steepedflowers 's review for:

On Photography by Susan Sontag

5.0

---

One of my must-reads. From the ethics of seeing to the phenomenological analysis of photography in human society - this was riveting. Despite it being written forty years ago, the discussion is so fundamental it can be applied to today à propos the grip photography has on us all; what it means to be constantly surrounded by limitedly surreal transparencies. Personally, it helped me untangle and define the feelings I’ve had around photography and being recognized by others; what it means to display my photography, why I never feel an originality.

Even if you aren’t interested in photography or aesthetics, I still highly recommend this for her writing. These essays have an incredible balance of concision and flourish - we should all strive to write like her