Ways of Seeing
John Berger, BBC and Pengiun, 1972
- On the changing value of original works of art and reproduction: they can be declared art when their line of descent can be certified. p21
- On Rich vs Poor - The poor, they smile showing their teeth, which the rich in pictures never do. p104
- On Nature, Property and Ownership - There were rules for people who lived on or near the land that one person owned, that you could not steal a potato, unless it was already growing "naturally" p108
- Because of its ability to faithfully render textures etc, color photography of the ~1950's is to the spectator-buyer what oil painting of the 1500's was to the spectator-owner. p140
- But, whereas the oil painting showed what its owner already owned and enjoyed, the photo/advertising was meant to make the spectator dissatisfied... p142
- This is the last paragraph in the book: Capitalism survives by forcing the majority, whom it exploits, to define their own interests as narrowly as possible. This was achieved by extensive deprivation. Today in the developed countries it is being achieved by imposing a false standard of what is and what is not desirable. p154
Post Script:
Here's an interesting sub-genre of art that I don't hear mentioned enough:
Interior of an Art Gallery, Cornelis de Baellieur, 1637 [wiki]
The Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in his Painting Gallery in Brussels, David Teniers the Younger, 1651 [wiki]
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