Like the collector, the photographer is animated by a passion that, even when it appears to be for the present, is linked to a sense of the past.
Susan SontagRead
As industrialization provided social uses for the operations of the photographer, so the reaction against these uses reinforced the self-consciousness of photography-as-art.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote discusses the dual nature of photography, highlighting its societal utility and its evolution as a form of artistic expression.
Susan Sontag's quote reflects on the relationship between industrialization and photography, suggesting that while photography found practical applications in society, the pushback against these practical uses led to a greater awareness and appreciation of photography as an art form. This evolution implies that the medium's artistic potential was recognized more fully as it distanced itself from mere functionality and began to embrace artistic self-awareness.
Themes
PhotographyArtIndustrializationSelf-ConsciousnessSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the evolution of art, this quote can highlight the transition of photography from a tool for documentation to a respected art form.
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