Collectors are willing to pay exorbitant prices for art when they think it’s rare. But photography has this problem of reproducibility, which was got around by the concept of the “vintage” print. “How problematic the theory has become is further illustrated by two recent scandals involving counterfeit vintage prints by Man Ray and Lewis Hine, and by the Walker Evans retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum, carefully stocked with old prints when newer and, in some cases, finer ones were readily available.” – New York Times
Tag: 04.23.00
A QUESTION OF ART
Filmmaker Wim Wenders started out as an art film director. But a series of box office failures took its toll. Now, with some successes behind him, he has a new attitude: ” ‘I think films are not art. I think rock’n’roll is not art. It has great songs, but it’s not art. And film and rock’n’roll are very much the same.’ Those difficult years of failure stripped him not only of faith in himself, but in the medium that was his métier for so long.” – The Telegraph (UK) 04/23/00
IS THERE AN E-AUDIENCE?
Sure, the internet has made it easier for writers to get published. E-books are the “Next Big Thing.” But is anyone really reading the things? A new poll says that “while five percent of the survey respondents said they bought Stephen King’s e-book, ‘Riding the Bullet,’ less than one percent claim to actually have read it. – Wired 04/23/00
BETWEEN ME AND MY NAPSTER
Bands’ lawsuits against fans downloading their music over the internet has got fans angry. “One fan became so agitated that he put all of his Metallica merchandise up for sale at eBay on Friday, promising to donate all the proceeds to the parody website paylars.com.” – Wired 04/23/00