American writer and political activist Susan Sontag was born on 16 January 1933 (see here)
Her journals and notebooks, which totalled close to one hundred by the time of her death, at age seventy-one in 2004 were edited and published by her son David Rieff.
“My desire to write is connected with my homosexuality. I need the identity as a weapon, to match the weapon that society has against me,” Sontag wrote in 1959, “Being queer makes me feel more vulnerable. It increases my wish to hide, to be invisible—which I’ve always felt anyway.”
And in 1968 “Maybe that’s why I write—in a journal. That feels “right.” I know I’m alone, that I’m the only reader of what I write here—but the knowledge isn’t painful, on the contrary I feel stronger for it, stronger each time I write something down. . . . I can’t talk to myself, but I can write to myself.
(But is that because I do think it possible that someday someone I love who loves me will read my journals—+ feel even closer to me?)”
Three entries
“The fear of becoming old is born of the recognition that one is not living now the life that one wishes. It is equivalent to a sense of abusing the present.”
“I want to be able to be alone, to find it nourishing — not just a waiting.”
“It hurts to love. It’s like giving yourself to be flayed and knowing that at any moment the other person may just walk off with your skin.”
La scrittrice e attivista politica americana Susan Sontag nacque il 16 gennaio 1933 (vedi qui)
I suoi diari e quaderni, che ammontavano a quasi cento al momento della sua morte, all’età di settantuno anni nel 2004, sono stati pubblicati da suo figlio David Rieff.
“Il mio desiderio di scrivere è legato alla mia omosessualità. Ho bisogno dell’identità come arma, per eguagliare l’arma che la società usa contro di me”, scrisse Sontag nel 1959, “Essere omosessuale mi fa sentire più vulnerabile. Aumenta il mio desiderio di nascondermi, di essere invisibile, cosa che comunque ho sempre sentito”.
E nel 1968 : “Forse è per questo che scrivo, in un diario. Mi sembra “giusto”. So di essere sola, di essere l’unico lettore di ciò che scrivo qui, ma il saperlo non è doloroso, anzi mi sento più forte per questo, più forte ogni volta che scrivo qualcosa. . . . Non posso parlare da sola, ma posso scrivere a me stessa.
(Ma è perché penso sia possibile che un giorno qualcuno che amo e che mi ama leggerà i miei diari, e si sentirà ancora più vicino a me?)”
Tre annotazioni dai diari:
“La paura di invecchiare viene nel momento in cui si riconosce di non star vivendo la vita che si desidera. Equivale alla sensazione di abusare del presente”.
“Voglio essere capace di stare sola, e di trovarlo stimolante, non una semplice attesa”.
“Fa male amare. È come accettare di farsi scorticare sapendo che da un momento all’altro l’altra persona potrebbe semplicemente andarsene con la tua pelle”.
Image; Susan Sontag photographed by her partner Annie Leibovitz in 1991 (Scottish National Portrait Gallery)
Good of you to write about Susan Sontag. I found her essay “Against Interpretation” of 1966 an inspiration in understanding the History of Art. Keep up the great blogs.
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Thank you, so much for your heart-warming comment. I am glad you found this post interesting .🎶💕
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What a wonderful post, I hadn’t heard of Susan Sontag but I love her writing. The thought that fearing growing old is because we are not living the life we want to in the present “abuse of the present” I think she called it, really resonates.
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I’m glad you found her quotes meaningful. I too can feel they reflect my thoughts 🌺🙏🌺
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The fear of growing old, quite an amazing lady. Thankfully, I have never had that fear, but she certainly writes some thought provoking journals. A great post, Luisa, thank you. 🙏🙏
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Thank you Trev, for your beautiful and wise comment. And thank you so very much for your continued support, which is greatly appreciated! 🤗❣️🤗
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You’re welcome, Luisa. Thank you, too, for your support. 🤗🤗🤗
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🙏🌹🙏🌹🙏
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Fa maschio amare…il coraggio, la consapevolezza. Post interessante, molto bello!
