Re: Research Question - Darkrooms closed?

  Hello Richard;
  Good luck in your new project- this world needs more emphasis placed upn
history (historical processes).
  Let us, on the list, know how you are progressing!
  Sincerely,
  Susan
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Richard Sullivan" <richsul@earthlink.net>
  To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
  Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 8:58 AM
  Subject: RE: Research Question - Darkrooms closed?

> Thanks to Judy, Liam, Ender, and Diana and the ones I missed. And if any
> more come to mind please post.
>
> I can't go into to much detail as to my reasons for this particular
aspect.
> It's a hot button political issue.
>
> It does relate to a program I have been asked to design that greatly
> expands the teaching of historical processes and integrates photographic
> processes into other programs such as ceramics, fiber art, printmaking,
> book arts, etc. It's pretty ambitious and includes a 2 year, 4 year, and
> MFA program. It is all at the early proposal stage and is far from
being a
> done deal.
>
> I have decided to use the term "historical processes" instead of
> alternative or non-silver. It goes over better in the academic setting.
> Alternative sounds a lot like it might involve acupuncture, and
> non-silver... well! My school had used the term "obsolete processes" in
> some contexts if one can imagine that, and then to think the school also
> teaching business marketing!
>
> Perhaps "historical" is not perfect but does have a sophisticated ring
to
> it. I give a heavy dose of history in my classes. I go into a lot of
detail
> as to living in a world where people were not inundated with images
minute
> by minute. That the search for a permanent process, and I focus on the
> invention of carbon printing, which was serious business involving
sealed
> envelopes being sent by courier under guard to the local scientific
> societies, patents and massive follow up lawsuits. Students today can
> easily view these processes as quaint photo 101 endeavors and miss the
> tremendous impact the development of photography had on society in their
> day. I also have a view that much of the early development was centered
on
> making printing plates and not parlor pictures. I believe Niepce and
> Daguerre were attempting to make a printing plate and had to settle for
the
> parlor print. Note that it was many years before a decent
photomechanical
> process was developed and photomechanical reproductions outnumber prints
by
> megafactors. (new word?)
>
> Interestingly enough, the secret that eluded everyone on carbon printing
> for a long time was solved by transferring the gel and developing from
the
> back side. Gee that sounds so simple. Why did it take so long?
>
> I digress but as I finish this proposal I will post it.
>
> --Dick Sullivan
> Center for Photographic History and technology
> At 09:17 PM 10/8/2004, you wrote:
> >Dick,
> >
> >I don't know why you want the info, but maybe something else to look
into
> >would be how many traditional camera clubs have packed up, and how many
new
> >digital clubs have sprung up. Plenty here in the UK.
> >
> >
> >Liam
>
>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----