In Pluto's Cave

Susan Sontag's "In Pluto's Cave," gives an in-depth analysis of photography and the impact it has had on American culture. Sontag explains how photography has become much more than simply having photographic evidence of something. She explains that photography has become a staple of American society. Also, she explains how photography in the hands of some can be an art form; however for others photography is merely a way to record graduations and weddings. Another interesting point Sontag mentions is the sexual nature of photography; the voyeuristic nature of the art, she even references Hitchcock's "Rear Window." She points out that even the words connected with photography are sexual in a way. In addition, she discusses famous pictures and their impacts on society, such as Dorothea Lange's photographs of the Japanese internment camps, and their impact on photography and society. Despite some of the interesting commentary Sontag provides on this subject, this is not exactly an easy read. Most of Sontag's article reads like a textbook, and there isn't much life in it. It makes you wonder, if this what her writing is like, what are her photos like?