What Does Sontag Say About Modern Interpretation of Art?

Art|Modern Art

The renowned American writer and theorist Susan Sontag was an influential figure in the 20th century art and culture scene. She wrote extensively about art, literature, photography and film, and her works were highly praised by her contemporaries. In her essay “On Interpretation”, she delves into the meaning of modern interpretation of art.

Sontag argues that traditional interpretation of art is no longer sufficient for understanding contemporary works. According to her, modern interpretation needs to be more open-ended and dynamic than traditional interpretation, since art today is often more abstract and multi-dimensional.

Furthermore, she claims that modern interpretation should embrace the complexity of art, giving it more than one meaning at a time. Instead of trying to find a single “correct” interpretation of a work, she suggests that we look at it from multiple perspectives and see what different interpretations it can give us.

In addition to this idea of multiple interpretations, Sontag also discusses the importance of context in interpreting art. She states that it’s necessary to take into account the historical and cultural context in which a work was created in order to truly understand its meaning. For example, a painting from the 1800s might have very different meanings if viewed in today’s world compared to when it was first created.

Overall, Sontag believes that modern interpretation of art should be flexible and open-minded rather than rigidly adhering to traditional interpretations. She encourages us to explore different perspectives and contexts when attempting to interpret contemporary works in order to gain a better understanding of them.

Conclusion: Susan Sontag’s essay “On Interpretation” provides an insightful look into modern interpretation of art. According to her views, contemporary interpretations should be more open-ended and dynamic than traditional ones while taking into account the historical context in which the work was created. Her ideas emphasize the importance of exploring multiple perspectives when attempting to understand complex works in order to gain a better appreciation for them.