On Photography
Winner of the National Book Critics' Circle Award for Criticism.
One of the most highly regarded books of its kind, Susan Sontag's On Photography first appeared in 1977 and is described by its author as "a progress of essays about the meaning and career of photographs." It begins with the famous "In Plato's Cave"essay, then offers five other prose meditations on this topic, and concludes with a fascinating and far-reaching "Brief Anthology of Quotations."
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Community Reviews
This was exhausting to read. I love photography. I teach photography. I take pictures all the time. But this was not pleasant to read. The way Susan Sontag writes about photography is too smart for me, I guess. Read some reviews and I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one having the thoughts that I had on this book.
Gosh easily one of the best books I’ve read, with lots of food for thought, interesting takes, and many highlights/notes. I immersed myself in this slowly and thoroughly. I can’t stop thinking about what Susan Sontag would think of photography’s influence in culture today, especially with TikTok/Reel internet era. Maybe I should write an essay?
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