John Berger’s Ways of Seeing Things Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Introduction

Seeing and acknowledgment precede words, with seeing creating our place in this world and terms clarifying it. According to Berger, there is a contrast between what we view and what we know, and we understand how the latter affects the former, resulting in what is known as a dynamic relationship (7). Furthermore, he explains that the art of seeing is an active and deliberate act in which we notice what we are looking at and become conscious that we can be seen.

Discussion

An image is a representation of a sight that has been replicated. It is an appearance preserved independent of the place and time it first emerged (Berger 9). Drawings involve the creator’s way of seeing, and our comprehension of another person’s picture depends on our way of seeing. Photographs were created to portray something that did not exist and later gained additional meaning by lasting longer than the actual topic (Berger 10). Since photographs record history so well, they are more accurate and prosperous than literature. The greater the artistic work, the better it allows us to share the artist’s perspectives of the noticeable.

When a photo is displayed as a piece of art, its interpretation is influenced by learned presumptions like glamour. Ultimately preventing us from seeing the picture for what it is and thus depriving us of our history (Berger 11). After the discovery of cameras, the solitary spectator, who could only be in one place at a time, shifted the view of art. Cameras altered how artists perceived things and destroyed the individuality of photos by replicating them, breaking the definition (Berger 19). Essence is no longer found in the image’s objective but its actual one-of-a-kind existence.

Conclusion

Reproduction removes the description from a painting, where the intention shifts to varying degrees. A filmmaker, for example, forms an argument by picking parts of the film and conveying them in a specific sequence. On the other hand, the viewer will take in the entire image in a moment (Berger 26). Moreover, juxtaposing pictures and texts alters the interpretation based on the photograph’s context. On the other hand, Berger sees value in the actual picture because it is silent and contains traces of the painter’s deeds, creating a connectedness between the artist and the viewer (Berger 31). Berger concludes that a comprehensive approach is required to connect art to everyone’s experience.

Work Cited

Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. British Broadcasting Corporation and Penguin Books, 1972.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2023, November 29). John Berger’s Ways of Seeing Things. https://ivypanda.com/essays/john-bergers-ways-of-seeing-things/

Work Cited

"John Berger’s Ways of Seeing Things." IvyPanda, 29 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/john-bergers-ways-of-seeing-things/.

References

IvyPanda. (2023) 'John Berger’s Ways of Seeing Things'. 29 November.

References

IvyPanda. 2023. "John Berger’s Ways of Seeing Things." November 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/john-bergers-ways-of-seeing-things/.

1. IvyPanda. "John Berger’s Ways of Seeing Things." November 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/john-bergers-ways-of-seeing-things/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "John Berger’s Ways of Seeing Things." November 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/john-bergers-ways-of-seeing-things/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1