Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/12/12

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Subject: Re: [Leica] The fine line between art and pornography
From: Eric Welch <eric@jphotog.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 00:10:49 -0800
References: <GLENIPGAKMOMMGPNIBLOCEBFIKAA.mourges@iprimus.com.au>

On Dec 11, 2003, at 10:13 PM, Adrian Morgan wrote:

> Art is all about creating a reaction.

People keep making such off-the-cuff remarks about what art is, but 
that's just pure bunk.

Art is expression in a form that words can't adequately communicate.

If it stimulates discussion, great.

If it prompts people to do something for the betterment of the world, 
that's great too.

But art is expression of something that transcends propaganda, 
preaching, lust, provocation, etc.

Let's not cheapen it with such nonsense. Art is better than this crap 
some hack threw up (and makes us want to) on a wall because he didn't 
have the talent to go out and make a significant, meaningful statement. 
Not everyone who wants to wear the moniker of artist deserves it any 
more than every accordion player deserves to be called a musician.

I know that a definition of art is "I can't describe it, but I know it 
when I see it." And in a sense, that's as far as we can go and be 
treading on safe ground. Anything else is rhetoric, and little else.

One thing I do know, art is certainly a whole lot more than a 
conversation starter. That's dogs playing poker (or Elivs?) on velvet. 
And that ain't art.

Eric
Carlsbad, CA

http://www.jphotog.com

"Clichés are like analogies. At the end of the day, you're just beating 
a dead horse"

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In reply to: Message from "Adrian Morgan" <mourges@iprimus.com.au> (RE: [Leica] The fine line between art and pornography)