Re: We are not the alternative

Kevin Crombie ( kcrombie@montreal.com)
Sun, 12 January 1997 1:24 PM

I hate sticking my oar into discussions like this, but I don't think
classical IS a good term.
While a new label would be a lovely bit of Madison Avenue P.R., I
don't think the so-called "alternative" or "historic" processes are
"classic" or "classical," in the classic or standard meaning of the English
word. Under the generally accepted definition, photography cannot be
classical because it is no associated with Ancient Greece or Rome, and it
has nothing to do with music produced in the period 1750-1800.
The "classic" photographic process is in fact silver-based, because
it has endured the longest and has become the standard by which other
results are measured.
"Alternative," while not terribly descriptive, is preferable to
"classic," or "classical," which I feel are inaccurate and even less
descriptive.
I offer this opinion while wearing the hat of my day job:
professional editor.

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Kevin Crombie e-mail: kcrombie@montreal.com
387 rue Villeneuve est voice: (514) 849-7601
Montreal, P.Q. H2T 1M1

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