Throughout the book, and especially the first two essays, Sontag makes a strong argument for a type of formalism in art and cultural criticism, i.e., an emphasis on form over content? What does she mean by this? What is at stake in this argument? Do you find her argument compelling?

This question asks readers to reflect upon on one of the author's governing methodological claims, to think about the stakes of this claim, and to evaluate its overall veracity.

The terms "style" and "stylization" refer to key ideas throughout Sontag's essays. What do these terms indicate? What distinctions can be made between the two and what work do they do for Sontag in her analyses of novels, films, and plays?

This question allows readers to think across the text by taking two of the author's chief concepts and locating where they are operative throughout the book...