You are the problem point of view: “When you leave everything to the crowd, where everything is democratized, when everything is determined by the number of clicks, you are by definition undermining the seriousness of the artistic endeavor…There is no evidence that we are on the verge of a great new glittering cultural age, there is evidence that we may well be on the verge of a new dark age in cultural terms … where the creative world is destroyed and where all we have is cacophony and self opinion, where we have a crisis of democratized culture.” – Andrew Keen from forthcoming film PressPausePlay.
Versus
You are the future point of view: “Now, we’re a series of editors. We all recycle, clip and cut, remix and upload. We can make images do anything. All we need is an eye, a brain, a camera, a phone, a laptop, a scanner, a point of view…We’re making more than ever, because our resources are limitless and the possibilities endless … We want to give this work a new status…Things will be different from here on …” -curators of group photography show From Here On. Arles, France
The above two opposing points of view are from this article in The Guardian by photography writer Sean O’Hagan. As far as I’m concerned, this is a non-debate. Let’s get real – it’s all the future. And you are are a part of it. The world… is NOT determined by a series of clicks. Nor does new work get a new status by simply being created. There is still merit, and there are still gatekeepers. It’s just that there are more exciting viewpoints than before AND that the keys to the gates are held by a new, different, larger and emerging cross section of the population.
And most importantly….
The future of photography –as has always been with the future of art– is cumulative, not partitive. Just like Warhol didn’t undo Monet, and Mapplethorpe did not undo Cartier-Bresson, we will retain the vision of the photographic masters who have preceded us. And we will reconcile those works with your work and my work and what’s hanging at the ICP, and the Met and MOMA, and Gagosian, and that other gallery you’ve never heard of, and Google Street View, 3-legged cats with cameras on their necks, and webcams.
The past merges with the present to make the future. And because of all that, the photographic future looks pretty damn interesting.
“All we need is an eye, a brain, a camera, a phone, a laptop, a scanner, a point of view…We’re making more than ever, because our resources are limitless and the possibilities endless”
blah, blah, blah
Yes – and who is being paid “for the USE of these artists Intellectual Property?” Sharing is great and feels soooo good – until you need to pay the rent!
Must be nice to only worry about creating pretty pictures day to day – not your child’s future education, retirement, etc..
I would add that the the future of photography –and the future of art– is not necessarily linear. Both have historical feedback loops: the current analog nostalgia craze is a fine example. As the loops mature, the art becomes something new. We CAN go home again…to someplace new.
Well put Chase. I believe they are focusing too hard on the medium and how it can shape what is ultimately the heart of the work — the message. It’s just another avenue that we can use to format our narrative (whether or not we have something to say). 🙂
People need to chill out. Rather professionals who are used to the same paradigm need to chill out. Take a week off, don’t mess with your computer, iphone…anything electronic and relax.
Life is constant change and with change there is opportunity and opportunity is constant IF that is how you look at it. I think one of the issues is that at least in the professional arena of photography and filmmaking is that the business model has been static for years. We got comfortable and when you get comfortable change can be scary.
If pros take it easy and breath we’ll have the opportunity to see…well opportunities in this time of rapid advancement and convergence. It’s never been a better time for veteran creative professionals to partner up with younger, ambitious, creatives just starting out their career.
The artists that have been out of school a bit know how challenging the industry is and are willing to embrace new media and techniques. Younger artists could use the wisdom of those that have been working for years and the vets that are confused by social media, video, mobile media could use a fresh perspective of younger eyes.
It’s a great time to go to a local ASMP or APA mixer and meet one another.
I embraced motion in unique ways and it really helped me stand out. I also am happy to share my knowledge with those who have more working knowledge. There’s a lot to be learned and you can never learn enough.
Guess what? Just when you get comfortable with all the stuff that scares you new variables will be added to the equation and you’ll start the process all over again.
All is new yet all are old as someone said.the future of art has never looked better,yet never so blank