Aug 02, 2003 regarding the pain of others by susan sontag hamish hamilton. Regarding the pain of others is a 2003 book length essay by susan sontag, which was nominated for the national book critics circle award. Regarding the pain of others is an inspiring, timely book deserving several reads. Susan sontag wrote regarding the pain of others as a. Free download or read online regarding the pain of others pdf epub book. She contends that war imagery is open to both interpretation and manipulation. A brilliant expansion and revision of on photography, regarding the pain of others argues for approaching images of suffering only as invitations to consider the origins and impact of social inequality.
In that work, sontag is concerned primarily with photography and the philosophy of viewing photographs on the news, etc. She described how susan sontags remarkable book regarding the pain of others helped her understand that depictions of suffering can be almost pornographic in nature, a source of complicated. Like that earlier book, regarding the pain of others examines the intersection of aesthetics, politics, and ethics in elegant, intelligently constructed prose. To be sure, woolf and the unnamed addressee of this booklength letter are not any two. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This is susan sontag s second book on photography and, like the first, published in 1977, it contains no photographs.
In 2001 she was awarded the jerusalem prize for the body of her work. In regarding the pain of others susan sontag once again changes the way we think about the uses and meanings of images in our world, and offers an important reflection about how war itself is waged and understood in our time. The first edition of the novel was published in january 7th 2001, and was written by susan sontag. Drawing attention to how photography is always both art and testimony, sontag convincingly deconstructs the idea that a photo of pain by itself can reveal anything universal or self evident.
Mar 12, 2020 susan sontag s extraordinary new book expands on her landmark 1977 work, on photography. Regarding the pain of others audiobook by susan sontag. A praiseworthy volume in its own right, its strength and bearing increase when it is interpreted as the indispensable companion to on photographysontag, 19772001 and complemented, in turn, by the essay regarding the torture of others sontag, 2004. Regarding the pain of others bristles with a sense of commitmentto seeing the world as it is, to worrying about the ways it is represented, even to making some gesture in the direction of changing it. Susan sontag introducing regarding the pain of others. It was her last published book before her death in 2004. Sontag rejects the notion that war imagery will necessarily compel. In regarding the pain of others, susan sontag takes a fresh look at the representation of atrocity from goya s the disasters of war to photographs of the american civil war, lynchings of blacks in the south, and the nazi death camps, and to more contemporary horrific images of bosnia, sierra leone, rwanda, israel, and palestine, as well as. She later returned to many of its themes in regarding the pain of others 2003, a thinner book, perhaps more directly shaped by her life as. Rape and pain inflicted on the genitals are among the most common forms of torture. It was published by picador and has a total of 1 pages in the book. What is the purpose of images of pain and suffering. Twentyfive years after her classic on photography, s.
Sontag believes that seeing graphic displays of the horrors of war have left us jaded and unemotional about what we are viewing. Sontag s statements about photographs of suffering might also help us think about the function of writing and reading about others suffering. Regarding the pain of others kindle edition by sontag, susan. Sontag, susan, 1933 regarding the pain of others susan sontag. Oct 04, 2017 chapters 3 and 4 of susan sontags book regarding the pain of others, the author starts the chapter with a very powerful question that is being answered through multiple perspectives that the artists and photographers try to convey in their work. Regarding the pain of others was susan sontag s last published book before her death in 2004. Regarding the pain of others susan sontag macmillan. Regarding the pain of others 2003 was susan sontag s last published book before her death in 2004. The title of this book is regarding the pain of others and it was written by susan sontag. This long essay is especially interested in war photography. Regarding the pain of others is susan sontag s searing analysis of our numbed response to images of horror. Oct 23, 2017 not too long ago, i included susan sontags regarding the pain of others in a roundup about reading for selfcare.
Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag 9780312422196. Like is there an antidote to the perennial seductiveness. In regarding the pain of others, susan sontag takes a fresh look at the representation of atrocity from goyas the disasters of war to photographs of the american civil war, lynchings of blacks in the south, and the nazi death camps, and to more contemporary horrific images of bosnia, sierra leone, rwanda, israel, and palestine, as well as. In regarding the pain of others, susan sontag takes a fresh look at the representation of atrocityfrom goya s the disasters of war to photographs of the american civil war, lynchings of blacks in the south, and the nazi death camps, to contemporary horrific images of bosnia, sierra leone, rwanda, israel and palestine, and new york city on. The new york times magazine a fiercely challenging book. Can there be any real justification for the creation, and consumption, of such images. Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag abebooks. Buy a cheap copy of regarding the pain of others book by susan sontag. Regarding the pain of others 2004 1 pp is susan sontags second book on photography. See all books authored by susan sontag, including on photography, and regarding the pain of others, and more on. Regarding the pain of others kindle edition by sontag. Watching the evening news offers constant evidence of atrocitya daily commonplace in our society of spectacle. In regarding the pain of others, susan sontag takes a fresh look at the representation of atrocityfrom goyas the disasters of war to photographs of the american civil war, lynchings of blacks in the south, and the nazi death camps, to contemporary horrific images of bosnia, sierra leone, rwanda, israel and palestine, and new york city on. The main characters of this non fiction, philosophy story are.
Drawing attention to how photography is always both art and testimony, sontag convincingly deconstructs the idea that a photo of pain by itself can reveal anything. Regarding the pain of others is a 2003 booklength essay by susan sontag, which was nominated for the national book critics circle award. Susan sontag is known as a lover as well as a critique of photography. In regarding the pain of others she focuses on the impact of horrible warimages starting with paintings such as goya s disasters of the war 18101820 going up to the present, in which first photography and then film have taken over.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 117 pages and is available in paperback format. But into this we, after the pages devoted to the feminist point, she then subsides. Sontag is critical of the bush administration for their desire to limit a publicrelations disaster rather than deal with the complex crimes of. Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag powells books. But regarding the pain, though slimmer than its predecessor, may strike deeper. Susan sontag books list of books by author susan sontag. A writer, a critic, an ethicist, filmmaker and activist sontag had a large part in shaping 20th. Face the new photographic portrait william a ewing. When she says, no we should be taken for granted when the subject is looking at other peoples pain, i thought of how differently a patients suffering might be written about by a doctor, a nurse, a. No we should be taken for granted when the subject is looking at other peoples pain. This morning s collection contains the photograph of what might be a man s body, or a woman s. Nov 03, 2017 regarding the pain of others is susan sontags presentation of how photography affects our perception of pain, tragedy, and war. Her new book is a profound rethinking of the intersection of news art, and understanding in the contemporary depiction of war and disaster. It is this we that woolf challenges at the start of her book.
These pictures, taken by american soldiers, on the surface tell a story of torture of those that. In the book, sontag expresses her views on the history and presentday role of photography in capitalist societies as of the 1970s. Picture doesnt speak for themselves they need a historical and geographical context. It is regarded by many to be a followup or addendum to on photography, despite the fact that the two essay collections convey sontags radically.
Sontag s new book, a startling reappraisal of the intersection of information, news, art, and politics in the contemporary depiction of war and disaster, will forever alter our thinking about the uses and meanings of images in our world. Regarding the pain of others is a book length essay by susan sontag published in 2003. Regarding the torture of others summary suzanne churchill. Mar 30, 2020 on regarding the pain of others susan sontag was one of americas great public intellectuals. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading regarding the pain of others. Street photography now book by sophie howarth and stephen mc laren. December 20, 2005 regarding the pain of others book group discussion. Sontag s book takes an intimate look at the way we chronicle war and death in our society. January 16, 1933 december 28, 2004 was an american writer, filmmaker, philosopher, teacher, and political activist. In her followup to regarding the pain of others, susan sontag returns one year later with the article regarding the torture of others. Susan sontag s now classic book on photography defined the terms of this debate twentyfive years ago.
