Mechanism and Expression

In Mechanism and Expression by Franz Roh, I was more drawn to the style of writing than the actual essay itself. It doesn't make sense to not use capital letters. I was so confused that I had to reread the whole section over. His whole essay seems to be one huge run-on sentence, blending all of his ideas into one breath.

Once I had gotten past this anomaly, I was intrigued by Franz's accurate prediction about the future of film an photography. He says, "the statement is right, that not to be able to handle a camera will soon be looked upon as equal to illiteracy". How very right he was, as today, one can buy a Kodak camera on impulse and open it ready to use. He bases this prediction on the fact that the 1900 invention of the typewriter underwent a similar experience. Something that is effective, easy to use, and profitable will thrive in the world we live in. He also compares photography to the art of playing the piano. Although there are a limited range of colors from white to black, and likewise there are a limited amount of piano keys (also both black and white), both can create wonderful pieces of art. There can always be a sense of uniqueness and individuality because of the combinations you can create with the limited resources. With photography, "never-the-less the worth of photography lies in the aesthetic value of nature itself. is it but necessary to master the implements of photography to become a good photographer? by no means". The limited amount of light shades of grey, white, and black is supplemented by the abundance of nature, which holds the true key to success in photos. Like the typewriter and words, like the piano and musical notes, Franz believes the success of photography will be based on its eventual simplicity as well as abundance and uniqueness in the natural world.