Digital BW, The Print

"Austin Franklin" <darkroom@...> writes:

> David,
> 
> > > Every sensor you have only senses "some" quality.  Because you
> > only have the
> > > data from that one sensor doesn't make that data abstract, it's
> > still real.
> >
> > There it is again.  "Abstract" doesn't mean "unreal" to me.
> 
> But that's the definition of it.  Go check this link:
> 
> http://www.nga.gov/education/american/abstract.htm
> 
> "Painters and sculptors do not always strive to depict persons and objects
> realistically. Rather than imitate their subject's natural appearance, some
> artists deliberately change it. They stretch or bend forms, break up shapes,
> and give objects unlikely textures or colors. Artists make these
> transformations in an effort to communicate something they cannot convey
> through realistic treatment. Works of art that reframe nature for expressive
> effect are called abstract."
> 
> To me, that outlines abstract art in a nutshell.  The differences are
> realistic or abstract.  MOST photos are considered "realistic", not
> abstract.

Ah, we're running into a technical term.  I thought it smelled like
that.  I must say that their choice of "abstract" to label that branch
of art was a poor one since "abstract" already had a different meaning
that applies meaningfully to artistic endeavors.  I'm actually used to
hearing "abstract art" more for stuff that simply doesn't *have*
recognizable real components in it, but I won't pretend to expertise
in this technical area (art history or criticism).

It may help to mention that my formal training is as a mathematician. 

While I think it was an unfortunate choice of term for the art critics
to hang on that branch of art, it has lots of history behind it, so I
guess there's not much we can do about it.

Now, given that you and I are now in agreement on which meaning of
"abstract" is in play, what's the issue being debated again?
-- 
David Dyer-Bennet, dd-b@...  /  http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/
 John Dyer-Bennet 1915-2002 Memorial Site http://john.dyer-bennet.net
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