Berger's "Ways of Seeing" ( Assignment # 1)

     The essay entitled Berger's "Ways of Seeing" is all about how art was viewed by the people from the past and how it is looked at now. It also explained the evolution that art had undergone from the 1500's to the modern day and the role that traditional painting portrayed to the said dramatic  change.

     These are the points that support these ideas which are quoted from the essay:

• "During the time of traditional oil painting, from 1500-1900, paintings were prized because they were the only way to capture a moment in time and possess it forever. This all changed at the advent of the camera which has manipulated the way we look at art today. Art is now able to be reproduced and many people can view it, not solely an elite few."
• "With the reproduction, arts value has been placed aesthetically and monetarily on a different level then before."
•  "On the other hand, art is more widely viewed and loved because of being about to put pictures in books, postcards or posters."
• "The way art is viewed has changed dramatically over the course of a hundred years due to technology and social change."
• "The social meaning of art has always been a dynamic part of art. The masterpieces have always been a symbol of stature, class, culture and education. The subjects of paintings have their own social meaning."
• "The typical female nude painting of traditional oil painting period seems modest compared to what we encounter today, but it is also similar to many photographs today."
•  "The nude paintings were specifically for men to view as pleasure images. Men could look at this beautiful nude and gain reassurance of their manhood. In return the female gets nothing, this painting seems as if it is about her, but it is not. In fact the artist typically does everything in his power to remove any power she may have, even sexually by removing all body hair. The painting is all about the owner/viewer, the man."
• "Of course Berger explains there is always an exception to the rules and there were masters who created a very unique painting where it was all about the woman and the loving position of the artist. This was a rarity and these pieces are very revered today for that reason."
• "Berger classifies the women in nude paintings as objects, since that is how they are seen by the artist and the viewer, but objects in paintings also benefited the viewer/owner."
• "Artist started using metaphysical symbols such as realistic skulls which represented death. These symbols rarely fit into the static materialism way of painting. The illusionism and symbols is what made oil painting stand out from other forms of visual art, and why it was so popular."
• "The reality in paintings was supposed to benefit the owner or the sitter in making other people believe the painting depicts owner/sitter’s worth."
• "Rarely was an object painting just because, there was always a self serving purpose behind it."
• "Publicity takes this idea of materialism and advertising one’s things from traditional oil painting and applies it to modern day advertising. Instead of showing the things that the viewer has, publicity shows what they need in order to be happy. "
• "The concept of envy and glamour is introduced; these make people happy by having something others don’t."
• "Berger paints a grim picture of the effects of traditional oil painting and publicity on the lives of people. It is too often used to promote materialism and individual prosperity and envy. The subjects in oil painting and advertisements are just tools for the constant need to possess certain objects."