Ep. 246: Susan Sontag on Interpreting Art (Part One)

episode

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast not yet transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet Upvotes decide what gets transcribed next — 0 so far. Sign in to upvote

More from The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Ep. 401: Mind/Brain Identity Theory (U.T. Place, J.J.C. Smart) (Part One) 49 min · 28 Sep 2026

PREMIUM-Ep. 400: Dennett Rejects Qualia (Part Three) 10 min · 26 Sep 2026

PEL Presents Philosophy vs. Theater w/ David Epstein 1h 1m · 25 Sep 2026

Ep. 400: Dennett Rejects Qualia (Part Two) 51 min · 21 Sep 2026

PEL Presents Closereads: Late Dennett on Consciousness (Part One) 55 min · 20 Sep 2026

PEL Presents PMP#230: Gettin' Furious 49 min · 18 Sep 2026

All episodes from The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast →

Report any issue

Source

Recorded22 Jun 2020

Publisherpartiallyexaminedlife.libsyn.com ↗

Handlerec:5514608

Show notes

On Sontag's essays "Against Interpretation" (1964), "On Style" (1965), and "The Death of Tragedy" (1963). What is it to understand a work of art? Sontag objects to critics' need to decode art into its "meaning" or "content," divorcing it from how this content is embodied. She argues that the content vs. form distinction isn't tenable; that the style of a work is an essential part of experiencing it. Sontag thinks we're too analytical, too divorced from our instincts, and a direct encounter with art is essential to enliven us. Please support PEL!

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Sign in