London Review Bookshop Podcast
Benjamin Moser and Lara Feigel on Susan Sontag
Jan 8, 2020
Benjamin Moser, biographer of a great twentieth-century thinker, and Lara Feigel, co-author of a biography on Susan Sontag, discuss Sontag's life and legacy. They explore the complexities of Sontag's work and personal life, the challenges of writing a biography, and Sontag's impact during the Bosnian war. They also touch on topics such as archival research, the role of women intellectuals, and the absence of role models for girls in the 1960s.
01:04:34
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Quick takeaways
- Susan Sontag symbolized hope for a tolerant and diverse America, embracing self-improvement and resisting political tyranny.
- The biography of Susan Sontag had no off-limits areas, offering a comprehensive exploration of her rich and complex life.
Deep dives
The Symbolism of Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag symbolized the anchor in the achievements of the past while embracing her own century. She stood for self-improvement and making oneself greater than what one was expected to be. She represented hope for a tolerant and diverse America, engaged with other nations without chauvinism. She stood for the social role of the artist and showed resistance against political tyranny. She held out hope for the permanence of culture in a world besieged by indifference and cruelty.
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