The place of old processes
Jesse Lee Kercheval (KERCHEVL@macc.wisc.edu)
Tue, 26 Apr 94 16:13 CDT
I'm quite enjoying this philosophic thread about why we
pursue old processes and agree with the poster who says we
have more possibilites to deal with now than before. It
is for the adventurous to use old methods for new messages
and to find the artistic possibilites in modern technologies.
I have a theory about obsolete technology: Yesterday's commercial
process becomes today's exquisite art method. Letterpress printing,
once how every newspaper was made, is now reserved for limited
edition artists' books and poetry broadsides. Black and white prints
on fiber paper, once the standard for AP and UPI press photos (loaded
with unwashed fixer), are now (selenium toned and washed within an inch
of their lives) gallery fodder. Am I right about this? Is it
inevitable?
My suspicion is that obsolete technologies don't die but become
niche markets--expensive supplies but potentially high resale values.
What sort of galls me though is that methods of mass production become
artificially limited to producing one-of-a-kinds or limited editions, in
part to keep the resale prices high. This seems perverse, like antique
cars, in perfect working order, that are never driven.
Dan Fuller
kerchevl@macc.wisc.edu