Re: [APML]: Art or Science

[Gene Horr <genehorr@swbell.net>]

The Astro-Photography Mailing List
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Is that car pretty, or does it get good gas mileage?

We are discussing independent variables.  That is why arguments
such as these can run in circles forever, because both sides can
be completely correct.

IMO most on this list are not practicing astrophotography as a
science, although science is used to perfect the craft (scanner
and film test, for example).  The end result for most people is
not data that can be tested or used to test theories, but a 
pretty picture.

The art question can probably never be answered due to no clear
concensus as to what is art.  The arguments used to be over 
whether or not something was good or bad and people complained
about the "stuffed shirts" making value judgements.  Then it 
became the fad to state that "value judgements" are bad and
the exact same argument still reigned, except instead of saying
good or bad they now argue about whether or not something is
art.  

My opinion on this is somewhat of the old school.  If it is 
intended or taken as art, it is art.  It may be bad, but it is
still art.  I think that most of people on this list are 
performing astrophotography as an art form.  Therefor it is
art.

Gene Horr
genehorr@swbell.net