St. John Berger's Ways Of Seeing

However, the only feature of the cathedral that is there today but was not added during the original construction was the stained glass windows which were made between 1912 and 1930. Paul Vincent, an English stained glass artist, was responsible for making the stained glass. Then, in 1927 and 1931, the cathedral went under renovations. According to the official website of the Archdiocese of New York, these renovations included a larger sanctuary and the introduction of the great organ. Many years down the road, in 1976, the cathedral was made a National Landmark.

In “Ways of Seeing”, John Berger, an English art critic, argues that images are important for the present-day by saying, “No other kind of relic or text from the past can offer such direct testimony about the world which surrounded other people at other times. In this respect images are more precise and richer literature” (10). John Berger allowed others to see the true meaning behind certain art pieces in “Ways of Seeing”. Images and art show what people experienced in the past allowing others to see for themselves rather than be told how an event occurred. There are two images that represent the above claim, Arnold Eagle and David Robbins’ photo of a little boy in New York City, and Dorothea Lange’s image of a migratory family from Texas; both were taken during the Great Depression.

As I exited the metro bus and stepped into the cold, wet, and way-too-early Saturday morning air, my mind pounded with the self-scolding, “Why am I awake. Why am I awake?”. The second I looked up at the grey-blue sky, however, all dread evaporated. Instead, the gorgeous sight ahead filled me with an incredulous awe. The Washington National Cathedral stood towering in cream-colored splendor, its richly detailed Gothic architecture almost too picturesque to fathom. Intricate spires stood proudly against the low-hanging clouds, as if taunting them to rain. Stunned, I began to follow my friends along a blue stone path surrounded by vivid greenery. As I walked, the chill air invigorated my lungs with each breath, filling me with a sort of peaceful energy. The path led to a smaller, yet still grandiose building which we entered through two large glass doors.

The narrator in “The Cathedral” begins the story with the issue of hesitation in seeing the light. The light in this story just like the light in Plato’s “Myth of the Cave” represents reality. The narrator expresses the fear of expressing reality when he said “ I wasn’t

Lacking the words to describe the cathedral, “You’ll have to forgive me,” I said. “But I can’t tell you what a cathedral looks like.” Richard said, “I get it bub. It’s okay” (Carver 44).

These Cathedrals I believe represent people, so this shows that even the narrator realizes that he’s never been able to see any further than someone’s outer look and has always been the type of person to judge someone or interact with someone solely based on what they look like on the outside. while Robert is the opposite and even though he’s interested on what the Cathedrals look like architecturally he is more interested on what they look like on the inside and what they represent which is how he views people as well. Robert realizes that the narrator has had trouble not being able to see people for how they truly are and wants to help him see them as he does. It is when Robert has the Narrator close his eyes and draw a cathedral with him that the narrator is focusing on something other than what it looks like and more so on what it “feels” like for the first time in his life. I believe that Robert’s hope for him is finally realized when the Narrator keeps his eyes closed when told to look at the drawing and exclaims “it really is something” showing that he is really looking at

The drawing of the cathedral will bring comfort to many readers, yet many readers will say that it stood out on its own to perceive the vision of art. But many others will say it evolves the sustained guardianship for a moment to try to occur between a stubborn man and a man who lacks vision but has a contained and elaborate mindset. Even with the narrator seeing cathedrals visually on TV, but he falls short to describe the visual image of said cathedral to Roger who lacks the sight. “How could I even begin to describe a cathedral? But say my life was being threatened by an insane guy who said I had to do it or else(Carver)”.

While in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, I traveled through the different galleries

The windows represent how the narrator is well-aware of her surroundings but isn’t able to participate in the life outside her

While constructing both of these cathedrals there were sculptures created that represented narratives of theology and mysticism. Both were created for a place of worship that’s why sculptures and paintings of religious images were added. This showed a great respect for the belief in Christ and the surrounding believers.

The Des Moines art center is an museum with an ex-tensive collection of paintings, sculptures, and modern art. The museum was designed by three different architectures which were Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei, And Richard Meier, The architect of the original museum wing was designed in a combination of art Nouveau and art Deco by Eliel Saarinen, The second wing was designed in a modernist style by I.M. Pei, and the third wing was designed by Richard Meier the wing was designed to allow an abundant amount of natural light. In www.dcaiga.blogspot.com it states “Meier uses light as a means to very successfully make the transition and the exterior seems to echo that interior light. Actually, the interior as well as the exterior light effects suggest a church-like emotive quality” This quote proves how natural light is the most fundamental element to most of his works, light can be used in a vigorous amount of ways it for example Meier believed the color white is always transformed because of light. Light also gives off a feeling of emotion they compared Richard Meier’s part of the museum to effects of a church like emotive showing how the use of light can give off the same warmth/loving feel-ing the Jubilee Church gives off. His obsessions with light lead him to develop traditional to har-vest light in different amount of

Most of these stained glass windows represented the affirmed faith that everyone had in God. The Tree of Jesse is a stained glass window in the Chartres Cathedral created between 1150-1170. The stained glass shows Jesse, who was an ancestor of the Virgin Mary, with a tree growing out of him spreading into the four kinds of Judea. It then goes to Mary and Jesus is above her being encircled with seven doves that represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. These Jesse trees were a common motif in manuscripts, sculptures, and stained glass back in the 12th and 13th centuries.

The significance of this specific building is apparent from the moment you enter its domain. The door, witch is not shaped like a door you will find in an average office building or home, is designed to be deliberately dark, narrow,

Stained glass has played a major role in reflecting Christianity’s beliefs because of the multitude of uses it has in a church. Stained glass windows are used in Christianity to represent and provide a visual picture for the Bible and the lives of Saints. The windows also serve the church by letting light from outside in. According to members of the Gothic church, when the light enters through the stained glass it becomes divine light and is the light of God. The divine light in the church symbolized the spirit of God. Because stories were depicted

The entryways of the building come from four different sides and meet in the middle. The overall shape of the building creates different views and facades. The building was not created just on the looks of it; it is made up of a three dimensional, stimulating, tactile human thing.