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 08/24/2025 05:07:52 PM · #1
from the description

"If it is recognizable as an object - it is not an abstract."

this overbearing bit of didacticism is simply not true.

it's one thing to try to help someone understand a concept, it's quite another to make sweeping pronouncements that miss the mark. In art criticism, experts are careful to use the term non-representational for paintings that are "not recognizable" and they are well aware that abstractness is a spectrum.

Message edited by author 2025-08-24 17:08:37.
 08/24/2025 06:26:53 PM · #2
Originally posted by posthumous:
from the description

"If it is recognizable as an object - it is not an abstract."

this overbearing bit of didacticism is simply not true.

it's one thing to try to help someone understand a concept, it's quite another to make sweeping pronouncements that miss the mark. In art criticism, experts are careful to use the term non-representational for paintings that are "not recognizable" and they are well aware that abstractness is a spectrum.


I agree completely. This description has always bothered me. And as a person who started here with very little art background, I was using this as a learning tool. I do feel that we are teaching people the wrong thing.

I've brought this up in the past. And it's too late for this one since that was the description that people shot under. Please can we change this for future challenges? We are doing this art form to the people who come to us for instruction a disservice.
 08/24/2025 06:48:38 PM · #3
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by posthumous:
from the description

"If it is recognizable as an object - it is not an abstract."

this overbearing bit of didacticism is simply not true.

it's one thing to try to help someone understand a concept, it's quite another to make sweeping pronouncements that miss the mark. In art criticism, experts are careful to use the term non-representational for paintings that are "not recognizable" and they are well aware that abstractness is a spectrum.


I agree completely. This description has always bothered me. And as a person who started here with very little art background, I was using this as a learning tool. I do feel that we are teaching people the wrong thing.

I've brought this up in the past. And it's too late for this one since that was the description that people shot under. Please can we change this for future challenges? We are doing this art form to the people who come to us for instruction a disservice.


I agree absolutely. Thank you for bringing this up.

In photography you have to start with something that is something. This is not extended editing so there is not much you can do about that. If something is not recognizable to one person it might be to another. Does that mean it is or is not an abstract based on the particular viewer?

Even things which are quite recognizable can have an abstract impact. It is a matter of appreciating the abstract aspect.
 09/01/2025 10:41:11 AM · #4
As promised, I've opened this back up now that voting is over. Thanks.

FTR, we've had 49 various Abstract challenges thus far in the history of DPC; Color, Nature, B&W, with a Person, Food, Motion, etc. Many of those (as with a fair number of other challenges) direct the photographer in some direction, either by the challenge theme itself or by various descriptions. I intentionally left in the description for this particular running of Abstract. It was part of the challenge, not a directive on what Abstract is or isn't. Perhaps next time (in the way distant future) I'll just retitle it to be run as "Unrecognizable Abstract", description "N/A". :-)
 09/01/2025 12:19:24 PM · #5
Originally posted by glad2badad:
I'll just retitle it to be run as "Unrecognizable Abstract", description "N/A". :-)


We already have a more fun version of that, where commenters guess what the photo is.

"Abstract" with no description is a great challenge.
 09/01/2025 12:19:48 PM · #6
I would like to do a Found Abstract challenge in minimal edit.

I do realize that I'm probably the only one here who wants a Found Abstract challenge in minimal edit:)

And, FWIW Don is correct. Abstracts are as you view them, abstract. It's not about fooling anybody or hiding anything. It's just abstract to you as you see it.
Lines and shapes and colors work better IMO, but it doesn't matter what I think.

Non-representational Abstract with description of N/A would work.
 09/01/2025 12:20:07 PM · #7
Originally posted by posthumous:
Originally posted by glad2badad:
I'll just retitle it to be run as "Unrecognizable Abstract", description "N/A". :-)


We already have a more fun version of that, where commenters guess what the photo is.

"Abstract" with no description is a great challenge.


Or that.
 09/01/2025 04:22:21 PM · #8
Originally posted by posthumous:
Originally posted by glad2badad:
I'll just retitle it to be run as "Unrecognizable Abstract", description "N/A". :-)


We already have a more fun version of that, where commenters guess what the photo is.

"Abstract" with no description is a great challenge.


+100
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