Compare and Contrast

It’s weird how people can just start accepting things once they get used to them. Usually the first reaction to something that is different, never before seen, is skepticism. People do not want to accept it, and are wary of the consequences if they do choose to accept it.

One example that has stood out to me is the introduction to photography to society.

When photographs were first introduced, not many considered it an art form. In fact, it wasn’t originally used for art. It was used for science to help record results, such as what the scientists saw through telescopes and microscopes. They were also used to document family members. Parents would pay a whole week’s salary to have a picture of their child taken. This was because the survival rate was not as high as it is today. parents wanted to do anything they could to keep the memory of their child alive if anything were to happen to them.

Many painters did not like the concept of photography being art. They did not want competition. But slowly and surely, the two forms of recording images started to accept one another. They had certain studios set up so that someone would be able to pose for a portrait. Then afterwards, the painter would be able to paint abstract things into the backgrounds. (First introduction to what Photoshop would be?!)

Then the Kodak camera was introduced. Taking pictures became a pastime that was available to everyone. All they had to do was point and shoot, send in their film rolls, and then Kodak would develop the photos for them. It was at this point in time that society began to accept photography as an art form, as well as painters.

the fear that the painters had of loosing their careers to photographs was just them being paranoid. After they got over this fact, I think it is safe to say that they accepted photography as something that could enhance their artwork. Photographs only portrayed what you could see with the eye, but painters could portray what the mind saw.

Photographs back in the day: rejected

Photographs today: accepted

THUGGIN.

I wonder how people will feel about virtual art... if it ever happens?! It's crazy to see how different artworks are viewed over time.


images found from: http://www.wpclipart.com/camera/old_camera_1.png
http://toolkit.mindbites.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/old-camera-copy.jpg