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Maggie Montgomery
English 131 A1
Assignment 1.2
Ramamurthy’s Incorporations of Stein
Strong sources are often a critical element necessary in creating a successful
paper. It is clear that Anandi Ramamurthy relies heavily on scholarly sources in her
essay Constructions of Illusions. She is able to uses these outside sources as evidence
and examples to support her own arguments. Sally Stein is one of these sources that
Ramamurthy uses to support her claim. Ramamurthy’s argument states that
photomontages are often used for commercial purposes. She explains how these pictures
can be used to conceal “reality.” Ramamurthy therefore is able to use Sally Stein as one
of her sources because Stein focuses on how photomontage was used in the early parts of
the 20th century. Stein’s piece takes Mrs. Christine Frederick’s 1913 The New
Housekeeping, which contain 8 pages of images, and discuses that messages each
photograph portrays to its readers. Her analytical insights on the way Frederick presents
her recipes fits perfectly with the thesis Ramamurthy hopes to convey, which is arguably
why Ramamurthy chose to incorporate Stein’s arguments into her essay.
When choosing a source it is critical to have some background knowledge about
that person in order to gain a true sense of whom they are and make sure that they
contribute positively to a paper. Sally Stein is a professor at the University of California,
Irvine, specializing in Art History and the History of Photography (UC Irvine Faculty).
With a PH. D. from Yale it is clear that Stein can be considered a scholarly source.
Although she teaches on a broad range of art history subjects, her area of expertise is
early twentieth century American photography (UC Irvine Faculty). With some of her
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works titled Montage and Modern Life and The Constant Meaning of Photography it is
clear to see why Ramamurthy was drawn to Steins work.
Because one of the main arguments Ramamurthy is trying to make is how
advertisements often use photomontages to capture a viewers attention, Stein can be used
a source because she too is making this argument. Ramamurthy’s is stating that
photographers use photomontage to “conceal reality,” or expose “invisible social
relations” (Ramamurthy, 610). She takes Steins analysis on Christine Frederick’s recipe
card highlighting the fact that the viewers can over look the poor organization of the card
because they are drawn the picture. Ramamurthy is pointing out that it is interesting that
a recipe card can leave out important information such as number of servings or the cost
of making that meal, which one can assume the reader of a recipe card would like to be
aware of, and the viewers still find the card attractive (Ramamurthy, 611). Stein
explains that these particle questions of time and cost can be overlooked because that is
not the message Frederick’s hope to convey to her readers. Instead she wants to draw the
reader in by showing the “family feast at its pinnacle” which makes the reader forego any
possible questions of concern (Stein, 43).
Stein’s focus as mentioned early, is early twentieth century American
photography. During that time photography was a relatively new phenomenon and
therefore an “ordinary image of a cake may have impressed an early twentieth-century
audience” (Ramamurthy, 612). However both Stein and Ramamurthy express that in
today’s world of new technology digital imagery more effectively captures the viewer’s
attention (Ramamurthy, 612). Because both writers wish to express the important roll
that technology plays on how the audience receives a photograph Ramamurthy is able to
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effectively use Stein’s writing to back up her claim. Ramamurthy further expand on the
role of technology by capitalizing on its presents in TV commercials, print
advertisements and even film. Technology often “makes us forget the context of
production” which causes the viewers to simply see what is presented to them
(Ramamurthy, 612).
Because Ramamurthy’s essay Constructions of Illusion hopes to share the
importance of photomontage in context with commercial uses, Sally Stein proves to be a
good source to help support her reasoning. Steins vast knowledge on early twentieth
century American photography along with her PH. D. from Yale University allow
Ramamurthy to confidently quote and collaborate with Stein. Stein’s book The Constant
Meaning of Photography create arguments similar to those made by Ramamurthy,
making it simple for Ramamurthy to include them in her text.
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Work Cited
Stein, Sally. “UC Irvine Faculty Profile System.” 3/29/02
<http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=3000>. 4/10/07.
Ramamurthy, Anandi. “Constructions of Illusion.” Reading Context. New York:
Thomson Wadsworth, 2005. 601-634.
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Maggie,
The strongest points of this essay include the pointed observations made in the first part
of the essay. They are notable not only for their insight but for also the choices made in
deciding how much detail should be used in the explanations. The essay is smart to latch
onto both authors’ ideas on photomontage as one relatively prominent node of exchange
that emerges between the two essays. The point about Stein’s utility for Ramamurthy
through the former’s work on photomontage is well taken – this aspect of the paper is
also strong for the care taken to backing the reading with textual analysis.
Still, the essay ends in a way that is not quite as strong as its initial exposition on the
imbrications of the authors’ ideas. Perhaps it’s the turn to their common interest in
technology that may throw off the analysis from the tight track it follows – the essay
seems to take a turn at this point but the reader isn’t sure to what and how it’s related to
what the essay is saying about photomontage.
In addition to working on more effectively incorporating that paragraph, the essay could
also follow through on the photomontage line of argument by considering how the
authors differ in their interests in the subject. For instance, does Ramamurthy take
photomontage in a different direction than Stein? The essay astutely points out that Stein
is a foundation for Ramamurthy, but a foundation for what?
Finally, there are some issues with spelling and other typos here and there. They can add
up, so be sure to have a friend whose writing you trust proofread your essays, especially
for the portfolio.
Overall, this essay has some excellent ideas, with an especially strong start. I look
forward to seeing how it evolves.