To those who are sure that right is on one side, oppression and injustice on the other, and that the fighting must go on, what matters is precisely who is killed and by whom. 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. Twentyfive years after her classic on photography, s. Pdf regarding the pain of others book by susan sontag free. What does it mean to care about the sufferings of people in faraway zones of conflict. A writer, a critic, an ethicist, filmmaker and activist sontag had a large part in shaping 20th.
But are viewers inuredor incitedto violence by the daily depiction of cruelty and horror. Susan sontag watching the evening news offers constant evidence of atrocitya daily commonplace in our society of spectacle. 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 read an excerpt one of the distinguishing features of modern life is that it supplies countless opportunities for regarding at a distance, through the medium of photography horrors taking place throughout the world.
Mar 16, 2018 picture doesnt speak for themselves they need a historical and geographical context. Regarding the pain of others quotes by susan sontag. This mornings collection contains the photograph of what might be a mans body, or a womans. Regarding the pain of others essays are academic essays for citation. Is the viewers perception of reality eroded by the universal availability of imagery intended to shock.
Regarding the pain of others questions and answers. It was her last published book before her death in 2004. Regarding the pain of others book group discussion c. Regarding the pain of others susan sontag monoskop. After some thought i came to the conclusion that america, and much of the world, views the united states as being this dreamland where nothing bad happens. 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. But regarding the pain, though slimmer than its predecessor, may strike deeper. Brenna gerhardt our modern world is filled with horrors, and images of the worst atrocities are routinely placed on our viewing screens thanks to advances in technology. In june 1938 virginia woolf published three guineas, her brave, unwelcomed reflections on the roots of war.
Regarding the pain of others is a 2003 booklength essay by susan sontag, which was nominated for the national book critics circle award. 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. Like the photographs it inspects, it can be absorbed a chapter at a time, attesting to its immediacy. Regarding the pain of others photographs we feel the same things. Aug 02, 2003 regarding the pain of others by susan sontag hamish hamilton. Sontag rejects the notion that war imagery will necessarily compel.
But are viewers inuredor incitedto violence by the daily depiction of cruelty. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of regarding the pain of others by susan sontag. May 08, 2003 susan sontag, writer and author of the new book, regarding the pain of others jack beatty, on point news analyst and senior editor at the atlantic monthly. Susan sontag introducing regarding the pain of others youtube. 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. Regarding the pain of others seminary coop bookstores. Susan sontag, writer and author of the new book, regarding the pain of others jack beatty, on point news analyst and senior editor at. Mar 30, 2020 on regarding the pain of others susan sontag was one of americas great public intellectuals. But those certainly are dead children, and that undoubtedly is the section of a house. March 15, 2003 with a glance back at the essays in on photography 1977, the eminent. 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. Thus currently there is a compelling to bring about a reform in medical education.
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. Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag goodreads. She contends that war imagery is open to both interpretation and manipulation. Jan 07, 2003 in regarding the pain of others, sontag considers the subject of atrocity photography. She explores these themes in several essays, which, together, form a meditation that pushes no single philosophy or agenda. Despite my incredibly poor rational for buying the book judging it by its cover. Regarding the pain of others not rely on information about who and when and where. 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. Pdf regarding the pain of others in susan sontag and.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 117 pages and is available in paperback format. The cover of regarding the pain of others features a detail from an etching by goya, tampoco, from his series the disasters of war, showing a welldressed, presumably wealthy man leaning. It is a followup to her classic collection of essays on photography, published 26 years earlier and recently released in russian as part of the garage publishing program in collaboration with ad marginem press. Regarding the pain of others national coalition against. An analysis of the human response to images of the suffering of others. In this investigation of the role of imagery in our culture, susan. In truth, i only bought it because i happened upon while browsing thought the bookstore and was struck by its great cover design and bought it knowing little more about it than that. Her essays on photography have become legendary, and this book is no exception. Mar 12, 2020 like that earlier book, regarding the pain of others examines the intersection of aesthetics, politics, and ethics in elegant, intelligently constructed prose. 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. Regarding the pain of others quotes showing of 65 to paraphrase several sages.
