U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | Re: The gummist

Re: The gummist

Ha! So maybe the "gummists" were actually the first postmodernist photographers.

I've seen this poem before, a long time ago; I didn't remember it being attributed to Weston, but it was a long time ago and I don't remember. If so, you'd think he'd have had better things to do with his time and talent.
kt



On Nov 20, 2007, at 6:04 PM, Don Sweet wrote:

THE GUMMIST

With Apologies to Rudyard Kipling, Author of "The Vampire"

A "gummist" there was and he made his prayer
(Even as you and I!)
To some paint and some gum and a "badger-hair,"
(We called his messing a daub "for fair")
But the "gummist" he called it his "art-work" rare
(Even as you and I!)

0, the paint we did waste and the "tears" we did waste
And the prints that were always "slammed,"
By "would-be" critics who did not know
(And now we know that they never could know)
And did not understand.

A "gummist" there was and his coin he spent
(Even as you and I !)
Paper and paint to his last red cent
(While his land-lady dunned him for "past-due" rent)
But a "gummist" must watch "development"
(Even as you and 1!)

0, the stain we got, and the flaky spot
And the bubble we cheerfully damned,
Belong to the day when we didn't know why
The stock-house welcomed our efforts to buy
But now we understand !

The "gummist" he sweat through his foolish hide
(Even as you and 1!)
While the highlights he scrubbed till they almost cried -
(With a bristle-brush none too softly applied)
When the print was "done," friends threw it aside
(Even as you and I!)

And it isn't the worst that his feelings at first
Should a little calming demand-
It's coming to know that folks never knew why
(Such doping and faking a "gummist" should try)
And never could understand.


Attributed to E Weston.

Found by accident at
http://www.photochimps.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-3830.html

Don Sweet

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Neilsen" <ejnphoto@sbcglobal.net>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 1:25 PM
Subject: RE: Defining "post-modernism" -- WAS--- First define "post- modern"
photography, dammit



Excuse me for asking, but why do you (and not just you) feel the need to
classify singular humans and their actions, into categories? There may be
inspirational movements, but really without direct words to the effect, "I
was trying to do ... " , it is quite impossible to factually interpret
another's work. And then how much of that was just art speak that was

thrust
upon them and now consequently us, by those that just can't interpret on
their own?

It is really up to the piece and each viewer to arrive at their own answer
as to what it means to them and out side of that it really doesn't matter.
Post modern, pre modern, is all an attempt to bring order to many random

and
some times not so random strings of momentary consciousness. This thread

is
got to be the biggest reason I stayed away from "art school".

What we are is soon to be post Bush Bush. I don't know if that is pre tax,
post depression, pre civil war II, post pre Oil Crusades, blah,


Image content. Are we post digital pre intellectual?

Eric, stuck in pre hell aka Dallas, TX


Eric Neilsen Photography
4101 Commerce Street
Suite 9
Dallas, TX 75226
http://e.neilsen.home.att.net
http://ericneilsenphotography.com
Skype ejprinter



-----Original Message-----
From: Katharine Thayer [mailto:kthayer@pacifier.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:18 AM
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Subject: Re: Defining "post-modernism" -- WAS--- First define "post-
modern" photography, dammit

Interesting; the post quoted below also seems to combine
poststructuralism and postmodernism


There are some who are saying we're now post-postmodern....but
THAT'S another can of worms!

I'll stop here
Chris