Alternatives Quote by Susan Sontag
“Between two fantasy alternatives, that Holbein the Younger had lived long enough to have painted Shakespeare or that a prototype of the camera had been invented early enough to have photographed him, most Bardolators would choose the photograph. This is not just because it would presumably show what Shakespeare really looked like, for even if the photograph were faded, barely legible, a brownish shadow, we would probably still prefer it to another glorious Holbein. Having a photograph of Shakespeare would be like having a nail from the True Cross.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Photography, Susan Sontag, 1977
People tend to value photographic evidence over artistic representation because it feels more authentic, even if the image is imperfect.
In simple terms: Photos seem more real than paintings.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the bias toward visual proof.
Themes
authenticity
representation
history
perception
art
truth
Mood
reflective
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
cultural
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- academic research
- public exhibitions
- digital archiving
Key Concepts
media theory
visual culture
historical epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the medium shape our belief in authenticity?
- What are the limits of visual evidence?
A Different Perspective
Photographs can be misleading or manipulated, challenging their reliability.
![“I think you reveal yourself by what you choose to photograph, but I prefer photographs that tell more about the subject. There's nothing much interesting to tell about me; what's interesting is the person I'm photographing, and that's what I try to show. [...] I think each photographer has a point…” quote by Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1e6/mary-ellen-mark-8293_interesting_i-think-you-reveal-yourself-by-what-you_1119245.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)
![“[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/324/margaret-thatcher-463_alternatives_when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-pr_15081.jpg)
