By: John Berger Publisher: Vintage Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vintage Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 224 Publication Date: January 08, 1992 Release Date: January 08, 1992
Product Description: here is great stillness in Berger's prose. But after a few pages, his statements start to sing and go on singing." -- New Republic
As a novelist, art critic, and cultural historian, John Berger is a writer of dazzling eloquence and arresting insight whose work amounts to a subtle, powerful critique of the canons of our civilization. In About Looking he explores our role as observers to reveal new layers of meaning in what we see. How do the animals we look at in zoos remind us of a relationship between man and beast all but lost in the twentieth century? What is it about looking at war photographs that doubles their already potent violence? How do the nudes of Rodin betray the threats to his authority and potency posed by clay and flesh? And how does solitude inform the art of Giacometti? In asking these and other questions, Berger quietly -- but fundamentally -- alters the vision of anyone who reads his work.
"Instant readability ... [Berger] makes one see [paintings] as statements or questions in a living language." -- New Statesman
wordy There are some great observations in here, if you can wade through the subjective hoo-ha. You might want to pick up a beret to wear while you read this.
About Looking The book was in great condition and came very prompty. I know nothing about art history, so this book is way over my head.
Interesting Perspective This is a romantic view of art with leftist references. It is about the way we perceive things visually, in various contexts. He uses photographs and painted works primarily but ends the book by describing how we might view a field. Different sociological and psychological factors will temper what we interpret what we are seeing.
Berger writes in a style that I enjoy, descriptive and without concern for the grammatical structure that the nuns taught me in elementary school. That is not to say it is poorly written, Berger does take some license with proper English. Still the florid prose is very entertaining to me.
I agree with the political concerns that the author has but I do have a problem with his presentation. In particular he discusses the uses of visual images for propaganda and how art was manipulated by Nazi Germany. This is true but then he describes how art can be used to promote socially progressive ideology. In my own opinion propaganda is propaganda whether it is from the left or the right of the political spectrum.
A second issue I take with this author is that he takes some pretty fanciful leaps in his determination of what some artistic ploy means. He described a series of sculptures that would be placed next to a wall. One side of the sculptures was flat. He determined that this was not due to their inevitable placement but to some other factor.
My last issue has to do with presentation. Berger makes a lot of assumptions that are personal. They are undoubtedly a result of a lot of thinking, reading and discussing art. I do not necessarily think they are wrong. He does however, assume that he is correct. Several times this occurred when I was unable to see from his perspective at all. I think that suggestions and fanciful leaps can be appropriate in an art criticism reading. I suggest that the points would reach home more readily if they were phrased ala "...perhaps we could suggest..., or ...maybe one way of interpreting the form is..." Berger instead uses polemic type phrasing such as "undoubtedly this is a result of..."
For an interesting perspective, some historical information and thought provoking suggestions this is a very good read.
You gotta read this ! This is indispensable reading. No joke.
Please read this book. Please please read this book. You will not regret it. Every essay is an eye opener and get you to really rethink your world-view.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
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Trevor
