John Peter Berger's Manipulation Of Art

In John Berger’s essay “Ways of Seeing,” he shares his view on how he feels art is seen. Mr. Berger explores how the views of people are original and how art is seen very differently. By comparing certain photographs, he goes on to let his Audience, which is represented as the academic, witness for themselves how art may come across as something specific and it can mean something completely different depending on who is studying the art. The author goes into details of why images were first used, how we used to analyze art vs how we do today, and the rarity of arts. He is able to effectively pass on his message by using the strategies of Rhetoric, which include Logos, Pathos, and Ethos.

The way we see and perceive this art is predetermined by a variety of different factor ranging from cultural background to socioeconomic status. “A people or a class which is 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 this is the only reason why -- the entire art of the past has now become a political issue” (J. Berger pg. 33) He argues that if a group of people are robbed of being able to create their own culturally relative and socially correct standards for art, then they are being oppressed from engaging as political equals. People use art to understand their place within world history and create social and political meaning for themselves or their culture. Art gives you the power to control how people perceive the past, the present and possibly even the future. Although now the ability to control what art people see isn’t as “regulated” as it once was, but prior to the invention of the camera and the internet, art was controlled by the minority of the elite and wealthy. “the art of the past is being mystified because a privileged minority is striving to invent a history which can retrospectively justify the role of the ruling classes and such a justification can no longer make sense in modern terms” (J. Berger, Pg.157). The upper class mystifies the general population to stay in control; without the ability to see things through our own eyes, people are being deprived of their right to understanding themselves and placing themselves in a role of society. Mystification contributes a negative influence on our society. Mystifying of art distinguish upper class and low class, and more importantly causes the past of certain groups and cultures, such as women,

Controversial pieces of art are nothing new; artists express their opinions and beliefs in their work, and those who see the artist’s views as problematic speak out against it. Art encourages debate, and debates can be angry and emotion-driven. But when a piece of art is created that is almost universality looked upon as having corrupt morals, the debate tends to switch “I disagree with what this art portrays” to, “this work of art should not be allowed in society, regardless of its quality.”

As art slowly develops through the twentieth century, moving past voyeurism and historical art where it promotes passive spectatorial consumption, the role of the audience has evolved too. From the traditional historical passive visitor in perspective and panoptic spaces, art has gradually evolved into turning the spectator into an active contributor who not only engages with the work but also becomes the co-author in its creation and completion. Claire Bishop points out, “art must be directed against spectatorship, against the passivity of the masses paralysed by the spectacle of modern life”. This not only applies to art but to objects, image, stories, films etc.

Vandalism? Political Statement? According to the documentary, all of the above. Former New York Mayor, Michael Blumberg, called Banksy a vandal and had NYPD's vandal squad hunting for Banksy. Ironically, Bansky’s work has been priced for as much as $615,000 at auction, but he has never sold anything himself. Banksy thinks that museums are places for rich people to display their trinkets. Instead, Banksy displays his art on crumbling walls, rundown buildings and famous structures. He forces people into city areas they would never dare to go, making them notice their surroundings. Mixed crowds of people -- art students, plumbers, and the homeless -- all seek out his work and view it together. He has set himself apart from other street artists by having a bigger plan, taking bigger chances and by breaking bigger boundaries. According to his website, while Banksy was creating his artwork on the Israeli barrier, a soldier asked him, “What the f**k are you doing?” The Israeli security forces shot into the air, and there were numerous guns pointed at him; Banksy continued

Berger highlights this difference by giving examples of Mrs. Siddons by Gainsborough and Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe which, although have outstanding elements of a painting but fail to be ‘objects of envy’.

