Just came upon this screed from over 8 years ago and found I still rather liked it. In the time that’s passed I have lurched way back to the left (a left that scarcely exists in this country, in spite of our incipient fascist leader) and I have more sympathy for Sontag’s views than before. Nevertheless, I remain dissatisfied by critical writing that lacks the connective tissue of facts.
via Resolution
Thank you for that interesting repost. I can’t help but wonder what both Sontag and Barthes would make of the ‘selfie generation’ and the wholesale manipulation of images by those selfs!!!
Thanks! Glad to know somebody slogged through it. It’s interesting how some of what they said has come to seem prescient while others have been overtaken by social technology. I don’t think they foresaw the selfie generation.
That was no slog! Always like to read other people’s comments particularly on Barthes, especially by photographers. Somehow I can’t imagine he would be too impressed with the selfie epidemic, but you never know he might have seen it as personal empowerment. Myself, I infinitely prefer to be behind the lens.