sontag claims that compassion requires which of the following in order to remain?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is unusual about Wall's "Dead Troops Talk (A Vision After an Ambush of a Red Army Patrol near Moqor, Afghanistan, Winter 1986)?" Discuss two aspects of the work that separate it from others like it.

2. Sontag suggests that there is a rise of sadism in contemporary culture. Discuss this assertion using specific examples.

3. Although there are more images broadcast, Sontag suggests that the human response to suffering is relatively unchanged. Discuss Sontag's views on our capacity for dealing with suffering.

4. Why did the people of Sarajevo object to having scenes of their war represented alongside scenes of the conflict in Somalia?

5. How does Sontag refute claims that photography is somehow inherently more voyeuristic than other forms of observation?

6. Discuss the significance of the photograph's intended purpose. If a photograph is intended to convey a message, but because of the context in which it is displayed does not, is the photograph still successful?

7. What does Sontag mean when she said that photographs transform?

8. Ultimately, Sontag notes that to discuss the desensitization of all television viewers is a provincial move, at best. Why does she argue this?

9. Discuss Sontag's assertion that some images serve as memento mori. What does she mean? How do they serve this purpose?

10. Why is a museum, in Sontag's opinion, an inappropriate place to display atrocity photographs?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,032 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample