Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => But is it Art? => Topic started by: Isaac on September 23, 2015, 06:01:06 pm
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pdf "Can a Photograph have the Significance of Art (http://monoskop.org/images/c/c9/MSS_4_Dec_1922.pdf)", Manuscripts #4 December 1922. Statements invited by Alfred Stieglitz.
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Right away, two good definitions:
"One might define a work of art, as something that 'wears well';" ------- Carl Zigrosser.
"This, however, is sure: the man who believes that what we call Art today limits the infinitude of possible means for the achievement of the ecstasy of art is a barbarian." ------- Waldo Frank
Thanks for the link.
Rob C
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Frankly, I think the question is absurd. It's like asking: "Can photography have the significance of music?" Without a prior definition of "art" and "significance" the question doesn't make sense.
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… doesn't make sense.
How wondrous that others have so little difficulty putting the question into context.
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"Can a Photograph have the Significance of Art/"
Sure, why not?
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Given that photography IS art, shouldn't the question be "Can a photograph have the significance of other artforms?"
And, for the life of me, I cannot imagine any reason why is could not.
It's a bit like asking "Can a watercolour have the significance of an etching?"
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Given that photography IS art…
Is it a given that all photography is art?
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Is it a given that all photography is art?
No, of course not. Unless you want it to be.
But you phrased the question "Can a photograph have the significance of art?"
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"Can a Photograph have the Significance of Art/"
Sure, why not?
I agree, and it's (something I do not say often) a stupid question as it is phrased.
Obviously, whether a specific photo can be classified as Art, requires some definitions, e.g. what is Significance and what is Art?
Cheers,
Bart
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+1 :-)
Erik
Frankly, I think the question is absurd. It's like asking: "Can photography have the significance of music?" Without a prior definition of "art" and "significance" the question doesn't make sense.
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No, of course not. Unless you want it to be.
In which case, reject the premise "Given that photography IS art…"
But you phrased the question "Can a photograph have the significance of art?"
No, Alfred Stieglitz phrased the question.
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Aah...what does it matter...futility might be described as debating something that is indescribable.
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Exactly, Chauncy. To talk about the "significance" of art is akin to talking about the significance of "orange."
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Isaac, what's your answer?
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IMHO...it has the same comparative artistic significance as does a pro athlete compared to a Enrico Caruso.
The plebeians among us pay money to see them both.
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Can a Photograph have the Significance of Art", Manuscripts #4 December 1922. Statements invited by Alfred Stieglitz.
A very valid, relevant question and debate ... in 1922.
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A very valid, relevant question and debate ... in 1922.
Indeed, and Manuscripts is in a way what this forum is in 2015.
If you look at the responses, how well they are written. we can still learn from that.
In this fast world we forget often to think before we write...
Thank you Isaac for posting it- ; as always i like the respons of the rebel Duchamp..
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I'm no art historian but as far as I know at the early days of photography it was "under attack" and questioned by painters, many thought that photography could not be art, as it was just a snapshot of what you saw and had not been "filtered" through the mind of the artist as a painting.
Later landscape photography as a genre was particularly questioned, and still is today to some extent, as being too simplistic and trivial from an art perspective.
Personally I'd say that anything the author say is art is art, but what the quality of that art is depends on many factors and is in the eye of the beholder.
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Personally I'd say that anything the author say is art is art, but what the quality of that art is depends on many factors and is in the eye of the beholder.
I agree. And taken to an extreme, any shit can be art, if someone says so - but the viewers or collectors need to decide for themselves on validity or quality: Artist's Shit (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist%27s_Shit)
My sister worked at an insurance which had to insure some of this crap for an exhibition. We still laugh about it.
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What is Art? Here's Art:
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You nailed it, Peter.