Berger, Ways of Seeing
Video and slides from Jason Lieblang’s lecture for the Seeing and Knowing theme, February 2016.
The Nude in Non-European Art
In the Way of Seeing, John Berger notes that the artistic convention of the female nude, women exhibiting their unclothed bodies in a way that increases the viewing pleasures of an unknown male spectator, is unique to the European oil painting tradition. To be nude, he contends, is … Continue reading →
Something is really bugging me about Berger
I have something to say that is really bugging me about Berger… I am currently writing on his pictorial essays, where he states that he wants to make the act of raising questions one that is absolutely natural. He wants questions being raised without any sort of unnecessary information getting in the way or infleunging […]
Ways of Femininity
In the novel Ways of Seeing, John Berger says that the expressions of the two women below are similar- and they are indeed similar. But does that necessarily mean that both images are a representation of offering up their femininity? I agree somewhat with Berger on the idea that their expressions looks similar, but to say […]
Sexual Objectification
When you look at yourself in the mirror every morning, think about who you’re looking at. You’re looking at you, a person with unique talents, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and so on. The issue with modern advertising is that sexually charged ads often take the “people” aspect out of the people they use to advertise their products. […]
Nudity versus nakedness
To this day, the naked body is considered unnatural. With the development of social norms and standards, civilization’s attitude toward nudity has fluctuated greatly. John Berger explains how “to be naked is to be oneself. To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognized for oneself”. In the past and […]
False Advertisement: Questions Regarding Publicity in Ways of Seeing
I’m going to be quite frank, I don’t really understand Berger’s argument regarding advertisements. Part of my confusions steam from way in which the ad is portrayed; how, depending on whether the intended audience is either male or female, the purpose of the ad is slightly changed. When discussing the effect of publicity images, Berger … Continue reading “False Advertisement: Questions Regarding Publicity in Ways of Seeing”