Can a personal unique vision in Photography be taught?

[Merkin]

"Originally Posted by peterm1
You got that or you aint!


That would be really sad."

Maybe I am overstating it a bit Ferider and I understand where you are coming from I think.

But my point is that not everyone who comes out of art school is going to be a great artist. Yes they may graduate having developed a "unique vision" - its just that its a unique vision that is crap.

Look, for example, at the kids doing graffiti on walls and fences in city streets. Some think these have a unique vision.

I am yet to see any graffiti "art" that is worthwhile and think the "artists" are just destructive little ****s who have no respect for others' property, who should be made to pay for the damage they cause - but thats another story.

(OK I know some people are collecting graffiti art - that does not make it good or worthwhile art it simply demonstrates the depths to which our western culture has sunk.)

When uptight, middle aged, middle class white guys don't get your work, you are probably doing it right.

 

[semilog]

Taught is just the wrong word. Guided would probably be more appropriate.

A theme in this thread is it can be difficult to criticize. Well, here's some criticism. A lot of you need to seriously re-think what teaching actually is.

Many here appear to think that the word "teach" is identical to the word "tell" -- that teaching is by definition rote instruction.

It is not.

Teaching, done properly, provisions a student with the tools needed to reach her goals: technical tools, yes, but also ways of approaching a problem, ways of evaluating performance, patterns of working and analysis and critical thinking that lead to progression, and historical context to build upon or rebel against.

Consider one of most revered teachers in western history, Socrates. By the above-quoted definition, the Socratic method would be "guidance" but not "teaching." That is clearly and obviously wrong.

Let's put it this way. It may not be possible to "teach a personal vision," but for many, it may be impossible to find and implement a personal vision without good teachers.

 

[Turtle]

IMHO, no, you cannot teach personal vision as a '1,2,3 there you have it', but you can help people identify the mental processes and experiences that might result in them finding their own, as well as create a conducive environment. This is like so many things in life. It is not so much a case of being taught information, but learning how to learn... being inspired and a good teacher helping you move towards greater self-awareness.

My own creative journey took an upturn when I met a wonderful woman with whom life became a hugely open and expansive emotional and intellectual playground. Sadly we are no longer together, but spending several years of my life with her changed how I see life, how I see my photography and the clarity of the relationship between the two. Was she a teacher? No. Did I learn a lot through sharing ideas and feeling inspired and free? Oh, goodness yes. Never more.

 

[semilog]

When uptight, middle aged, middle class white guys don't get your work, you are probably doing it right.

That might or might not be fair, but no question, it is funny.