art photography vs. visual sociology

In reference to my reading response on the Becker reading this week, I bring this us:

page 193 (in regards to contemporary art photography): "They withhold the minimal social data we ordinarily use to orient ourselves to others and leave viewers to interpret the images as best they can from the clues of clothing, stance, demeanor and household furnishings they contain. What might seem to be artistic mystery is usually only ignorance created by the photographer's refusal to give users basic information."

That's a pretty bold and deferential statement towards artistic photography. Thoughts? Is the artistic mystery really just attributed to cultivated ignorance?