Susan Sontag, a figure trained in philosophy and literature, embarked on a distinctive path in the realm of critical essays, diverging from traditional academic interpretations. Her work often intersected with existentialist thought, yet she was never fully embraced by the academic community. Her focus on avant-garde and popular culture elements further set her apart, ensuring her legacy as a provocative, enduring voice in literary and cultural criticism.

Academic Background and Philosophical Influences

Having pursued her education at the University of Chicago and Harvard University, Sontag's academic foundation was steeped in philosophy and literature. Early in her career, she was affiliated with several colleges as a faculty member. However, by the early 1960s, Sontag distanced herself from academia, critiquing what she saw as misguided literary interpretations. Her essays reflect a broad intellectual canvas, informed by existentialist philosophy influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche and cultural icons like Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. Despite the depth of her work, Sontag's essays have often been sidelined by academic critics who viewed her as a "popularizing" figure more than an original thinker.

Rejection from the Academic Establishment

Several factors contributed to Sontag's rejection by the academic community. Her position as a woman of letters who challenged conventional literary analysis, particularly the close reading techniques prevalent in the 1950s and 1960s, was at odds with the dominant academic norms. She opted to explore broader philosophical and aesthetic themes through the lens of existentialism, which some academics found unorthodox. Her polemical style, frequently criticizing the critical establishment for its narrow-mindedness, further alienated her from academic critics. Additionally, Sontag's focus on less esteemed subjects, such as camp and popular culture phenomena like "happenings," rock music, and science fiction, did not align with mainstream academic interests of the time.

Engagement with Popular and Controversial Topics

Sontag's essays, such as those in Against Interpretation and Other Essays and Styles of Radical Will, often addressed intellectually marginalized topics. Her exploration of these subjects, including camp aesthetics, contributed to her controversial reputation. Sontag was also a staunch defender of avant-garde culture, often challenging the critical establishment to broaden its scope.

Ongoing Controversy and Enduring Influence

Sontag's writings have sparked considerable debate within the intellectual community. Her 1968 publication, Trip to Hanoi, drew criticism from political conservatives who accused her of supporting North Vietnam, despite the book's skeptical tone toward Communist propaganda. Later, her essay on Leni Riefenstahl's Nazi propaganda film, Triumph of the Will, led to a public dispute with feminist poet Adrienne Rich in The New York Review of Books. Through such controversies, Sontag remained an iconoclastic figure, cementing her place in the fields of literary, film, theater, and cultural criticism.