Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/06/28

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Robert Frank in Ottawa
From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 14:35:56 -0400

Well, we could all do worse than being Hemmingway - depression and massive
insecurity aside.

On the other hand, certainly it's wonderful to see an artist move into new
areas - if he or she has something really worthwhile to offer. My feeling is
that Frank didn't/doesn't. And therefore I think it's tragic that he stopped
doing that at which he was truly outstanding. But, as I said originally,
that's my opinion - which isn't going to cause Robert Frank to lose any
sleep. ;-)

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Chris
Schweda
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2002 2:24 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Leica] Robert Frank in Ottawa


Actually, I couldn't disagree more. I admire Frank's determination to seek
new visions, new influences.

Tragic? Please.

Disappointing, maybe -- especially to those folks who liked Frank's earlier
work.

What's a "tragedy" is the insistence of the establishment to consistently
pigeonhole artists. Frank's move is a courageous one -- the sort of
visionary slide (or dive) that I wish more artists would have the courage to
take. (Me, I see a sort of wicked, canny humor in Frank's later work,
although many folks will disagree.)

What, we all should succomb to "Hemingway Syndrome?" (Spend the rest of your
life sounding like a parody of your earlier self?)

Chris Schweda
http://www.crabgrassfrontier.com





>From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>

>
>Robert Frank....For whatever it's worth, I'd suggest that Robert Frank is
>in
>some ways a tragic figure in terms of photography in that he was someone
>with an incredible vision, and pretty amazing visual skills, who, in a
>sense, abandoned that vision and those skills to move in other directions.
>I
>know there are those who will disagree with me - :-) - but I think that if
>he is judge by what he's done in those "other directions," he'd be
>considered a very minor figure. It is only because of The Americans that
>anyone pays any attention to Frank.
>
>B. D.
>Throwing the old grenade and ducking.;-)
>


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