Art Quote by Susan Sontag
“Art is not only about something; it is something. A work of art is a thing in the world, not just a text or commentary on the world.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Against Interpretation", 1964
Art exists as an object in the world, not merely a commentary; its presence matters.
In simple terms: Art is a thing, not just a description.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate art as an entity, not just its meaning.
Themes
a
ontology
perception
Mood
reflective
intellectual
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- museum visits
- art criticism
- creative practice
- education
Key Concepts
aesthetics
philosophy
semiotics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing art as object change its impact?
- What balance between object and meaning is ideal?
A Different Perspective
May underplay the role of interpretation in understanding art.
![“Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences... That solves a lot of problems ... Art is something that happens, a process, not a quality, and all sorts of things can make it happen ... [W]hat makes a work of art ‘good’ for you is not…” quote by Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/636/brian-eno-776_art_stop-thinking-about-art-works-as-objects_1085892.jpg)
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
