Reading Response 5 (Berger)

Berger – “Ways of Seeing”

Summary

In his article, “Ways of Seeing,” Berger attempts to use an analysis of European nude paintings to show gender placement in the corresponding time period in which the painting was created. He uses this to show the dual existence of women as well as the rather simplistic realm of men. Though the style has changed over the years, it still shows the same general trend of treating women as objects and men as overseers to judge said objects, which is obviously wrong.

Synthesis

This article isn’t like anything else we’ve read, because there is no argument about bettering our writing style, or anything to do with writing for that matter. Rather, this article is a social commentary on the historic placement of genders based on an analysis of nude oil paintings.

Pre-reading

1. For starters, we are imagining a lot if I’m going to draw. It takes a stretch just to imagine that whatever I draw even remotely comes close to looking like a woman. As to the direction she is facing, it would depend on the context of the picture, but in the generic sci-fi laser battle, probably sideways (hint: this is also my scene). As in any drawn out battle, there is mass chaos and people everywhere, if we imagine that I can draw mass chaos and other people. In no way would she be nude or naked, as it is a distraction when you are cold on the battle field. Although it might confuse the enemy.

3. The male is depicted as ruggedly handsome, as well as cool and confident. Almost as if he was projecting an aura of awesome, if there is such a thing. The woman, on the other hand, is depicted as “beautiful” with a pound of make-up covering her face, and wearing a skimpy, yet uniquely weird outfit that probably cost more than you make a year (directed at Mr. Vetter). She is depicted as confident and sexy, and gives off a vibe of ease with her surroundings. The depictions are all based around the stereotypical “perfect” person, and all of their publicity people set it up that way.

QD

1. The artists of these paintings knew exactly what they were doing; the painting of nude females, not the commentary on stereotypes that they didn’t know applied to them. Unfortunately, being a male, I have access to the horrible machinations of said mind, and the one thing guys like above looking at naked women is money (not saying that I do, it’s just an evil of hormones). These painters were marketing geniuses, because they were able to make money drawing naked women. Not only does it show status because of the servility of said women to the man that is commissioning this painting, but the painter gets to fulfill a primal urge and make money while doing it. Thus pornography was born. But all jokes aside, they did know what they were doing, and Berger would agree with this, because it shows the subservient nature of the female’s position in the process.

3. These assumptions are still very much in effect today, though their connotations have changed a little. Though there are some women that follow the old method of subservience; through their mannerisms, attire, surroundings, etc.; there are others that are much more independent through these same things. They don’t follow the list as strictly and because of this they have a more defined presence because what people see and think they are is in fact who they are, thus eliminating the dual existence.

A&E

2. There are definite ways we can apply Berger’s ideas of relationships to texts, because there is a definite relationship between the author and/or narrator to the reader. This relationship that you enter is one of the passing of ideas and thoughts; or in my realm of fiction, the telling of a story which could be told different based on the narrator and the author.

4. Humor defines a person by how they react to many different scenarios and situations. Some things seem funny to certain people and silly to others. Humor can also be seen as a passive trait, because it takes the place of other emotions such as anger, jealousy, ect. Humor mellows everything out when used properly and shows a person’s character when they can not only tell jokes, but take some as well. Humor could be seen as compensation for some insecurity, but that isn’t the case all the time, just like humor isn’t gender based the entire time. It is a careful combination of both, as well as the fact that most people like to laugh and smile, plus it’s always a good ice breaker.

MM

The necessity of reading this article has a lot to do with the correlation of spectator and viewer in relation to writing. When writing, it always good to keep the perspectives of the author and reader into consideration. This is especially important when you are trying to aim for a certain point that is affected by one of these points. The more general nature of art allows for an easier job of comprehending how easy it to understand something many different ways when you change a minute detail.