Beauty Quote by Susan Sontag
““The beauty of modern cities consists in a sense of their power, cruelty, impersonality, massiveness, + variety (as in New York or London) seen against the architectural vestiges of a beautiful past.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Photography, 1977
Modern cities impress through their power, cruelty, impersonality, massiveness, and variety contrasted with historic architecture.
In simple terms: Cities are powerful and impersonal, yet historic buildings add beauty.
Key Takeaway
Notice how modern scale overshadows historic charm.
Themes
urbanism
power
history
contrast
architecture
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- city planning
- tourism
- heritage preservation
- architectural criticism
Key Concepts
modernity
cultural memory
urban identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you experience the clash of old and new in your city?
- What role should preservation play amid urban growth?
A Different Perspective
Modern scale can erase nuanced histories if not balanced.
![“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)
