I think to some degree..what this speaks of is the lack of regard for the visual arts (and to some degree all art) in many cases. If it isn't technological, or scientific or mass produced...the value to society has diminished...at least in some regards. If we look upon past societies...say the Greeks, Romans, or Arabic, African, Aztecs, Incas, Eastern worlds, or Europe in the Renaissance ...sure we judge them by technological accomplishments to a degree, but more so by their art. Literature, painting, sculpting, music, etc. So what does that say about us? To me it says that we have devalued human endeavor, individual creativity and initiative.
OK this may be a vast generalization but...I was at an art fair. I saw two men talking and overheard their conversations. They were obviously doctors by what I heard. In looking at a very good watercolor (really good - by a very good artist) at what I considered a very reasonable price...one said to the other something like " that person is 'talented' but their price is outlandish" Well it was 400.00 for an original, by an American Watercolor Society artist. Now it takes a lot to get into the American Watercolor Society. What in the hell, makes people think that someone who goes to school, or learns by experience to do art well, whatever type of art...should be devalued like that? Why does society put such a low value on art? How many times have we all heard that "oh isn't that person talented? I wished I'd have been born with that talent"? How many times do you get asked "what kind of camera took that picture?" Like that your camera was walking around on legs going snap happy? As if photography (and art in a more general sense) took no skill or learning and used very little intelligence. I'm not talking about the attitude of the "arts" community or the seemingly few in society who are truly aware, but of society in general.
Don't let them take away arts programs in the schools, because budgets need cut. I love Stephen King books...but when I asked my kids to name a literary person from the late 20th century, guess who they named? Stephen King....mostly I think because they've made movies of his books
Yeah and movies are an art form for sure, but a very big bucks one in most cases. I remember reading Steinbeck, Huxley, and Dylan Thomas...and I could have been interested less in literature. I remember lots of painters and photographers from growing up...I know of few kids today who can name painters or photographers that are still alive.
Had a teacher in school, he said "no money, no art" I also know of a painter. He was at a show...doing alright but not great. A business man with a foreign accent came up to him..obviously very well to do. He made the painter an offer...to buy 'all' of his paintings for a considerable sum. To make prints of them to sell in a department store chain. The business man said "think of the exposure it will give you?" The painter after considering the offer for a minute or two said "give me your name and contact info please?" But the painter still hasn't called, and think that was 5 years ago. It seems that many artists in general, musicians, photographers, painters have even begun to devalue themselves, and it's a tough world when trying to make a living...
We as a society...have got to not let the forces at play cut arts programs and funding as a first 'resort'. I think we as artists also have to spread the word that photography, painting etc. isn't born into people. That photography isn't learned by picking up the most automatic, advanced megapixel armed camera and aiming it at something (regardless of what some will tell you on DPR)
. This was all happening to a large degree, before the current economic downturn, and kind of think it's going to get worse. Maybe a Time Magazine cover will go for ten bucks.
Edit: Here's an article also that I found on the death of photojournalism it's very enlightening and I think provides insight into the financial drivers behind both stock and photo journalistic decline:
http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0 ... wires.html