Re: Alternative vs Classical
David Morrish ( dmorrish@beothuk.swgc.mun.ca)
Sat, 11 January 1997 11:11 AM
An issue which we have not discussed here is that the term describes
what: the images or the processes? Classical photography would connote a
classical aesthetic as well as medium. Many alt.photo practitioners use a
very contemporary aesthetic and to call their work Classical would be
misleading, in spite of its reference to the chosen medium. Even labeling
someone who works in *classical processes* as such, there may be a
confusion as to whether they were photographers of a romantic bent
as opposed to a young turk thumbing her/his nose at technological
conventions.
We should be careful what we lobby for as the name of our media
(collectively) as we may find it exclusionary or contradictory as trends
evolve.
David Morrish
Department of Visual Arts
Sir Wilfred Grenfell College
Corner Brook, Newfoundland
Canada
----------