Q13

[stiffler]

Can somebody please explain why B is the answer?
I DONT SEE HOW Estabrook would believe that

artists could relinquish control over significant aspects of the process of creating their work and still produce the aesthetic effects they desire. Any line reference? thanx

[matthew.mainen]

Check out lines 33-36. The photographer is using an unpredictable method. When something is unpredictable, you have limited control over it. However, it is this very unpredictability, in a general sense, that the photographer desires as a matter of aesthetics.

[rinagoldfield]

Thanks for your question, rsongsnu, and for your reply, matthew.

(B) is supported by the fourth paragraph’s discussion of Estabrook’s love of "accident and idiosyncracy" (line 37). In fact, he embraces "stains and imperfections" because they "heighten the sense of nostalgia" in his work (lines 41-45).

Allowing accidents means giving up a measure of control. We can infer that Estabrook’s love of accident-ridden art means that he thinks artists can give up a measure control and still create great work.

(A) is unsupported.
(C) is contradicted; 19th century photographers would probably have "cropped out...stains and imperfections" (lines 41-43). These photographers therefore DIDN’T exploit accidents and idiosyncrasies.
(D) is contradicted. Estabrook is excited to "plant" new tintypes in flea-markets and antique-shops and trick people into thinking they’re "originals" (lines 13-16). He thinks such trickery is good, not bad.
(E) is extreme in degree. "Primarily" makes this answer choice too strong.

Hope that helps.

[seychelles1718]

I got this question right because I could see to "relinquish control over.." as a paraphrase to "embracing accidents" and "unpredictability" in the passage. But during the review, I thought giving up much control is at the same time contradictory to being "heavily hands on" (line 27) as the source of appeal for the old techniques...something being heavily hands on means it requires active participation. But should I say active participation doesn't equate to significant "control"? For example, you can actively participate in fighting spread of a disease but you have no control over it.

[ohthatpatrick]

The language of "relinquishing control over SIGNIFICANT aspects of the process" leaves PLENTY of room for the artist to be very hands on for much of the process. The fact that SOME significant elements are beyond the artist's control doesn't mean there wasn't tons of hands-on effort taking place.

(for example, I record albums, and even though I am incredibly hands-on for almost every single part of writing/recording the album, when I relinquish control to hire someone else to master the recordings, I am relinquishing control over significant aspects of the process).