the photograph as contemporary art

by Charlotte Cotton

a response to Chapter 1

Discussing primarily conceptual photography, Cotton titles this first chapter "If This Is Art", in order to argue the many facets photography takes without differentiating between photography as fine art or other. Using examples of artist that use unconventional or even unknown methods in order to capture images, Cotton seems to say that effort or a conscious lack of effort with a camera creates a work or series of art. I think this is a great first chapter to a book on contemporary photography, teaching that a conceptual thought process is whatever the artist makes it to be is a great lesson. I also appreciate the lack of distinction between art that is grotesque, political, documentary, provoked, prompted, etc. in highlighting all that conceptual photography can be.