P3D Re: Alternative content - and more

[Brian David Phillips <phillips@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just to clear one thing up, I never intended to give the impression that
I feel Harold Baize's wonderful Burning Man images are "too tame." 
They're great images.  I am happy that he's chosen to put them up on his
webpage and share them with us . . . I honestly hope he will share more
of them in the future.

I did say that I also like some images and subject matter which would
make Harold's web material seem rather tame.  That doesn't mean I don't
appreciate his work, nor does it mean I don't like more "traditional"
subject matter.  I'd rather stay out of a niche, thank you.

I was just questioning whether it was fair for us to lump Harold's
images in with those done by artists who purposefully choose certain
subject matter simply to stir things up and be controversial ("shake
things up" only for the sake of the shake up and the notoriety).

I wasn't naming names or pointing fingers at anyone in particular when I
made my comments.  I certainly wasn't accusing anyone on this list of
being a pretentious phony or "artiste."

When saying this list is about the medium not the message, I was NOT
saying it is inappropriate to discuss content or meaning or
ramifications of an individual's work.  It's just that most discussion
is directed at how to get certain effects or what equipment to use or
the like and so folks should feel comfortable being on the list
regardless of what subject matter they end up taking their photos of . .
. this doesn't mean that I am somehow in favor of the mass destruction
of huge chunks of the planet or the genocide of entire populations.

If Dr. T thinks Harold's "in a place where a lot of weird stuff"
happens, fine.  If someone else think's Boris is just shooting
pornography, fine (he does great work).  If some other guy says he
doesn't get Lincoln's red-cast Satan or Tiki shots (which are really
well done, by the way) or that his nudes are just girlie shots, fine.
Others may feel their work is more worthwhile.  We have folks on this
list who do stereo for their Churches and those who are working in the
adult entertainment industry, we've hobbyists and professionals.  Fine. 
Because the list is intended as a forum for the discussion of
stereophotography we can all get along despite geographical distance and
even further political or philosophical differences.

Personally, I don't agree with the aesthetic philosophy that you have to
make people uncomfortable or to disorient them in order for your work to
be consdired "art."  I prefer entertainment to psychodrama.  That is
me.  We all have our own tastes.  I would like to think that there's
room enough in the stereo world for all of us . . . in fact, the wider
the content or subject matter interests of list members the more likely
the techniques will spread to others and an appreciation of
stereophotography in general will be engendered in more folks.

Brian David Phillips, Ph.D.                    [phillips@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Assoc. Prof., English Dept., NCCU             Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
ICQ 5780689                        [http://wwp.mirabilis.com/5780689]
http://www.rpg.net/larp/      Interactive Drama Freeforms - Live RPG!
http://phillips.personal.nccu.edu.tw/tits/ Taipei Interactive Theatre
http://phillips.personal.nccu.edu.tw/3d/ Taipei Stereographic 3DPhoto
http://phillips.personal.nccu.edu.tw/             Tons of Other Stuff