John Berger -- the Ways

John Berger -- the ways of seeing

John Berger- "The Ways of Seeing"

John Berger's book "Ways of Seeing" provides readers with an intriguing perspective on art and on how it is interpreted by people. Berger wants people to understand the importance of seeing, explaining how it is one of the most important sensations. The book describes how seeing is not always equivalent to knowing, given that one first sees something while he or she can only consequently analyze what they saw. From the very first days of their lives, people are able to see, learning how to behave in the surrounding environment. Words are later meant to describe what people see.

The book provides readers with a view regarding society that most people were unable to understand. The book's title perfectly describes what the book is all about, as it presents readers with methods of seeing things around them. Berger emphasizes a series of paintings and describes how they are essential in understanding history. The author wants his readers to be skeptical when coming across a painting or a picture, since only through intense analysis can one understand more about the respective illustration. For Berger, the system is carefully organized with the purpose of confusing and manipulating people. He considers art museums to have the role id distorting the public's perception regarding the past. One can believe that Berger's convictions are leftist in character, given that he constantly expresses his desire to have impartiality rule over society.

Words accompanying pictures and paintings serve as distractions, since they prevent the viewer from seeing something that could have been obvious otherwise. Berger believes that influential people in Europe used Art as a means of imposing their power over the lower classes. Having a different understanding of what you see is perfectly normal, since this means that you have a perspective. However, it is not normal for you to be dictated a particular theory regarding a topic, since this would mean that you were forced to accept someone else's point-of-view.

To a certain extent, the art that society promotes in the present prevents individuals from developing a sense of art on their own. Appreciating a masterpiece in a museum simply because others before you have done the same is illogical. People should be given the chance to choose what they want to like, rather than beingHo forced to enjoy particular things.

Art museums themselves influence the viewer, since the environment in such an institution triggers feelings the viewer would not have felt if he or she were to look at a painting in different circumstances. Because they are unable to understand complex philosophies regarding a particular work of art, children seem reluctant to accept its greatness. This should be inspiring for the masses, since children prove that they cannot be manipulated.