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Having been nudged by my tutor to do some more reading, I ordered a number of books from the Essential and Recommended Reading lists.<\/p>\n
Ways of Seeing by John Berger was the first book to arrive and it turned out to be a very timely purchase, as the first essay was all about viewpoint, which is just where I am in the course right now.<\/p>\n
It is a small book that is split into 7 essays; 4 using words and images and 3 using only images. They can be read in order.<\/p>\n
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Essay 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Even a photograph. For photographs are not, as is often assumed, a mechanical record. Every time we look at a photograph, we are aware, however slightly, of the photographer selecting that sight from an infinity of other possible sights.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The author argues that sight and seeing come before words and that whilst words are important, they are merely an attempt to describe what we are seeing. Furthermore, he says that what we see is influenced by what we know. Much of our ‘knowledge and experience’ is gained from historical art which we interpret from our current viewpoints. He says that that art is also sanitized from reality by the artists viewpoint. This is evidenced by the quote:<\/p>\n What we make of that painted moment when it is before our eyes depends upon what we expect of art, and that in turn depends today upon how we have already experienced the meaning of paintings through reproductions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Essay 2<\/strong><\/p>\n This is one of the pictorial essays, which seems to be a comment of the portrayal of women in art and advertising. Beyond that I could no discern any great meaning.<\/p>\n Essay 3<\/strong><\/p>\n in this essay the author discusses “the social presence of a woman a being different in kind than that of a man”. He describes how women in art, particularly nudes are displayed for the viewer, (presumably a man) <\/p>\n Essay 4<\/strong><\/p>\n to follow<\/p>\n Essay 5<\/strong><\/p>\n to follow<\/p>\n Essay 6<\/strong><\/p>\n to follow<\/p>\n Essay 7<\/strong><\/p>\n to follow<\/p>\n Conclusions and Reflections<\/strong><\/p>\n To be honest got a bit bored with this, I think the point was made about the use of women in art, photography and advertising, so didn’t need to read the rest. Although this was published originally in 1972 and woman’s rights wasn’t as high on the agenda then, it does still resonate and seems very pertinent to today<\/p>\n references: <\/p>\n Berger, J, (1972). Ways of Seeing<\/em>. London: Penguin Books<\/p>\n