Passage Discussion

[donghai819]

The structure of this passage seems a little bit unusual.

The passage starts with the fact that Bidaut was amazed by her first tintype, which is an obsolete photographic technique and is not abandoned. The application of tintype technique worked well on Bidaut's own need--photographing insects.

It continues to the discussion of Estabrook, and he got inspired by these old stuff.

After the first two paragraph where the authors discussed some new discoveries or revival of the obsolete photography techniques, the author address the current trend in photography industry that photographers are trying to utilize the old techniques to polish some stuffs.

Surprisingly, instead of discussing the current trend, the author starts discussing the characteristics of these old techniques. Most of these old techniques became obsolete because of their idiosyncrasy. Then it starts discussing why the modern artist seek to revive these old techniques; it is because their idiosyncrasy and unpredictability that would provide Estabrook an opportunity to foster the illusion of antiquity. In comparison, the nineteenth century artists did not buy that idea.

Finally, the authors speaks up his thesis: the idiosyncrasy of old techniques make artist indelible and it also helps to erase the decreasing intimacy with photographic communication.


Can anyone help me?

[maryadkins]

I'm not sure what you're asking for help on. Your understanding looks good to me!

[CourtneyH949]

Is there a scale here?

[Misti Duvall]

I think you could come up with a scale here. There's not an argument, really, but there's some tension between reexploring old photography methods v pursuing new methods (presumably what Bidaut and Estabrook would have done had they not been so enraptured by the old methods). And the author seems to come down on the side of reexploring the old methods (note the last line).

I don't usually draw out a scale beyond X v Y and noting where the author stands. So I'd say:

reexploring old photography methods v pursuing new methods
(author)