Susan Sontag was a Journalist, Anti-war Activist and Women’s rights activist (Biography, Occupation). In her essay “In Plato’s cave” she develops several ideas but also contradictions. Sontag emphasizes “it is mainly a social rite, a defense against anxiety, and a tool of power” while she goes further by arguing that when there is a “choice between a photograph and a life, to choose the photograph” (8, 12). The main idea she revolves her essay around is Plato’s cave allegory, which displayed how what people were shown was believed to be the truth. Consequently, when one of the men was shown another perspective of the world, the other two were sceptical and disregarded his view because he had no proof. Photographs are often seen as truth, another
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Moreover, another image taken during his stay named “Boy soldiers” will help analyze key aspects of Susan Sontag’s perspective. In this image, there are three young boys dressed as soldiers and carrying guns. They are attempting to cross a river, while the boy towards the front has already succeeded as he is covered in water up to his chest while holding his gun above his head. The other two boys in the background are covered only to their waist, with their guns still on their back. The image is black and white, and there is no information on a date or name. Strongly supported by Susan Sontag’s idea of photography being a “social rite”, due to third world country conditions existing in Vietnam where they have limited access to technology and resources (8). Cameras and photographs are considered a luxury in poor countries, therefore it poses a challenge to those populations to inform the rest of the world about their conflicts. Discussed earlier in the essay, the public is uninformed of certain events around the world, to build upon this idea Sontag supports the notion that “photographs furnish evidence” (5). Nick Ut supports raising awareness of the events that take place around us. He was hoping to capture moments and furnish evidence of pictures that were uncommon amongst all other photographs already existing (The Associated Press, para. 4). Nations struggle to provide proof of their endeavours, while counting on tourists and journalists to document and furnish evidence through photographs for
Moreover, another image taken during his stay named “Boy soldiers” will help analyze key aspects of Susan Sontag’s perspective. In this image, there are three young boys dressed as soldiers and carrying guns. They are attempting to cross a river, while the boy towards the front has already succeeded as he is covered in water up to his chest while holding his gun above his head. The other two boys in the background are covered only to their waist, with their guns still on their back. The image is black and white, and there is no information on a date or name. Strongly supported by Susan Sontag’s idea of photography being a “social rite”, due to third world country conditions existing in Vietnam where they have limited access to technology and resources (8). Cameras and photographs are considered a luxury in poor countries, therefore it poses a challenge to those populations to inform the rest of the world about their conflicts. Discussed earlier in the essay, the public is uninformed of certain events around the world, to build upon this idea Sontag supports the notion that “photographs furnish evidence” (5). Nick Ut supports raising awareness of the events that take place around us. He was hoping to capture moments and furnish evidence of pictures that were uncommon amongst all other photographs already existing (The Associated Press, para. 4). Nations struggle to provide proof of their endeavours, while counting on tourists and journalists to document and furnish evidence through photographs for