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
Part of the puzzle, surely, lies in the disconnect between official rhetoric and lived realities. Americans are constantly extolling “traditions”; litanies to family values are at the center of every politician’s discourse. And yet the culture of America is extremely corrosive of family life, indeed of all traditions except those redefined as “identities” that fit in the larger patterns of distinctiveness, cooperation, and openness to innovation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the contradiction between American political rhetoric about family values and the actual societal conditions that undermine family life.
Susan Sontag's quote emphasizes the disparity between the official narratives promoted by politicians regarding family traditions and the real-life experiences of Americans. She points out that, while family values are often celebrated in political discourse, the societal culture often undermines these values, promoting instead a focus on individual identities and innovation that may not support traditional family structures.
Themes
FamilyValuesCulturePoliticsTraditionIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on family policies, this quote can illustrate the gap between political promises and reality.
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