Susan Sontag: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox person | [[File:Susan Sontag (1966 author photo - Against Interpretation).jpg|thumb]] [[File:Against Interpretation (1966 1st ed dust jacket cover).jpg|thumb]] [[File:SarajevoSiege2.JPG|thumb]] [[File:Susan Sontag by Juan Bastos.JPG|thumb]] {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Susan Sontag | | name = Susan Sontag | ||
| birth_date = January 16, 1933 | |||
| birth_date = | |||
| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | | birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | ||
| death_date = | | death_date = December 28, 2004 | ||
| death_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | | death_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | ||
| occupation = Writer, filmmaker, philosopher, teacher | | occupation = Writer, filmmaker, philosopher, teacher | ||
| notable_works = '' | | notable_works = ''On Photography'', ''Illness as Metaphor'', ''Against Interpretation'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
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== Early Life and Education == | == Early Life and Education == | ||
Susan Sontag was born in New York City to Jack Rosenblatt and Mildred Jacobsen. Her father was a fur trader in China, and her mother was a teacher. | Susan Sontag was born in New York City to Jack Rosenblatt and Mildred Jacobsen. Her father was a fur trader in China, and her mother was a teacher. After her father's death, her mother remarried, and Susan took the surname of her stepfather, Nathan Sontag. | ||
Sontag | Sontag showed an early interest in literature and philosophy. She attended the [[University of California, Berkeley]] for a year before transferring to the [[University of Chicago]], where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at the age of 18. She continued her studies at [[Harvard University]], where she earned a Master of Arts in philosophy and began work on a Ph.D. in literature. | ||
== Career == | == Career == | ||
Sontag's career began | Sontag's career as a writer began in earnest in the 1960s. Her first major work, ''Against Interpretation'', was published in 1966. This collection of essays established her as a leading voice in cultural criticism. In it, she argued against the reduction of art to its content and advocated for an "erotics of art." | ||
=== | === On Photography === | ||
One of Sontag's most influential works is ''[[On Photography]]'' (1977), a collection of essays that explore the role of photography in modern society. Sontag examines how photography shapes our perception of reality and discusses the ethical implications of viewing suffering through photographs. | |||
=== | === Illness as Metaphor === | ||
Sontag | In ''[[Illness as Metaphor]]'' (1978), Sontag explores the metaphors and myths surrounding illness, particularly cancer and tuberculosis. She argues that these metaphors can stigmatize patients and obscure the reality of the diseases. This work was followed by ''AIDS and Its Metaphors'' (1989), which extended her analysis to the AIDS epidemic. | ||
=== Later Works === | |||
Sontag continued to write and publish throughout her life. Her later works include novels such as ''The Volcano Lover'' (1992) and ''In America'' (1999), which won the [[National Book Award]]. She also directed films and wrote plays, demonstrating her versatility as an artist. | |||
== Personal Life == | == Personal Life == | ||
Sontag was known for her intellectual relationships and | Sontag was known for her intellectual rigor and her passionate engagement with the world. She was openly bisexual and had relationships with both men and women, including a long-term partnership with photographer [[Annie Leibovitz]]. | ||
== Legacy == | == Legacy == | ||
Susan Sontag's work continues to influence | Susan Sontag's work continues to influence writers, artists, and thinkers. Her essays remain a touchstone for discussions on art, culture, and politics. Sontag's ability to engage with complex ideas and communicate them to a broad audience has cemented her place as one of the most important intellectuals of the 20th century. | ||
== Also see == | == Also see == | ||
| Line 41: | Line 39: | ||
* [[Cultural criticism]] | * [[Cultural criticism]] | ||
* [[Photography]] | * [[Photography]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Philosophy of art]] | ||
{{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
[[Category:American essayists]] | [[Category:American essayists]] | ||
[[Category:American novelists]] | [[Category:American novelists]] | ||
[[Category:American philosophers]] | [[Category:American philosophers]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1933 births]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:2004 deaths]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:26, 9 December 2024
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Susan Sontag (January 16, 1933 – December 28, 2004) was an American writer, filmmaker, philosopher, and teacher. She became widely known for her essays on modern culture and her influential works on photography, illness, and the role of the intellectual in society.
Early Life and Education[edit]
Susan Sontag was born in New York City to Jack Rosenblatt and Mildred Jacobsen. Her father was a fur trader in China, and her mother was a teacher. After her father's death, her mother remarried, and Susan took the surname of her stepfather, Nathan Sontag.
Sontag showed an early interest in literature and philosophy. She attended the University of California, Berkeley for a year before transferring to the University of Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at the age of 18. She continued her studies at Harvard University, where she earned a Master of Arts in philosophy and began work on a Ph.D. in literature.
Career[edit]
Sontag's career as a writer began in earnest in the 1960s. Her first major work, Against Interpretation, was published in 1966. This collection of essays established her as a leading voice in cultural criticism. In it, she argued against the reduction of art to its content and advocated for an "erotics of art."
On Photography[edit]
One of Sontag's most influential works is On Photography (1977), a collection of essays that explore the role of photography in modern society. Sontag examines how photography shapes our perception of reality and discusses the ethical implications of viewing suffering through photographs.
Illness as Metaphor[edit]
In Illness as Metaphor (1978), Sontag explores the metaphors and myths surrounding illness, particularly cancer and tuberculosis. She argues that these metaphors can stigmatize patients and obscure the reality of the diseases. This work was followed by AIDS and Its Metaphors (1989), which extended her analysis to the AIDS epidemic.
Later Works[edit]
Sontag continued to write and publish throughout her life. Her later works include novels such as The Volcano Lover (1992) and In America (1999), which won the National Book Award. She also directed films and wrote plays, demonstrating her versatility as an artist.
Personal Life[edit]
Sontag was known for her intellectual rigor and her passionate engagement with the world. She was openly bisexual and had relationships with both men and women, including a long-term partnership with photographer Annie Leibovitz.
Legacy[edit]
Susan Sontag's work continues to influence writers, artists, and thinkers. Her essays remain a touchstone for discussions on art, culture, and politics. Sontag's ability to engage with complex ideas and communicate them to a broad audience has cemented her place as one of the most important intellectuals of the 20th century.
