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Ethics Quote by Susan Sontag

“photographs alter and enlarge our notions of what is worth looking at and what we have a right to observe. They are a grammar and, even more importantly, an ethics of seeing.” quote by Susan Sontag
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“photographs alter and enlarge our notions of what is worth looking at and what we have a right to observe. They are a grammar and, even more importantly, an ethics of seeing.”

Susan Sontag

About This Quote

Source Book: On Photography, 1977

She argues photographs shape our perception and ethical responsibility toward what we choose to see.

In simple terms: Photos influence what we notice and deem important.

Key Takeaway

Use images responsibly, questioning what we observe.

Themes

visual culture ethics perception media

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

  • journalism
  • education
  • curation

Key Concepts

representation observer bias visual literacy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do images dictate moral priorities?
  • What responsibilities do photographers hold?
A Different Perspective

Interpretation varies across cultures and eras.

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