Q14

[nyx.jnie]

Can somebody please explain this question to me? I narrowed it down to A and E but not really sure why A is the correct answer. The passage is a bit difficult to me. Can someone please also break down the part about Estabrook as well (his views/choices of strategies and reasoning etc)?

Thank you very much!

[rinagoldfield]

Hallo nyx.jnie!

The author discusses Estabrook’s motivations in the fourth paragraph. According to the author, Estabrook chooses old photographic processes because he "embraces accident and idiosyncrasy" and uses "stains and imperfections" to "heighten a sense of nostalgia." (lines 37, 41, 45) .

In other words, Estabrook embraces the blotches and chemical spills of old photographic processes to create a kind nostalgic effect.

We’re looking to STRENGTHEN this explanation of Estabrook’s work.

(A) Strengthens the author’s explanation of Estabrook’s methods by eliminating the possibility that Estabrook could create old-school effects using modern technology. Instagram filters don’t make convincing fake-antiques, ya know?
(B) Contradicts what the author is trying to say. Estabrook creates a feeling (nostalgia) through a technique (albumen prints).
(C) Discusses "most people""”out of scope
(D) Discusses "people""”also out of scope. We’re concerned with Estabrook!
(E) Is out of scope and unsupported. The discussion of "deterioration over time" is irrelevant to the passage; neither do we know nor do we care about the archival nature of these processes. The part about the "latest photographic processes" producing blemish-free images is also irrelevant"”Estabrook likes blemishes! Who cares about blemish-free photographs?

Hope that helps!

[gaheexlee]

(E) Is out of scope and unsupported. The discussion of "deterioration over time" is irrelevant to the passage; neither do we know nor do we care about the archival nature of these processes. The part about the "latest photographic processes" producing blemish-free images is also irrelevant"”Estabrook likes blemishes! Who cares about blemish-free photographs?

I have a question about the explanation given in (E). I chose (E) because I thought that knowing how the latest photographic techniques produce such blemish free (thus perfect, thus not accident prone) pictures justifies why Estabrook prefers the use of the older techniques. In short, I thought (E) confirmed the reason why Estabrook doesn't like the most advanced techniques.

(A) seemed to serve a similar purpose. Can anyone help me differentiate the two given how I perceived (E)?

[hernandayoleary]

I agree with the above poster E merits a better explanation. It would strengthen in an indirect way. Although I chose A. E is saying the new method goes against what Eastbrok wants, so it supports

[rinagoldfield]

Thanks for your post. I will still argue that (E) is irrelevant, although I see why it is tempting.

(E) discusses what recent techniques can do, not what they must do. I can be nice. I also can be mean. I can paint in red; that doesn’t mean I cannot paint in blue. The latest techniques can produce blemish-free photographs, but that doesn’t mean they cannot produce photographs that contain aesthetic imperfections.

Estabrook’s goal is to create photographs that contain random imperfections. (A) states that this look would be impossible to achieve with new techniques (note the strength of “invariably”). (E) does not.