[AURA]

• Main Author: Benassi, Stephanie
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2010
• Subjects: paranormal; landscape; phenomena; subjectivity; Thoughtography; Arts and Humanities; Fine Arts
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/2247; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3246&context=etd

[AURA] is a collection of photographs of landscapes and objects that have been implicated in fringe beliefs, alternative narratives and the strange events that reside beyond the scope of our everyday experiences. These photographs represent the symbols used to describe phenomena and also concentrate on the areas surrounding the events. My investigation also examines how the affect of the landscape has contributed to the interpretations by those that witnessed it. As a photographic collection, [AURA] investigates issues related to truth, as well as the role of subjectivity versus objectivity in my photographic practice. By concentrating this discussion on issues of sensation and the objects used to symbolize and identify the encounters with peculiar phenomena, I have been attempting to place emphasis on the way the aesthetics of the photograph can speak to issues outside of the image.