Is Photography Art?
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by Jeffrey Sward
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"Is Photography Art?" -- Explanation of the Question | |||||||
Periodically the question is asked "Is Photography Art?" Usually
the context if this question can be interpreted to mean "Is photography equal in stature
to what has been traditionally viewed as fine art in museums, such as painting and sculpture?" Another
variation of this question is the somewhat more general "What is Art?"
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Short Answer | |||||||
"It ain't nothing until I call it." - Charles B. Moran, National League baseball
umpire, referring to the metaphysical existence of balls and strikes.
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Explanation of Short Answer | |||||||
For the metaphorically challenged, the short answer means that whether a
nor a particular painting or sculpture or photograph is "art" is an arbitrary decision
which often varies from context to context and from observer to observer. Stated alternatively,
whether or not any particular painting, sculpture, or photograph is "art" is an arbitrary
decision made either by masses or individuals within various contexts and hence the answer varies.
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Alternatively, if it winds up in a museum someone thought it is art, regardless
of whether it is painting, sculpture, photography, or a room full of sand.
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Long Answer | |||||||
Here are some applicable definitions of "art" from Messrs. Merriam and Webster:
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Quite clearly any group or any particular painting, sculpture,
or photograph could certainly satisfy all of the above definitions. Some examples of painting,
sculpture, or photography might not show any skill, creative imitation or aesthetic judgment,
and hence might be considered as "not
art" or "bad art." The last one hundred
years have seen the rise of "conceptual art." In "conceptual art," the concept
is either equally important or more important than the created object. "Conceptual art" leads
to things like rooms full of sand or a cube of red plastic.
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For the literally minded, "art" is something which satisfies any
or all of the above definitions from Messrs. Merriam and Webster. For relativistic minded, "art" is
a judgment which differs from viewer to viewer or context to context. For the cynic, "art" is
an arbitrary decision may by the arbiters of public taste, such as critics or curators. All
of the above interpretations are equally valid.
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Summary | |||||||
The cognoscenti may have inferred at this point that the premise of the questions
"Is Photography Art?" and "What is Art?" is meaningless,
the circumstantiation is pretentious, and the answer is irrelevant. Creators should concentrate
on creating and consumers should concentrate on what appeals to them. People interested in this
topic should instead concentrate on the final answers to the paradoxes of Zeno of Elea.
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All written content of this web site is solely the editorial opinion of Jeffrey Sward. All images, graphics, and written content of this web site, including the html files, are creative products covered by copyright law. All content copyright Jeffrey Sward 1975-2019. All rights reserved. No portion of this web site or its constituent elements may be reproduced in any form, by any means, without prior written permission. So there. |
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