--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is in fact something obscene and…" description: "\"There is in fact something obscene and sinister about photography, a desire to imprison, to incorporate, a sexual intensity of pursuit.\" — William S. B..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/william-s-burroughs-528_desire_there-is-in-fact-something-obscene-and-s_611420.png" --- # There is in fact something obscene and sinister about… ![“There is in fact something obscene and sinister about photography, a desire to imprison, to incorporate, a sexual intensity of pursuit.” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/william-s-burroughs-528_desire_there-is-in-fact-something-obscene-and-s_611420.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/william-s-burroughs-528_desire_there-is-in-fact-something-obscene-and-s_611420.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/william-s-burroughs-528_desire_there-is-in-fact-something-obscene-and-s_611420.png) > “There is in fact something obscene and sinister about photography, a desire to imprison, to incorporate, a sexual intensity of pursuit.” [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photography can be an obsessive, voyeuristic act that captures and confines subjects, revealing darker impulses. **In simple terms:** Photography may imprison subjects, showing darker urges. Key Takeaway Use photography responsibly, respecting subjects. Themes art ethics voyeurism power observation Mood critical analytical Type artistic ethical When to use this quote - photojournalism - portrait work - artistic projects - social media Key Concepts Objectification visual culture psychology of gaze Questions to Reflect On - How does the photographer’s intent shape the image? - What responsibilities do photographers have to their subjects? A Different Perspective The medium also empowers storytelling and awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) ## Related quotes > [I came to photography with the desire to conquer this machine, the camera, and make it my slave. Instead, I have now a respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-walker/i-came-to-photography-with-the-desire-to-conquer-this-machine-the/) Todd Walker > [I'm against Capitol Punishment in all forms, and I have written many pamphlets on this subject in the manner of Swift's Modest Proposal pamphlet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/i-m-against-capitol-punishment-in-all-forms-and-i-have-written-many/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [War technology is science in the service of obscene anatomical vandalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-goff/war-technology-is-science-in-the-service-of-obscene-anatomical/) [Stan Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-goff/) > [Commercial rock 'n' roll music is a brutalization of the stream of contemporary Negro church music an obscene looting of a cultural expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/commercial-rock-n-roll-music-is-a-brutalization-of-the-stream-of/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [Sex and obscenity are not synonymous. Obscene material is material which deals with sex in a manner appealing to prurient interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sex-and-obscenity-are-not-synonymous-obscene-material-is-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I imagine like most of us that I'd like obscene amounts of money but the people I met and worked with who have those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isaacs/i-imagine-like-most-of-us-that-i-d-like-obscene-amounts-of-money-but/) [Jason Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isaacs/) > [Whether my acting was obscene, or whether it was distasteful, well, Judge Rehnquist, who just recently passed away couldn't define pornography. His comment on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reems/whether-my-acting-was-obscene-or-whether-it-was-distasteful-well/) [Harry Reems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reems/) > [“The worst possible sexual education: a taboo imposed by the Catholic church plus romantic literature elevating love to unreal heights plus the obscene language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/the-worst-possible-sexual-education-a-taboo-imposed-by-the-catholic/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [When the commission finds that a pig has entered the parlor, the exercise of its regulatory power does not depend on proof that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/when-the-commission-finds-that-a-pig-has-entered-the-parlor-the/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [The most important truths always appear first as blasphemies or obscenities. That's why every great innovator is persecuted. And the sacraments look obscene, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-most-important-truths-always-appear-first-as-blasphemies-or/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [The First Amendment is not an altar on which we must sacrifice our children, families, and community standards. Obscene material that is not protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/the-first-amendment-is-not-an-altar-on-which-we-must-sacrifice-our/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > ['Nobody goes to jail.' 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