On Photography by Susan Sontag
- 1. On Photography by Susan Sontag is a groundbreaking and thought-provoking collection of essays that delves into the complex relationship between photography and everyday life. First published in 1977, the book explores the implications of the photographic image in modern society, examining how photographs shape our perceptions of reality and influence our understanding of truth. Sontag argues that photography serves as both a powerful art form and a pervasive form of documentation that can distort the experiences it captures, leading to a ‘voyeuristic’ stance toward the world. She critiques the inherent limitations of photography, noting that while it can immortalize a moment, it often reduces the depth of human experience into mere stillness, stripping away the context and the dynamic nature of life. Through her insightful analysis, Sontag interweaves philosophical musings with cultural commentary, addressing the role of photography in journalistic reporting, tourism, and personal identity. As she examines the dualities of beauty and horror present in photographic imagery, Sontag invites readers to consider the ethical implications of capturing images and how this act can shape societal narratives. Overall, On Photography remains a seminal text that challenges readers to reconsider the act of seeing, encouraging a more thoughtful engagement with the images that saturate contemporary culture.
How does Sontag describe the relationship between photography and reality?
A) Photographs have no connection to reality
B) Photographs are slices of reality
C) Photographs create alternate realities
D) Photographs improve upon reality
- 2. What is the 'aesthetic distance' created by photography according to Sontag?
A) The physical space between camera and subject
B) The gap between amateur and professional work
C) The time between taking and viewing photos
D) Separation between viewer and subject
- 3. What does Sontag argue about photography and knowledge?
A) It creates new forms of knowledge
B) It prevents true knowledge
C) It gives the illusion of understanding
D) It provides complete knowledge
- 4. What does Sontag mean by photography's 'aggression'?
A) The physical act of taking pictures
B) Competition between photographers
C) The invasion of privacy
D) The act of turning people into objects
- 5. What is the relationship between photography and memory according to Sontag?
A) Photographs destroy authentic memory
B) Photographs replace and shape memory
C) Photographs enhance natural memory
D) Photographs have no effect on memory
- 6. What does Sontag mean by the 'camera's twin capacities'?
A) To document and to create art
B) To record truth and fiction
C) To subjectivize reality and objectify it
D) To capture light and shadow
- 7. How does Sontag characterize the photographer's gaze?
A) As inherently predatory
B) As completely neutral
C) As purely objective
D) As always sympathetic
- 8. What does Sontag argue about photography and power?
A) The photographer has power over the subject
B) The subject has power over the photographer
C) Photography has no relation to power
D) Power is equally distributed
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