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.
The only story that seems worth writing is a cry, a shot, a scream. A story should break the reader's heart.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the profound emotional impact that stories can have on readers, suggesting that true art exposes deep human experiences.
Susan Sontag argues that the most valuable narratives are those that evoke intense emotional responses, such as sorrow or pain. She believes that literature should not shun the difficult themes of life but instead confront them head-on, leading to transformative experiences for both the writer and the reader. A story that touches on deep emotional truths speaks to the heart of humanity, reminding us of our shared vulnerabilities and the depth of our experiences.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion about the power of narrative, one might quote Sontag to illustrate the emotional depth required in storytelling.
More from Susan Sontag
All quotes βScience fiction films are not about science. They are about disaster, which is one of the oldest subjects of art.
Gide and I have attained such perfect intellectual communion that I experience the appropriate labor pains for every thought he gives birth to!
Volume depends precisely on the writer's having been able to sit in a room every day, year after year, alone.
In NY sensuality completely turns into sexuality - no objects for the senses to respond to, no beautiful river, houses, people. Awful smells of the street, and dirt... Nothing except eating, if that, and the frenzy of the bed.
It hurts to love. It's like giving yourself to be flayed and knowing that at any moment the other person may just walk off with your skin.
Similar quotes
I do tend to think that I've written a great deal out of my unconscious because half the time I don't know what a given character is going to say next.
Why are all the artists so dead-set on distorting? It seems to be a reaction against photography, but I'm not sure.
Fashion should be a form of escapism, and not a form of imprisonment.
Between beauty of expression and power of expression there is a difference of function. The first aims at pleasing the senses, the second has a spiritual vitality which for me is more moving and goes deeper than the senses.
I started earning a living as a poet rather early on.
What's the point of rap if you can't be yourself, huh?