Hack

English translation: negative connotation

12:14 Feb 11, 2012
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
English term or phrase: Hack
Hi everybody!

While translating a cultural history guide, I found myself cought up in this problem: I do not know how to translate into Italian this term, hack, found in the following passage:

«These brilliant hacks were being paid to represent their commissioners in their best lights»

I asked for suggestions to my fellow countrymen, but so far we have not been able to find a suitable translation.

Here, the author refers to the Spanish painters of the sixteenth century, such as Velázquez, who painted for money. According to a friend of mine who is an art scholar, these painters were not considered as artists at that time, but mere craftsmen, and therefore the concept of their being great painters came only later with art critics.

All I want to know is whether, in your opinion, "hack" has an entirely negative meaning or it could be akin to "salaried", free from any pejorative meaning.

Thank you very much for your help!
I look forward to your answers!
Bye!
Max
Massimiliano Bonatto
Italy
Local time: 20:18
Selected answer:negative connotation
Explanation:
IMHO, and supported by what I have found on the internet, "hack" has a negative connotation. It covers creation of material (normally used in relation to written material) for money, but the general concept is that the material is of low quality.

Selected response from:

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 16:18
Grading comment
Thanks everybody for your helpful answers. I'll try to find a suitable Italian translation to match the negative connotation of the English term!
Thanks again!
Max
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6negative connotation
Martin Riordan
4 +1producing work for hire without seeking to be original
Andrew Levine
4 +1courtier painters
Jenni Lukac (X)
4hireling
eski


Discussion entries: 11





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
hack
producing work for hire without seeking to be original


Explanation:
The idea is that their work was of an unoriginal nature and they were doing it because they were getting paid to rather than to innovate. It's in the initial motivation rather than the historical assessment. "Brilliant hack" seems like it's meant as a deliberate oxymoron.

Andrew Levine
United States
Local time: 15:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  P.L.F. Persio: agree 100%, it really sounds like an oxymoron.
4 mins

neutral  B D Finch: I think it is worse than not being original; a hack doesn't have integrity about the work they do.
6 hrs
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
hack
negative connotation


Explanation:
IMHO, and supported by what I have found on the internet, "hack" has a negative connotation. It covers creation of material (normally used in relation to written material) for money, but the general concept is that the material is of low quality.




    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hack_writer
Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 16:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks everybody for your helpful answers. I'll try to find a suitable Italian translation to match the negative connotation of the English term!
Thanks again!
Max

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  P.L.F. Persio: The Collins English Dictionary states the same.
2 mins
  -> Thanks, missdutch!

agree  Samantha Payn
42 mins
  -> Thanks, Samantha!

agree  Vaddy Peters: brilliant may probably be understood here as "smart"
51 mins
  -> Thanks, Vaddy!

agree  Audra deFalco (X): Definitely has a negative connotation, especially since their work was recognized as being "good" only until after their deaths.
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, sognatrice!

agree  Phong Le
13 hrs
  -> Thank you, Phong Le!

agree  Yvonne Gallagher: in the sense of "journeymen"
1 day 12 hrs
  -> Thanks, gallagy2!
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58 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
hack
courtier painters


Explanation:
"Hack", in the sense of unoriginal or second-rate doesn't work here. Velásquez was a very fine painter. I think this is what the writer really means to say.
Amazon.com: Velazquez: Painter and Courtier (9780300038941 ...
www.amazon.com › ... › History & Criticism - Traducir esta página
The copious official documents Brown, together with J. H. Elliott, resarched for their A Palace for a King ( LJ 10/15/80) revealed new facts about Velazquez, and ...; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Velázquez - Traducir esta página
Rubens was then at the height of his powers. The seven months of the diplomatic mission showed Rubens' brilliance as painter and courtier; courtier: Definition, Synonyms from Answers.com
www.answers.com › Library › Food & Cooking - Traducir esta página
courtier n. An attendant at a sovereign's court. One who seeks favor, especially by insincere flattery or obsequious behavior.; Velázquez' Two Maids | First Things
www.firstthings.com/.../velaacute... - Estados Unidos - Traducir esta página
7 Feb 2011 – Following tradition, the painting gives us the young Virgin Mary with her ... On the one hand, the courtier painted the picture to flatter his king.


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Note added at 1 hr (2012-02-11 13:37:06 GMT)
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As mentioned in the discussion, "mere hirelings" would be a good translation for "prezzolati".

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 20:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  P.L.F. Persio: that's exactly what they were; and what's wrong in being paid for an earnest job, anyway?
29 mins
  -> Thanks, Miss Dutch. I think the classic example of a painter who struggled with his courtier status was Goya.
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
hack
hireling


Explanation:
Following up on Jenni's excellent lead:
hireling

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Note added at 7 hrs (2012-02-11 19:19:09 GMT)
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Mercenary - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/MercenaryEn caché - Similares - Traducir esta página
Haz hecho público que te gusta. Deshacer
The only possible exception to GC IV Art 5 is when he is a national of the authority imprisoning him, in which case he would not be a mercenary soldier as ...
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Still with his hireling artists let him prate,. and Folly's praise repay for Wisdom's hate;. Long of their patron's gusto let them tell,. Whose noblest, native gusto is–to ...
[DOC]
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... of his cunningly disavowed skill in speech and obscures Browning's art. ... eye on the manufacture by a hireling artist of yet another object for his collection.

eski :))

eski
Mexico
Local time: 13:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
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