Great post. I wonder how much of the silencing comes from the family and how much from the writers of the articles. If it's the writers, then what would be wrong with just stating that Leibovitz had an inheritance from Sontag and, not being her spouse, has to pay taxes on it? It's the same as a bequest from a friend. Is *any* mention of the connection between these two women taboo? It just makes it all the more salacious, in a way, because they know that the informed reader is reading the silence as well. If it's the family themselves who are initiating the erasure of Sontag and Leibovitz from each other's public biographies ... I respect their choice of (non)labels. But I do find fault when a close relationship is not just private, but so unmentionable that they seem ashamed of it. I don't ask Leibovitz to lead the pride parade, but I do think that as a feminist, she should not publicly erase another woman who was important to her.
Great post. I wonder how much of the silencing comes from the family and how much from the writers of the articles. If it's the writers, then what would be wrong with just stating that Leibovitz had an inheritance from Sontag and, not being her spouse, has to pay taxes on it? It's the same as a bequest from a friend. Is *any* mention of the connection between these two women taboo? It just makes it all the more salacious, in a way, because they know that the informed reader is reading the silence as well. If it's the family themselves who are initiating the erasure of Sontag and Leibovitz from each other's public biographies ... I respect their choice of (non)labels. But I do find fault when a close relationship is not just private, but so unmentionable that they seem ashamed of it. I don't ask Leibovitz to lead the pride parade, but I do think that as a feminist, she should not publicly erase another woman who was important to her.