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Amare non sempre è il sentimento dolciastro rappresentato nelle belle favole.
La passione ha la stessa radice del verbo patire
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First of all I deeply liked the picture!
Then I also loved the quotes.
Simply true.
Thank YOU Luisa!!
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The photo was taken by Annie Leibovitz, who was her partner from 1989 to until the end of her life in 2004. This portrait is also a mirror of the love that the photographer felt for her
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Somehow I immediately perceived that it was a very special shot!
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👍🤗🤗🤗
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[…] Susan Sontag’s Diaries […]
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Thanks a lot! 🌺🙏🌺
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the choice of picture sits still with the story now I feel deeply for someone i have just learnt about. To think i am in a similar lane, keeping most of my writing to myself gives me a sense of belonging since i am now fully aware that i am not alone. Thank you Luisa.
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I am really happy to read that my post had such an impact on you and I thank very much you for talking about that 🌹
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Sontag è stata la scrittrice più influente per chiunque si occupi di ‘immagine’ – leggo ancora spesso ‘sulla fotografia’.
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Me ne sono resa conto, anche se non sono molto esperta in quel settore! Ti ringrazio infinitamente per averlo sottolineato 🙏
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I have certainly heard of Susan Sontag and had never read her. These are wonderful, empowering, thought-provoking quotes you have selected. I may have to read her. Thanks for sharing.
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So glad to hear that the quotes I have chosen resonate with you.
From the comments written by our friends I have learnt that Sontag is highly regarded for her writings on image and photography, and for her essays “Against Interpretation” of 1966 which is judged “an inspiration in understanding the History of Art.”
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Something to look up and read. 😉
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🙏💞🙏
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you!!!🌹🌹🌹
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Hi and you’re welcome! Wishing you a wonderful new week!🙂☀️😊
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The same to you, Philip 🤗💙🤗
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Ottime la frasi che hai pubblicato, Luisa. Fanno riflettere come se ci si facesse un esame di coscienza. E coì ho pensato che:
Sulla paura d’invecchiare mi sembra di poter dire che sono nato vecchio. Sull’essere capace di stare soli, è da sempre che sto solo, anche in mezzo alla gente. Sul far male l’amare, lo so da una vita.
Ma sono eterosessuale.
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ERRATA CORRIGE:
coì = così
Scusami.
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Grazie, Marcello caro
La solitudine è apprezzabile se è una scelta,
l’idea dell vecchiaia non mette allegria a nessuno,
e l’amore. quello vero, forte, profondo non è mai separato dal patimento. Questa è la passione.❣️
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Grazie della risposta, Luisa🌹. Buona notte 💖
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Buona notte a te, Marcello caro ❤️
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🌹
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Scorticare e amare. Si sente ciò che ha passato con il suo tempo nell’essere diversa.
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Sì, penso che abbia sofferto molto, e questo l’ha resa più acuta nell’osservare le emozioni sue e degli altri
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Sontag had great insight into the human personality. I agree with her that one of the reasons we fear growing old is we are abusing the time we have in the present.
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Wise response, Priscilla
🤓
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Thank you very much, dear Priscilla, in a few words you have wonderfully clarified your thoughts and hers ❣️🙏❣️
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Such an amazing lady. I can see the emotions in her powerful writing.
Thanks Luisa for writing about her.
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Your kind comment is very much appreciated.
I’m really glad you enjoyed Susan Sontag’s words🌹🌺🌹
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My pleasure ❣
Have a great day, Luisa 🙏🏻
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🙏🙏🙏
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Molto belle e intense queste frasi estrapolate dai suoi diari. Nella introduzione si comprende che ha sofferto molto il suo essere omosessuale. Come sempre grazie Luisa delle chicche che ci proponi🥀🥀🥀 Buon pomeriggio 💕💕💕
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Grazie a te per esserti soffermata con la tua sensibilità sulla personalità della Sontag, che deve aver amato e sofferto molto
Buona serata🌹❣️🌹
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Bello e interessante questo articolo, buon pomeriggio cara Luisa 🥀❤🥀
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Grazie, Dani cara
Buona serata a te 💐🤗💐🤗💐
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Great post! Amazing writer..