Heller begins her novel Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza by exploring the premise of defining art. Heller writes on the belief that "... anything anyone says is art should in fact be regarded as art(pg.10)." Arguably, she is employing the idea that the creator, as opposed to the beholder, determines what is considered art. This coincides with Pablo Picasso's 1923 Statement to Matius de Zayas in which he writes that the point of art is not to research but, rather find. He complains that many connect/associate "modern painting" with research as the means of creating a final piece of art. He emphasized his point by explaining that his objective when painting is strictly to show what he found within himself, express emotions "... without thinking of the past or of the future(Para.11)”. This correlates to points John Berger addresses in Chapter 7 of his book Ways Of Seeing. Berger discusses how publicity is used to evoke emotions of inadequacy and dissatisfaction of the audiences’ self image. He writes that publicity feeds off the “now” of the world and has a nearly constant presence in American

As art is constantly changing and evolving, it is important to comprehend the developments being made in how artists are expressing themselves and their ideas through their work. Furthermore, it is necessary to understand the role that artwork plays in modern political and social spheres. Art is an invaluable method of communicating different perspectives regarding significant problems in the world and their solutions. The relationship between the works of Ai Wei Wei and Banksy is significant to discuss. Both are contemporary artists who use their work to express thoughts and feelings regarding pertinent social or political issues. Image is very effective in capturing people’s attention, and both artists take advantage of this to further their opinions on various issues.

Art is used in mass media to influence people, especially people in the generation and culture we live in today. The majority of art young people receive in our culture is through television and in particularly popular culture networks, like MTV. The television show on MTV called The Hills is an example of a show that promotes dominant ideology to young children/ teenagers. Slightly opposite of that would be another show on MTV called Jersey Shore, which is an example of a show that partly reinforces and partly challenges dominant ideology to the same type of audience. The two shows are looking at people who are in their 20s and there life as they live it in their current situation, they both claim to be reality television with no scripts.

Many artists have the power to make minor changes to how you think and how you see things, however, it's when artists interact with and respond to the world around them that they have the most power to do this. Two artists that do this particularly well are Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Both artists created during the context of the Cold War, allowing them to create works which applied to that timeframe, however, the art has been given new meaning and still applies today. Two artworks from each artist that are most effective are titled, ‘Target with Four Faces’ and ‘Flag’ by Jasper Johns, and ‘White Paintings’ and ‘Monogram’ by Robert Rauschenberg. These works highlight how these artists interact with and respond to the world around

reevaluation, is, when not counter productive, of no avail to the scholar. Not only are the current

The Banksy, triumphed multi-award, and 2010 Sundance Film Festival winning documentary, “Exit through the Gift Shop” gives an interesting insight of the underground and unknown world of street art and viewing societies understanding of modern art. The documentary trails the life of a curious French immigrant Terry Guetta, who has a passion for filming everything in sight from his family to local street artists. Following these street artists such as Shepherd Fairey and eventually Banksy himself around for most his time, he developed an interest in the art scene. As a full time accomplice, Terry Guetta later develops into this premature artist by using and being inspired by the famous art of others. The documentary early on sparks the questions of what is art and who poses the authority to define good art?

Banksy once said, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” Banksy, the director of Exit Through the Gift Shop, a documentary that goes through the heart of street art strongly emphasizes that art is not about money, but rather about expression and passion. He supports his argument mainly through his strong visual and audio tactics. Visuals are much stronger than any other sense. A reoccurring factor that influences the viewer’s thoughts towards the argument is where Banksy focuses the video.

many people judge art is only uses their eye to looking that without understanding art’s meanings and social value. Social enviroment impact human’s option and humans are the combination of emotional and rational. Art is sensibility and it embodies culture, literary, religion and other social element. Since each person's culture and faith conflict that art has caused many social diputes. According to the Mack’s “It Isn’t pretty...But Is It Art?” and Grody’s “Graffiti:The Anatomy of a Piece” both authors believe art is produced by the artist’s emotions, but most people misunderstand art and they without uses their emotional to appreciate the art.

At its inception, modernist art was shocking and evocative to the traditional “academic exceptions of artwork.” Unlike much of the artwork that came before, modernist paintings sought to engage the audience for the first time and inspired new ideas. This form of art was critical of society and represented a new pathway for artists to explore their intellect and creativity. Artists broke the “norms” of what was not allowed previously in art. In the past, traditional academic expectations for art where governed by rules that the artist had to follow. Art was produced for the rich and powerful, whether they came from the church or were simply wealthy members of government. With the rise of modernist art though, artists began to make “art for the sake of art” (Barrett, 20).