Anika Meier is the PATRON of this page

Susan Sontag

Susan Rosenblatt Sontag

Writer, filmmaker, and political activist

Born: January 16, 1933 in New York City, New York, United States

Died: December 28, 2004 in New York City, New York, United States

Nationality: American

Susan Sontag was an extraordinary human being for several reasons:

She was a prolific writer and cultural critic: Sontag wrote dozens of books, essays, and articles on a wide range of topics, including literature, photography, art, politics, and illness. Her work challenged conventional thinking and explored the complexities of the human experience.

She was a courageous and outspoken advocate for social justice: Sontag was an active participant in the civil rights movement and a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War. She spoke out against racism, sexism, and homophobia, and was a champion of marginalized communities.

She was a trailblazer for women in the arts: Sontag was one of the few women of her generation to achieve widespread recognition as a writer and intellectual. She broke down barriers and inspired countless women to pursue their own creative and intellectual passions.

She was a polymath with a wide range of interests: Sontag was not only a writer and cultural critic, but also a filmmaker, playwright, and theatre director. She was deeply interested in a variety of subjects, including philosophy, psychology, and history.

She was a survivor who lived life on her own terms: Sontag battled cancer multiple times and refused to be defined by her illness. She lived life with passion and integrity, never shying away from controversy or difficult topics.

Overall, Susan Sontag was an extraordinary human being because of her intellectual curiosity, her commitment to social justice, her groundbreaking work as a writer and cultural critic, and her resilience in the face of adversity.

Susan Sontag for Children

Susan Sontag was a really smart lady who wrote a lot of books and talked about lots of different things like art, politics, and how people think and feel. She was also really brave and stood up for what she believed in, like fairness for all people no matter who they are.

She was one of the few women who got to be really famous for her writing and ideas, and she did lots of other cool things like make movies and plays.

Even when she was sick with a disease called cancer, she kept on living life in a really strong and inspiring way. Overall, Susan Sontag was a really amazing person who did lots of great things and taught us all how to be brave, smart, and true to ourselves.

Some Susan Sontag Quotes Explained

"I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list."

This quote captures Sontag's sense of adventure and curiosity about the world. It encourages us to explore and experience as much as we can in life.

"The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions."

Sontag often challenged conventional thinking and sought to disrupt established ideas. This quote speaks to her desire to push beyond boundaries and limitations.

"The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people's reality, and eventually in one's own."

As a critic of photography and other visual media, Sontag was interested in the ways in which images shape our perceptions of the world. This quote highlights the idea that we are constantly observing and interpreting the world around us, and that this can change our understanding of reality.

"To be a moral human being is to pay, be obliged to pay, certain kinds of attention."

Sontag believed that ethical behavior required us to be attentive and engaged with the world. This quote emphasizes the idea that being a good person means being aware of and responsive to the needs of others.

"Illness is the night side of life, a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place."

This quote is from Sontag's book "Illness as Metaphor," in which she explores the cultural meanings and implications of disease. Here, she suggests that illness is a fundamental aspect of human experience, and that it can shape our identity and understanding of ourselves.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse