FAH352 Final Writing Assignment: Photography and Mixed Media
Due: April 2 at 11:59pm (midnight)
Value: 20% of mark
Essays should be 4 pages in length (or approximately 1000 words)
Submit electronic file (Word or PDF) to Quercus

Photographs in the 19th-century were often framed, mounted, and presented in unusual ways
(other than a traditional frame), reflecting diverse ways of integrating photographs into everyday
life. For this assignment, you are asked to write a thesis-driven analysis of one of the examples
below. These objects are all located in nearby institutions and have archived images that can be
accessed electronically. You may also be able to view a number of these objects in person or
access some relevant information at the institution that houses them. The selected objects are
examples that feature 19th-century photography in close proximity with other media/materials
(ie. through either an artistic frame/case, a material setting such as jewelry, or through collaged
elements).

Your essay should seek to offer a coherent and thoughtful interpretation of your selected
photograph (or photographs). In developing your argument, you may wish to consider the
following questions: How does the photograph interact with its connected material elements (ie.
wood, paper, paint, metals, etc)? What meaning is suggested by the photograph’s subject matter,
visual motifs or symbols, and other elements (such as tinting)? What was the social function of the
photograph in its material setting? What historical and cultural context likely surrounded the
photograph in question? Are there any beliefs, traditions or rituals/practices connected with the
photographic object that you can identify?

Your essay should be supported by at least two academic sources. You are also encouraged to
visit the locations associated with your selected object if it is on display to the public.

Please select a topic based on one of the following:
• The Tramp Art Photo Display, 1885 from the AGO (includes cartes de visite: albumen
prints (11), tintypes (5), wood, glass, and paper crown of thorn design with paint
applied to rotating base and carved leaf and vine detail s)
https://ago.ca/collection/object/2011/34
• The mixed media collage photographs from the C.W. Bell Album (1875) from the AGO
(you may wish to focus on one collage or select 2-3 collages to examine)
https://ago.ca/collection/object/2003/1.1-.40
• An object (or small selection of 2-3 objects) from the Tanenbaum Photographic Case
Collection, 1850s-60s, from TMU’s collection.
https://theimagecentre.ca/collection/tanenbaum-photographic-case-collection/
• An example from the collection of South Asian painted photographs in the ROM
collection (there are several that could be considered, such as the Portrait of Bhadariji
Devarajaji, 1890s). (Student may also opt to write about a selection of up to 2-3 of these
portraits).
https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/310578/portrait-of-bhadariji-
devarajaji?ctx=3e7f5e0b-2fe3-4e0c-974a-39028aee5ad9&idx=199
• One (or more) of the other photographic objects on display at the Marvin Gelber Prints
and Drawings collection (you will have the option to view the Tramp Object as well as a
selection of other photographic objects on March 19th, including some examples of
photograph-jewelry). Object files for these images will be posted to the course page.
NOTE: Most of these objects are somewhat obscure and will not be discussed directly in
historical sources, but you should include any specifics you can locate. When it comes to
forming your analysis, you can investigate relevant aspects of your object (ie. the type of
photography involved and its function, the materials used, any relevant cultural traditions that
are referenced, and/or decorative details that shed light on function/meaning). This is how
historians assess images and objects. Your analysis should always look closely at your chosen
object(s), and it is expected that essays will include both visual analysis and historical
interpretation.
RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS, FORMATTING, CITATIONS & APPENDICES
Your selected image should be researched using academic sources and those sources must be
cited correctly using footnotes in Chicago Style format (footnotes and bibliography style). Please
note that specific page references are required for any texts cited.
 All sources must be ones you actually consulted directly. Students should include a
screenshot or photo of the specific page(s) consulted within a separate appendix. [One
relevant page should be included for each source]. See Sample Chicago Style Paper –
available on Quercus.
 It is recommended that students consult at least TWO academic sources for this
assignment, outside of the assigned course texts. You may consult/cite those as well.
 You submission should be organized in the following way: Title page, essay, appendix A
(with labeled images), appendix B (source documents), bibliography
 Include page numbers
For the Chicago Style citation guide, see:
https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html
NOTE: You may not use AI programs that involve generated text or images. Digital editing
software is permitted for the creative portion of the assignment.


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