“Ways Of Seeing” by John Berger
“Ways of Seeing” is a book that discusses the ways we truly
see, combining photographs and text to depict this. Seeing is different to
everyone. We all make different conclusions and have different attitudes in the
way we may observe something.
One statement Berger makes is that seeing is not the same as
knowledge. He uses the example that a child can see a car move but does not
understand how it moves. Therefore we may be able to see something and even
recognize it but then not understand it, making you’re perception different to another
person that may witness the same object. Another factor that can change someone’s
perception is past experiences, objects may mean more to others because of
involvement or past practice.
As well as this, photographers and their work, including
advertising, are also described to have a massive impact on the depiction of
certain objects, places, people etc.
Berger argues that the photographer selects one shot out of many images
and is therefore choosing what we see and completely controls the meaning
behind the image. This means that the shot
will be swaying to one particular persons view point and viewers can be
persuaded by this. A photograph is also an instant, “a mechanical eye” that
shows you the world the way it sees it.
In conclusion “Ways of seeing” is a very detailed text on
John Berger’s view of how we see, what
effects our visions and understandings and proves how everything is interpreted
through your own mind. Everyone has different opinions and there are many
factors on how we perceive something.
