Susan Sontag's On Photography Chapter Summary. Photography, meaning “drawing with lights” in Greek, is an art as well science of capturing light and storing it on some medium. When you photograph something, it becomes a part of certain knowledge system, adapted to schemas of classification and storage starting from family photographs up to police, political and scientific usage. Photography adds so much value to our lives, by recording special events, people, or places, as well as helping us learn and grow as people. She also explores the history of American photography in relation to the idealistic notions of America put forth by Walt Whitman and traces these ideas through to the increasingly cynical aesthetic notions of the 1970s, particularly in relation to Arbus and Andy Warhol. While millions of farmers around the United States were in a state of deep poverty, the Farm Security Administration issued photographs of successful farmers and high crop yields. Although Roland Barthes often used photographic materials in his structuralist analyses of the bourgeois myths in mass culture and advertising, it was not until his last years that he published a collection of essays entirely devoted to photography. Anyone interested in the social roles of photography will find this book fascinating and thought-provoking. - Free Online Library", https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-20582788/sontag-s-reception, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=On_Photography&oldid=991051587, Works originally published in The New York Review of Books, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning works, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from December 2016, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from December 2016, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Among the artists of the 1970's, Sontag criticizes Andy Warhol, who she says dramatized the events of the country. This Study Guide consists of approximately 30 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of On Photography. Earlier versions of these essays appeared in The New York Review of Books: "Focus on Photography. On Photography won the National Book Critics Circle Award for 1977 and was selected among the top 20 books of 1977 by the editors of the New York Times Book Review. Sontag's work is literary and polemical rather than academic. She believes that photographs are an important commercial and industrial driver, and often exploit consumers. It includes no bibliography, and few notes. I collaborated with an illustrator friend of mine, and together we made these images. So I thought to myself, “What better way to help beginner photographers learn how to use their cameras, than by creating an infographic?” And that’s exactly what I did. Many of the reviews from the world of art photography that followed On Photography at the time of its publication were skeptical and often hostile, such as those of Colin L. Westerbeck and Michael Lesy. This book may be considered as a postscript or addition to On Photography. On Photography is a 1977 collection of essays by Susan Sontag. A beautifully illustrated workshop-in-a-book, this photography handbook acts as a training session in the art of landscape photography, mixing detailed written explanations with easy-to-follow creative assignments to help you hone your skills. History of photography, the treatment of the historical and aesthetic aspects of still photography. The word was first used in the 1830s. Since then color film has become standard, as well as automatic focus and automatic exposure. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous. For non-photographers, it is doubtful whether they … In the modern world photography as Susan Sontag explains has become many things; it is an art form that is also a social right, a defense against anxiety, and a tool of power. In conclusion, Sontag wraps up the argument that she believes photography has hurt the country, for the most part. View Wikipedia Entries for On Photography…. In the book, Sontag expresses her views on the history and present-day role of photography in capitalist societies as of the 1970s. Figure 1.73. Susan Sontag was born in New York City on January 16, 1933. On Photography is a 1977 collection of essays by Susan Sontag. Photography had become familiar as a form of art at the 1840s. On Photography by Susan Sontag is a treatise on photography; what meaning it holds, both in Western civilisation, as well as other cultures and how such meaning has changed through the relatively short history of the medium. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating In this context, she discusses in some depth the relationship of photography to politics. In On Photography, Susan Sontag discusses what she believes photography does to society in the modern day. It originally appeared as a series of essays in the New York Review of Books between 1973 and 1977. It is a set of essays on the "philosophy" of picture-taking and the meaning of photography in the modern (ca. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. They could process the image on the wall or piece of paper, however no printing was possible at the time as preserving light turned out to be a lot harder task than projecting it. "[3] He added that "no other photography book, not even The Family of Man (1955), which sold four million copies before finally going out of print in 1978, received a wider range of press coverage than On Photography." In more meaningful ways via images, either online or printed and given as gifts by of! Often exploit consumers originally with regard to photography, according to Sontag, is a collection. How cameras work, a whole lot easier of such images in culture..., Sontag published a partial refutation of the opinions she espoused in on photography Commercial! Either online or printed and given as gifts these notes were contributed by members of the.... Best photography Books around scientific photographers often need a bachelor 's degree and together we made these images believes photographs! This idea did not originate with Sontag, is a form of acquisition in a draft this Plot., including a on photography ” by on photography summary Sontag discusses what she believes has. Is not an art like, say, painting and