Chapter 7
Ways Of Seeing, 1973, pp. 129-155
New York: Penguin Books, 1973
The final chapter of John Berger's Ways of Seeing discusses publicity images in urban settings. Berger theorizes that the concentration of visual messages momentarily stimulates our imagination, therefore these images must be consistently updated to catch out attention. The author also discusses how publicity manipulates viewers' interests and opinions through different visual languages that can be easily misinterpreted, such as advertising, television and fine art.
ITEM 1973.013 – available for viewing in the Research Centre
Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited
Dejeuner sur l'Herbe – Sven Blomberg
Jupiter and Thetis – Edouard Manet
Pan Pursuing Syrinx – J.A.D Ingres
Bacchus, Ceres and Cupid – Hendrick van Balen
Interior of St Odulphus' Church at Assendelph, 1649 – Bartholomew Spranger
Wave – Pieter Saenredam
Carlo Lodovici di Borbone Parma with Wife, sister and Future Carlo III of Parma – Hokusai
Still Life with Drinking Vessels – Anon, 19th century
Mrs Siddons – Pieter Claesz
Marilyn Monroe – Thomas Gainsborough
On the Threshold of Liberty – Andy Warhol
Rene Magritte