On Photography, Susan Sontag
1977
First edition of On Photography by Susan Sontag. Small format hardback in very good condition. Minor shelf wear, otherwise pages are clean and binding is sturdy. Please note that the book jacket is in fair condition. Please see photos for reference.
About
Sontag examines the history and contemporary role of photography in society. She contrasts the work of Diane Arbus with Depression-era documentary photography and explores the evolution of American photography from Walt Whitman's idealistic notions to the cynicism of the 1970s. Sontag argues that photography fosters a voyeuristic relationship with the world and can diminish the meaning of events. The book discusses the relationship between photography and politics and the tension between recording and intervention. On Photography received both acclaim and criticism, with some reviewers questioning its academic rigor.