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Thank you so much, Shammi!
I really appreciate it!
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Another great blog.
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Many thanks !! I am pleased that you enjoyed it!
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I did indeed. xxxxx
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🙏🌼🙏🌼🙏
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Amare rende vulnerabili.
Ma possiamo farne a meno?
Possiamo reprimere un sentimento?
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Assolutamente non si può evitarlo, a meno che non si sia completamente insensibili o anaffettivi
Buona serata, Andrea!
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Those three quotes should be like water off a duck’s back for somebody like you Luisa – but somehow, I don’t think they are.
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Do you know I didn’t know that saying!?? I had to look for its explanation and then I realized that it was quite intuitive
Thank you with all my heart🙏💙🙏💙🙏
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I’m glad that it made sense to you 🙂
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🙏🦆💙
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LOL 🙂
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Articolo interessante che, porta alla luce la sofferenza di un’anima inquieta!💞
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E’ proprio così : quanta sofferenza c’è nell’animo di chi, non omologato, ne sente il peso
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L’identità come arma… che battaglia ragazzi, che battaglia 💖
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I love reading your posts, Luisa, they always feel calm and giving. Every time I learn
something new. Susan Sontag’s story is to a great extent new to me.
That doesn’t stop me feeling the strength of every quote you included.
I found it interesting that she early on started keeping diaries, talking to herself.
I did too, from around 10 years of age until a couple of years ago.
The photo of Susan Sontag is just fantastic.
Miriam
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My dearest Miriam,
as always your words gave me immense pleasure.
I wrote a diary at times, in the course of my life, when I had the need to open up with a custodian of my thoughts
The photo is wonderful because it was taken with love by her then partner, the famous photographer Annie Leibovitz
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Era avanti…
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Proprio così…
Buona serata 💕
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❤
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Such a noble figure in arts. Her journal entries were touching to the core. They sounded just as if she was talking to me. Lots of love to this great woman, wherever she peacefully is. ❤
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Your words are wonderful-🙏🙏🙏
I join you in wishing her so much peace and serenity, wherever she is❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️
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You’re most welcome, dear. Your works a blessing to me. ❤🙏❤
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❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️
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Che bella persona era! Le sue parole lo testimoniano!!! 🙂
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Sì, ne sono convinta anch’io 🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹
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Such beautiful writing.
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So glad you liked Susan Sontag’s thoughts 💙🌹💙🌹💙
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Very beautiful post 🌷👌🙏 Great Author and inspiring lady with her own thoughts 👍🏻😊
A journalist and writer and her life diaries !! Have a lovely day and sweet wishes dear 🌷🙏🌷
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Knowing that this post has piqued your interest makes me really happy.
Thank you very much, dear Thattamma ❣️❤️❣️
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So welcome dear 🌷🙏🌷Blessed Tuesday 🙏♥️
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🙏😘💙😘🙏
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I too was taken by that photo. I didn’t know Annie Leibovitz was her partner. Well chosen and touching quotes.
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I thank you with all my heart for your lovely feedback
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[…] Susan Sontag’s Diaries […]
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Sei davvero genite a ospitarmi nel tuo blog❣️
Grazie di cuore🙏
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molto acute sono le sue osservazioni,
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Grazie infinite e buona serata!
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notte serena
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[…] Susan Sontag’s Diaries […]
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Thanks a lot for sharing my post!🙏🌷🙏
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Very little knew about her. Nicely narrated.
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I’m really glad you enjoyed my post and thank you very much for letting me know
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I wish I could read more of this type of posts everyday. So lovely and inspiring😊
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So glad you like it! Thank you very much for your kindness 🌷🌷🌷
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You’re welcome
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Great pictures and quotes. Thank you Luisa.
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So glad you liked this post, Anita!
Thank you very much for your kindness
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