colorization

If you use "which," you create a modifying phrase that modifies the noun closest to it-- here, "major works of art." None of the modifying phrases in A, B, or C could logically apply to "major works of art," so those choices can all be eliminated. Using the "likening" construction shows that we're describing an action taken by "many others in the film industry." Since "it" refers to "the technique," it's not logically possible for "it" to be likened to a Greek statue. Therefore, the best choice is E.

Hi Andrea,

akhp77 wrote:The colorization of black-and-white films by computers is defended by those who own the film rights, for the process can mean increased revenues for them; many others in the film industry, however, contend that the technique degrades major works of art, which they liken to putting lipstick on a Greek statue.

(D) likening it to a Greek statue with lipstick put on it
(E) likening it to putting lipstick on a Greek statue

comma verbing = likening modifies noun of previous clause.

In this case, technique is the subject of the immediate previous clause ..how can we say it modifies 'others in film industry'

Clause 1 = Subject (many others in the film industry) verb(contend) object (Y). Y itself is another clause
Clause 2 = Subject (the technique) verb (degrades) major works of art

Logically 'likening' should refer to 'many others in the film industry' but it can refer to 'technique' also - therefore I feel there is some degree of ambiguity in this sentence. We eliminate such choices in many example based on ambiguity - do we select D because there is no other better option here.
Pls help

pnk wrote:Hi Andrea,

akhp77 wrote:The colorization of black-and-white films by computers is defended by those who own the film rights, for the process can mean increased revenues for them; many others in the film industry, however, contend that the technique degrades major works of art, which they liken to putting lipstick on a Greek statue.

(D) likening it to a Greek statue with lipstick put on it
(E) likening it to putting lipstick on a Greek statue

comma verbing = likening modifies noun of previous clause.

In this case, technique is the subject of the immediate previous clause ..how can we say it modifies 'others in film industry'


Pls help

Hi pnk,

From what I feel is that "it" refers to the technique and likening refers to "many others".Because "it" shall refer to something inanimate.While likening is an action/verb+ing performed by some one animate.I hope this helps.
Andrea your comments are welcome

Skprocks

pnk wrote:Hi Andrea,

akhp77 wrote:The colorization of black-and-white films by computers is defended by those who own the film rights, for the process can mean increased revenues for them; many others in the film industry, however, contend that the technique degrades major works of art, which they liken to putting lipstick on a Greek statue.

(D) likening it to a Greek statue with lipstick put on it
(E) likening it to putting lipstick on a Greek statue

comma verbing = likening modifies noun of previous clause.

In this case, technique is the subject of the immediate previous clause ..how can we say it modifies 'others in film industry'

Clause 1 = Subject (many others in the film industry) verb(contend) object (Y). Y itself is another clause
Clause 2 = Subject (the technique) verb (degrades) major works of art

Logically 'likening' should refer to 'many others in the film industry' but it can refer to 'technique' also - therefore I feel there is some degree of ambiguity in this sentence. We eliminate such choices in many example based on ambiguity - do we select D because there is no other better option here.
Pls help

Using "which" makes it clear that the modifying phrase following it refers to the noun immediately preceding it. But using the participle ("likening," in this case) allows the modifying phrase to refer back to the subject of the sentence (or here, since there's a semi-colon separating two independent clauses, it refers to the subject of the independent clause of which it is part.) There are some conflicting interpretations of how participle phrases can be used, but there's no question about how a non-restrictive clause introduced by "which" is used. While D isn't the phrasing I would have chosen for this sentence, it's not demonstrably incorrect, as are the other choices.