Awful Quote by Susan Sontag
“In NY sensuality completely turns into sexuality - no objects for the senses to respond to, no beautiful river, houses, people. Awful smells of the street, and dirt... Nothing except eating, if that, and the frenzy of the bed.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “On Photography”, 1977
The author argues that in New York, sensory overload reduces life to base physical needs, stripping away aesthetic appreciation.
In simple terms: Sensory overload in the city reduces life to raw, unrefined experiences.
Key Takeaway
Seek moments of beauty amid urban chaos.
Themes
urban alienation
sensory overload
materialism
loss of aesthetic
Mood
melancholy
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- city living
- travel
- daily commute
- art appreciation
Key Concepts
philosophy of art
urban sociology
human perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What small practices can restore aesthetic appreciation?
- How does personal mindset shape perception of the city?
A Different Perspective
The claim may be overly pessimistic, ignoring personal agency to find beauty.
![“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)
