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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
yeah fire! pretty basic very digestible. image essays goated. didn’t rock my world but no need to
My favorite part of the book might just be JB quoting Lawrence Gowing dissing JB for opining that a particular Gainsborough may not have any deeper meaning attached to it other than land ownership - and concluding that this makes Gowing " so striking an illustration of the disingenuousness that bedevils the subject of art history" - the unvarnished pettiness of this section was just a pure joy to read.
On a more serious note, this is one of the more impactful books on art. JB has strong opinions that he does not flinch from, and he foresaw the emerging attitude and cynicism towards art historians and art critics which are commonplace today. "The issue is not between innocence and knowledge (or between the natural and the cultural) but between a total approach to art which attempts to relate it to every aspect of experience and the esoteric approach of a few specialized experts who are the clerks of the nostalgia of a ruling class in decline".. I also enjoyed reading his discourse on consumption as a substitute for democracy. Ezra Klein explains this beautifully in his book Why We're Polarized - another must-read.
On a more serious note, this is one of the more impactful books on art. JB has strong opinions that he does not flinch from, and he foresaw the emerging attitude and cynicism towards art historians and art critics which are commonplace today. "The issue is not between innocence and knowledge (or between the natural and the cultural) but between a total approach to art which attempts to relate it to every aspect of experience and the esoteric approach of a few specialized experts who are the clerks of the nostalgia of a ruling class in decline".. I also enjoyed reading his discourse on consumption as a substitute for democracy. Ezra Klein explains this beautifully in his book Why We're Polarized - another must-read.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Incredible for none of Berger’s critiques to be out of date even slightly. Read some of this in class for Art History and felt I should read the whole thing considering how struck I was by it. I want to go to a gallery and stroke my chin.
The spectator-buyer is meant to envy herself as she will become if she buys the product. She is meant to imagine herself transformed by the product into an object of envy for others, an envy which will then justify her loving herself. One could put this another way: the publicity image steals her love of herself as she is, and offers it back to her for the price of the product.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
need to read once, digest, go to an art museum, read again
I loved reading this
I loved reading this
medium-paced
it was interesting and i enjoyed it, but it was a textbook so i probably wouldn’t have read it if it wasn’t required
informative
reflective
fast-paced
“A people cut off from its own past is far less free to choose and to act as a people or class than one that has been able to situate itself in history. This is why — and is the only reason why — the entire art of the past has now become a political issue”
Ways of Seeing by John Berger serves as an exciting read! It breaks through part of the mysticism surrounding art and its creation. Through seven essays, Berger explores themes such as nudity (vs nakedness) in art, the shift in art through photography, the role of publicity, et cetera. Although I had different expectations for this book, I learned from it. It was thought-provoking — both in the subtle and aggressive sense. The essays can be a bit longer, as I felt some themes were only superficially illustrated.
“To be naked is to be oneself.
To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognized for oneself. A naked body has to be seen as an object in order to become a nude. Nakedness reveals itself. Nudity is put on display
To be naked is to be without disguise.
To be on display is to have the surface of one’s own skin, the hairs of one’s own body, turned into a disguise which, in that situation, can never be discarded. The nude is condemned to never being naked.”
Interesting, illustrative, and thought-provoking. I recommend it to anyone that wants an accessible and short introduction to art criticism.
Ways of Seeing by John Berger serves as an exciting read! It breaks through part of the mysticism surrounding art and its creation. Through seven essays, Berger explores themes such as nudity (vs nakedness) in art, the shift in art through photography, the role of publicity, et cetera. Although I had different expectations for this book, I learned from it. It was thought-provoking — both in the subtle and aggressive sense. The essays can be a bit longer, as I felt some themes were only superficially illustrated.
“To be naked is to be oneself.
To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognized for oneself. A naked body has to be seen as an object in order to become a nude. Nakedness reveals itself. Nudity is put on display
To be naked is to be without disguise.
To be on display is to have the surface of one’s own skin, the hairs of one’s own body, turned into a disguise which, in that situation, can never be discarded. The nude is condemned to never being naked.”
Interesting, illustrative, and thought-provoking. I recommend it to anyone that wants an accessible and short introduction to art criticism.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book is brilliant if you want to delve into art, if you feel intimidated by art, this book breaks down visual representation of what art means and questions you on how you view art.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
i was a little worried when i started this book and struggled to decipher what was being said, but it really picked up once it fully got into what art can reflect.
i thought the parts on publicity and the portrayal of men vs women was really interesting, and the idea that art reflects the culture of a place and time was really interesting!
i thought the parts on publicity and the portrayal of men vs women was really interesting, and the idea that art reflects the culture of a place and time was really interesting!