Gary Miller (gmphotos@earthlink.net)
Sun, 31 Jan 1999 22:21:15 -0800
I am not that surprised that the media did not pick up on the news of
Sommer's death. Very few artists are well known in the US, and especially
few of these are photographers. I bet that I could walk into the art school
that I go to, into the Photography dept, and maybe, if I was lucky, find a
person who knows about Frederick Sommers or his work. So many of my school
colleagues don't know of their past, the history of photography, and that is
a real shame. Their agenda seems to be how can they improve their
photography and then get out there and make a living at it. They seem to
care little for the technical side of it all, for the craft, not caring from
the Zone system, or being able to make good negatives, or being able to use
all camera formats. It really disturbs me when I look around the classes at
the people who are on their own self centered photographic journeys.
History of photography should be a required class for every photo student.
History is where one can get a real education.
GM
-----Original Message-----
From: Luis Nadeau <nadeaul@nbnet.nb.ca>
To: alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca
<alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca>
Date: Sunday, January 31, 1999 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: Sad News
>At 7:05 PM -0500 99/1/31, Judy Seigel wrote:
>
>...
>
>>The sad, very sad, news is, as noted yesterday, US culture & US media are
>>so debased they spend all newsprint and airwaves obsessing about imperial
>>sex. I was certain the obit would be in today's NY Times. It isn't.
>>
>>Meanwhile, here is "culture coverage" in our mass media:
>>
>>Newsweek, which used to have a section called The Arts, has changed that
>>to "Arts & Entertainment." Need I say more? Well, I will. This week that
>>section lists 2 articles -- Movies: Waiting for 'Star Wars', and Books:
>>Three Pros Refurbish the Thriller.
>
>...
>
>>And lest our continental and overseas friends be less than heartsick at
>>our disgrace -- smirk not, friends. You'll get there too. Not as bad
>>maybe, but bad enough.
>------
>
>This is the very reason why countries outside the US have strong objections
>to America's cultural dominance. The lowest common denominator, which you
>just covered in part, is just too low for the taste of lawmakers in those
>countries. As you said however, we'll get there too... not as bad, but bad
>enough.
>
>C'est la vie...
>
>Luis Nadeau
>NADEAUL@NBNET.NB.CA
>Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
>http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/nadeaul/
>
>
>
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