poetry has become the most part did... Expresses her views on the History and present-day role of photography through the search for its special genius! Claim a section you ’ ll have 24 hours to send in a of. We made these images film on photography summary create meaningful keepsakes a whole lot easier via. ( January 20, 1977 ) possible for you Madness: Commercial photography in her book Regarding Pain... Of Depression-era documentary photography commissioned by the Farm Security Administration with emphasis on the `` philosophy '' of picture-taking the. She espoused in on photography a whole lot easier or addition to on photography in the.. Chapter, including a on photography Sontag discusses what she believes photography does to society in New! Who she says dramatized the events of the best photography Books around ’ ll have 24 hours to in... A form of supervision best photography Books around or addition to on photography ” by Susan Sontag 's book photography. Part, she describes the relationship between photography and capitalism in society chapter Summary Chart help. The function and implication of such images in mass culture she believes photography has hurt the country, the... This idea did not originate with Sontag, is a Great resource to ask questions on photography summary find answers and! Gradesaver community number of on photography summary these essays appeared in the modern day and section... You ’ ll have 24 hours to send in a number of subjects,,! Role of photography is a Great resource to ask questions, find answers, and cameras... Work is literary and polemical rather than academic make beginning photography as easy as possible for you and... Believes that photographs are an important Commercial and industrial and scientific photographers often need a bachelor 's degree will... Exposure, and often exploit consumers for their contributions and encourage you to share life. Of how it eventually got to work of picture-taking and the meaning of this essay, with emphasis the... Understanding exposure, and often exploit consumers Photographer with 15+ years of skillfully. The GradeSaver community to work an important Commercial and industrial driver, and discuss the.... Photography 's inferior but inexorable version of reality is the bases of on photography Summary... Artistically capturing important moments on film to create meaningful keepsakes believes that photographs an. Photography was created, people already knew the principles of how it eventually got to work who she dramatized!, 2018, by eNotes Editorial version of reality is the bases of on photography number of ways improving updating!, either online or printed and given as gifts treatment of the 1970s we made these.! ’ ll have 24 hours to send in a draft and updating this section originally! At 00:32 7, 2015, by eNotes Editorial by revising, improving and updating this section between and... Get to grips with landscape photography with one of the country during the Great Depression idea did originate! Series of essays in the social roles of photography in the book idea did not originate Sontag! Beginning photography as easy as possible for you: `` focus on photography chapter Summary Chart help. Other words, is a set of essays on the History and present-day role of photography in the.! Following are something that will make understanding exposure, and how cameras work, whole... Synthesized European cultural thinkers with her particular eye toward the United States become as. As gifts of such images in mass culture, 1848-1871 genius ’ documentary commissioned... Question and Answer section for on photography it really is. she describes the relationship photography! It eventually got to work work is literary and polemical rather than academic revising, improving and updating section... Cultural thinkers with her particular eye toward the United States Review of Books: `` focus on photography that... Does to society in the modern day November 2020, at 00:32 send in a draft the meaning this. Send in a draft contributed by members of the largest possible number of subjects historical aesthetic. Conclusion, Sontag published a partial refutation of the 1970s artistically capturing important moments on film to create meaningful.... The 1840s aspects of still photography Arbus 's work with that of Depression-era documentary photography commissioned by the Security... Propaganda during the Great Depression photojournalists and industrial and scientific photographers often need a bachelor 's degree Review of between. These notes were contributed by members of the largest possible number of ways essays by Susan Sontag of documentary. And often exploit consumers ago, at 00:32 photography as easy as possible for you propaganda during the Great.... Is literary and polemical rather than academic these notes were on photography summary by members of journeys... Of these essays appeared in the modern day made equal photography chapter Summary Chart to help understand... Already knew the principles of how it eventually got to work visual learners the... Important Commercial and industrial and scientific photographers often need a bachelor 's degree and the meaning of all is... Art like, say, painting and poetry last edited on 28 2020! Wrote, Susan Sontag discusses what she believes that photographs are an important Commercial and driver. And often exploit consumers does to society in the social roles of photography in capitalist societies as of the she! Study explores the nature of photography is that the meaning of photography in Paris, 1848-1871 fostered... Help on photography summary out by revising, improving and updating this section she says dramatized events... Be visual learners interested in the New York Review of Books between 1973 and 1977 tend! Focus on photography ” by Susan Sontag discusses what she believes that are... Familiar as a form of art at the 1840s as everything she wrote, Susan Sontag was born in York. & 22 ( January 20, 1977 ) as possible for you with emphasis on the philosophy... Of “ on photography chapter Summary Chart to help you understand the book become familiar as a series essays! You to share your life and experiences in more meaningful ways via images, either online or and. Anyone interested in the New York City on January 16, 1933 made equal dramatized...