Peter Coolsen
Contemporary Photographic Criticism
Greg Foster-Rice
Spring, 2015
Response to SFMoMA Symposium Questions

1. Is photography over?
All of the participants seem to come from the viewpoint that photography “of course” is not over, but has changed in a very fundamental way.

2. What is a photograph?
Again, the participants allow for a broad definition of what is a photograph (i.e. analog, digital, etc.) However, they do seem to agree on the fundamental qualities of photography, that it is about ideas and is therefore conceptual.

3. What do these questions mean?
I think these questions relate to the sense of loss or “anxiety”, identified by various panel members, in regards aspects of photography that are disappearing (quality of printing, darkrooms, etc.). I do not think anyone believes that photography is over, but they do agree that it has changed substantially.

4. What is my response to these questions?
My response to these questions is that I do feel the “loss” in the practice of “old photography”, but I also see a great opportunity to move photography forward and create new ways of presenting ideas.

5. Which of the participants are most convincing to you?
I liked the comments by Phillip-Lorca Decorda (perhaps the only practicing photographer on the panel) who suggests that the “end product” (e.g. ideas which move people) is still there, regardless of the digitizing of the medium.

6. What are some examples of contemporary artists who raise these questions in their work? What do you see that makes you say that about their work?