Pdf regarding the pain of others book by susan sontag. Susan sontag is the author of four other novels, the benefactor, death kit, and the volcano lover. Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag hamish hamilton. Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag, paperback. Buy regarding the pain of others by susan sontag online at alibris. She mostly wrote essays, but also published novels. What are some important main arguments in susan sontag s regarding the pain of others. Regarding the pain of others photographs we feel the same things. Susan sontags now classic book on photography defined the terms of this. Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag waterstones.
Regarding the pain of others susan sontag monoskop. Mar 15, 2003 susan sontag s most recent novel, in america, won the national book award in 2000. The problem of heartlessness lies at the bottom of susan sontags recently published book, regarding the pain of others, an essay on photography and its power to affect the viewer with images of suffering, brutality and the inhumanity of war. It is, in a way, a followup to on photography despite the fact that the two books have radically different opinions about photography. Her bestknown works include on photography, against interpretation, styles of radical will, the way we live. Susan sontags lesson for writing about trauma the atlantic. For sontag, there is an ambiguity in such images that has the potential to either make the viewer act. Review of susan sontags regarding the pain of others ahr. She makes several arguments for and against the purpose of photography and perhaps how it fails to connect us to the realities of the world. In regarding the pain of others she focuses on the impact of horrible warimages starting with paintings such as goyas disasters of the war 18101820 going up to the present, in which first photography and then film have taken over.
Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag goodreads. Regarding the pain of others homework help questions. Susan sontag wrote regarding the pain of others as a means of exploring peoples reactions to photography, particularly war photography, and what can and cannot be gained from war photography. Sontag initially addresses a question posed to writer and antiwar activist virginia woolf. In fact, there are many uses of the innumerable opportunities a modern life supplies for regarding at a distance, through the medium of photography other peoples pain. The broad street books of ghent nonfiction book club met to discuss susan sontags book regarding the pain of others. Her essays on photography have become legendary, and this book is no exception. Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag a skeptical reader. Vernon foley 2012 the author, susan sontag, uses this tragic record of events to explore the power of imagery to tell a story that words cannot bring to light. A censorious susan sontag reproves our lust for horrific images in her second book on photography, regarding the pain of others. Regarding the pain of others in susan sontag and alfredo jaar. It is regarded by many to be a followup or addendum to on photography, despite the fact that the two essay collections convey sontag s radically. Mar 23, 2003 in fact, there are many uses of the innumerable opportunities a modern life supplies for regarding at a distance, through the medium of photographyother people s pain.
From goyas disasters of war to news footage and photographs of the conflicts in vietnam, rwanda and bosnia, pictures have been charged with inspiring dissent, fostering violence or instilling apathy in us, the viewer. On photography is a 1977 collection of essays by susan sontag. Regarding the pain of others quotes by susan sontag. This chapter is essentially an analysis on regarding at a distance, through the medium of photography other peoples pain. The broad street books of ghent nonfiction book club met to discuss susan sontags book regarding the pain of others, published by farrar, straus and giroux. A coruscating sermon on how we picture suffering the new york times. This text reads like a long essay on the ethics of representing the trauma of others through photography and visual media. She argues that photographs determine how important conflicts are judged and remembered. Susan sontag is the author of four novels, the benefactor, death kit, the volcano lover, and in america, which won the 2000 national book award for fiction. Aug 26, 2004 susan sontag is known as a lover as well as a critique of photography. Twentyfive years after her classic on photography, susan sontag returns to the subject of visual representations of war and violence in our culture today. In regarding the pain of others, susan sontag examines the manner in which war is perceived, taking into account such factors as sex, culture and status. Illness as metaphor and aids and its metaphors 1978 and 1988. What does it mean to care about the sufferings of people in faraway zones of conflict.
Regarding the torture of others the new york times. She spent in sarajevo much of the time between early 1993 and 1996 and was made an honorary citizen of the city. This is susan sontags second book on photography and, like the first, published in 1977, it contains no photographs. Jan 07, 2003 in regarding the pain of others, sontag considers the subject of atrocity photography.
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