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Analysis Of Maggie Nelson's 'Great To Watch'

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In the essay titled “Great to Watch” by Maggie Nelson, she introduces a theory by Susan Sontag deemed “age of extremity” (306). Sontag theory supports the idea that we either live in “unremitting banality” or “inconceivable terror”, Sontag does not believe that there is an in between part for individuals to live in. This being said, Sontag believes an individual either lives their life worrying about a terror that is unbelievable and too extreme, or paying attention to things of little importance. On the contrary, Nelson believes it 's the “reiteration” of being told we live in either or, forcing the individual to choose a side rather than living in between. Similarly, in “Selections from Hard to Get: Twenty-Something Women and the Paradox of Sexual Freedom” by Leslie Bell, she introduces an idea deemed as splitting. …show more content…
For the women in Bell’s article they must pick whether to be a good girl or a bad girl. Jayanthi performance reflects a bad-girl whereas Alicia is seen as the good girl. The expectation of a women to not be labeled a ho by exploring her sexuality, causes them to pick between the two. In the essay “The Naked Citadel” by Susan Faludi the men are expected to behave masculine and any sign of femininity is highly discouraged. Therefore, while in the Citadel they aren 't able to choose whether to be masculine or not. In both essays, the theory of Sontag can be seen. Two extremes are represented. These two extremes are formed by societal

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