Against Interpretation Response: Milissa Thibodeau
In the article, Susan Sontag is trying to defend the theory that what the viewer sees when they look at a work of art, or anything for that matter, can have multiple interpretations that affect perception of the work and that can differ as time goes on. The article talked about evaluating interpretations themselves which differ from person to person based on their age, where they grew up, and their belief system. However, in the 4th and 5th chapter Sontag begins to talk about how interpretation is much more negative in modern times. I can understand why she feels interpretation is now trying to "tame art" and is a "refusal to leave work alone". Sometimes art can simply be aesthetically pleasing without having actual meaning or need meaning to improve. There is something mystical about the inexplicable, and yet today there is a strong necessity that everything have an explanation of some sort so that it may fit into a neat category in our minds. Personally, this article made me think back to when I went through art museums and the interpretations I thought of, and those that teachers or guides talked about. After reading this article I think that now I would look first at the piece without thoughts of meaning and first concentrate on the beauty of the work as a whole then instead of
looking for meaning I might think about how it may be
showing meaning.