Response to: Ways of Seeing, Episode 1: Psychological Aspects

Berger's 'Ways of Seeing, Episode 1: Psychological Aspects'

                 Although this video may not be directly applicable to our current project, it gives us a new perspective on photography and its impact upon the world. Berger came across as rather harsh and critical of photography. He seemed to take offence in the mass production of classic traditional work. He says art both gains and loses something from photography.

                ‘Ways of Seeing’ explored the redefinition of the word “genuine.” It used to be an image was a valuable as it looked, but now as mass production of images has become commonplace, a sense of value and sentimentality surrounds “genuine” originals.

 Berger focused extensively on traditional art and the context in wish we view it. He elaborated on the unique and special nature of the image of a painting in the time before photography.  Berger suggests that the distribution of these famous images, through photography, has damaged the original meaning of these works. He continues on to explain how context can completely change the meaning behind an image. This idea of context and appropriation is a useful tool for a photographer. The placement and context of an image can create powerful meanings that can be used to the photographer’s advantage.