Ways of Seeing by John Berger

891 Words2 Pages

In the book “Ways of Seeing,” John Berger explains several essential aspects of art through influence of the Marxism and art history that relates to social history and the sense of sight. Berger examines the dominance of ideologies in the history of traditional art and reflects on the history, class, and ideology as a field of cultural discourse, cultural consumption and cultural practice. Berger argues, “Realism is a powerful link to ownership and money through the dominance of power.”(p.90)[1] The aesthetics of art and present historical methodology lack focus in comparison to the pictorial essay. In chapter six of the book, the pictorial imagery demonstrates a variety of art forms connoting its realism and diversity of the power of connecting to wealth in contradiction to the deprived in the western culture. The images used in this chapter relate to one another and state in the analogy the connection of realism that is depicted in social statues, landscapes, and portraiture, also present in the state of medium that was used to create this work of art. In fact, some of the works presented depict mythological paintings that resemble the transcending Metaphysical matter of nature. Take for instance, the general aspect of the artworks presented in this chapter. They depict different social levels through the use of objects, emotions and various conditions. The lower status contradicts, the slaves to the wealthy and royalty, all delineate the role of the people present in the society and their everyday life. In the images, the poor and the slaves depicted with little to no possessions, looking tired and over-worked. Through their everyday labor, they must survive as a less fortunate person. In contrast to the images of the po... ... middle of paper ... ... the sense of sight has been incorporated into depicting the story behind what is denoted between the traditions, social orders and situations during the period the images were produced. Reference Berger, John. “Ways of seeing.” London: British Broadcasting Corporation. 1972. [1] John Berger, “Ways of Seeing,” London: British Broadcasting Corporation. 1972.90. [2] Berger “Ways of Seeing” 117. [3] Berger, “Ways of Seeing,” 124. [4] Berger “Ways of Seeing” 122. [5] Berger “Ways of Seeing” 118-119. Reference Berger, John. “Ways of seeing.” London: British Broadcasting Corporation. 1972. [1] John Berger, “Ways of Seeing,” London: British Broadcasting Corporation. 1972.90. [2] Berger “Ways of Seeing” 117. [3] Berger, “Ways of Seeing,” 124. [4] Berger “Ways of Seeing” 122. [5] Berger “Ways of Seeing” 118-119.

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