Art & Representation

In reference to The Guardian article, feat. David Hockney:

I think we all know that photography cannot go back to what it was. There is a generation within our midst that will not know what film cameras are, or how they operate. But I agree with Russell Roberts from the National Museum of Photography when he calls this argument simplistic. While the notion may have existed that photography exhibited reality, people have been manipulating images for a long time. For instance, take this photo by Man Ray from 1922, La Marquise Casati:



Man Ray

One could also argue that we are now more able than ever to represent truth. Although the possibilty of post production editing is always looming, technology is rapidly improving and cameras are much better equipt to replicate the real.

Also the notion that David Hockney would complain about photographic manipulation is somewhat laughable. Is is the involvement of the computer that has crossed the line for him? Or the possibility that someone could easily manufacture work resembling his own?



David Hockney, Merced River, Yosemite Valley, 1982





James Casebere