Regarding the pain of others homework help questions. The main characters of this non fiction, philosophy story are. Susan sontag introducing regarding the pain of others. Regarding the pain of others picador modern classics. Regarding the pain of others is susan sontags searing analysis of our numbed response to images of horror. Mainly relating to pictures of people afflicted by war from goyas 18th century disasters of war, to late 20th century conflicts. Sontags book takes an intimate look at the way we chronicle war and death in our society. 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. The question and answer section for regarding the pain of others is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel ask your own question. The question and answer section for regarding the pain of others is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
Watching the evening news offers constant evidence of atrocitya daily commonplace in our society of spectacle. Susan sontags now classic book on photography defined the terms of this. Regarding the pain of others audiobook by susan sontag. 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. Mar 15, 2003 regarding the pain of others by susan sontag. Picture doesnt speak for themselves they need a historical and geographical context. Susan sontag wrote regarding the pain of others as a. Regarding the pain of others by susan sontag, paperback. Regarding the pain of others is a booklength essay by susan sontag published in 2003. Understanding the need, feeling and expectations of the patient regarding pain of others.
Regarding the pain of others in susan sontag and alfredo jaar. Regarding the pain of others is susan sontags extended response to her 1977 publication, on photography, with the central questions of how photographers, viewers, and subjects use and interpret images of suffering. A censorious susan sontag reproves our lust for horrific images in her second book on photography, regarding the pain of others. Susan sontag, in a small book titled regarding the pain of others published in 2003 before the internet had reached its full potential for malevolence says the following. Regarding the pain of others was my first encounter with her. Pdf regarding the pain of others book by susan sontag. Regarding the pain of others 2003 was susan sontags last published book before her death in 2004. Free download or read online regarding the pain of others pdf epub book. Katherine charek briggs on regarding the pain of others. 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.
Sontags statements about photographs of suffering might also help us think about the function of writing and reading about others suffering. In regarding the pain of others, sontag considers the subject of atrocity photography. Sontags regarding the pain of others, the panelists will examine the impact of horrific images on our contemporary world, and how and when they should be used. Mar 23, 2003 regarding the pain of others by susan. Regarding the pain of others download pdfepub ebook. What are some important main arguments in susan sontags regarding the pain of others. The first edition of the novel was published in january 7th 2001, and was written by susan sontag. Sontag initially addresses a question posed to writer and antiwar activist virginia woolf. Regarding the pain of others susan sontag macmillan. Not for the faint of heart, but then again, neither is the twin desiredisgust that accompanies the spectator who finds themselves regarding seeing, witnessing, enduring the pain of others. I have spent very little time combing the internet looking at. On regarding the pain of others susan sontag was one of americas great public intellectuals. Regarding the pain of others susan sontag download.
Like that earlier book, regarding the pain of others examines the intersection of aesthetics, politics, and ethics in elegant, intelligently constructed prose. A brilliant, cleareyed new consideration of the visual representation of violence in our cultureits ubiquity, meanings, and effectswatching the evening news offers constant evidence of atrocitya daily commonplace in our society of spectacle. But are viewers inured or incitedto violence by the daily depiction of cruelty and horror. Mar 19, 2019 susan sontag, in a small book titled regarding the pain of others published in 2003 before the internet had reached its full potential for malevolence says the following. Regarding the pain of others in platos republic, socrates illustrates his theory of the parts of the soul with the story of leontius, who saw some corpses rotting outside the walls of athens and. Regarding the pain of others is a booklength essay that wanders all around the crucial thesis, exploring various aspects of both the subject and the medium before declaring a verdict on its efficacy. Images of atrocities have become, via the little screens of the television and the computer. Or perhaps woolf is simply assuming that a photograph should speak for itself.