Ways of Seeing: John Berger (Penguin Modern Classics)

I first happened across this book when I was at University as an undergraduate when I quoted someone else quoting it in an essay, never having read it myself (shame on me!) I'm now back at University as a postgraduate researcher and thought it's high time I read this for myself. My goodness, I'm so glad I did. This is a wonderful, wonderful book. First published in 1972, it reads as slightly dated in some places. I wasn't entirely sure I totally agreed with the way women see themselves and the way men see women from the point of view of contemporary society. However, the interpretation offered within this text was probably true in 1972, and would certainly be true in the 18th century (the period I'm studying). I'm not an art historian (I study literature) but the two are intrinsically interlinked and quite often the scenes "painted" in an eighteenth-century text (that's how they termed it then) correspond to the artistry of the time. With this in view, this book has provided me with an entirely new way of viewing literary scenes. In fact, it's provided me with a whole new way of viewing the world. The essays within the text seek to raise questions in the reader (and acknowledge that they are doing this) and they do. I loved the essay on publicity. It's so true - advertising seeks to sell us what we don't need and society renders us valueless if we are perceived as not having "stuff" or money to spend on it. Conversely, however, we are made poorer by spending our money on this "stuff" we just don't need. The argument about holiday adverts was enlightening: "The entire world becomes a setting for the fulfilment of publicity’s promise of the good life. The world smiles at us. It offers itself to us. And because everywhere is imagined as offering itself to us, everywhere is more or less the same." (p. 150). Holidays in Brid it is from now on - it's a lot cheaper and it's pretty much the same as anywhere else! This book is a real eye-opener - I would definitely recommend it. I don't think I'll ever see the world in the same way again.

52 years later (in 2024), this revolutionary critique of art and art historians reads as fresh as the day it was published. The style is direct, succinct and well-structured, with many pertinent images. The content - showing how most Western art reinforces male dominance of females and ruling class control - is intelligently forceful. The examples chosen illustrate the argument with great clarity. But above all, it is the controlled passion that impresses - a passion to expose longstanding injustices. This admirably short work is simply one of the most brilliant art critiques of all time, revealing the hidden power structures behind most Western art. Berger was a multi-talented thinker and creator, a radical English art critic, novelist, painter and poet, who died in 2017 aged 90. I wonder what he would have written about the conceptual, relational and participatory art which flourished particularly between 1990 and 2020. There was (and remains) a huge amount of posturing rubbish, which has become increasingly commercial. He might have been indulgent, since the original aim of this 'democratising' art is to put it in the hands of everyman and everywoman. But his sharp mind surely cannot have put up with the neglect of beauty and skill which now dominates the art schools and much new work. He would also be appalled at how protean capitalist art galleries and curators have become the conductors of artistic taste and presentation.

As other reviewers have already written, this book is a pure product of its time. However, this doesn't mean that it is completely out of date and irrelevant to the modern reader. Berger's Marxist reading of art history is still highly entertaining and worth reading for its challenge of pre-conceived ideas in art, and that is true whether you agree with him or not. Even though (or, maybe, because) it stands as an idiosyncratic work, it should be essential reading for any art history/visual culture student. The four stars relate to the contents of the book; regarding this particular Penguin paperback edition, the black and white illustrations are a bit weak and often too small.

Fantastic book, if poorly printed, but it was only ever reproduced in B&W, so one had to expect that. A great addition to the TV series; hunt it out on YouTube - or demand that the BBC repeats it; there's certainly room to do so, given the lowest-common-denominator tripe they peddle instead of the intelligent programmes we were lucky enough to get in the 1970s.

it is full of interesting ideas, it is a shame though that it should be written very much in that 1960s -1970s crypto-marxist jargon that people used at the time to look intelligent. It just makes rather difficult to understand in places

Classic book which needs to be on everyone's bookshelf. This copy replaces the one I lost - possibly never returned by an avid reader

i warmly recommend this to all foundation drawing students. it's written in a critical + reflective tone, in a language/prose that is easy to receive by mostly all. it's a smooth read and rich in visual analyses, comparisons. it's sharp and witty philosophical and ethical questionings make it all the more enjoyable. it's a good read - again and again. it's short and sweet, yet full of many gems and 'sparrings'

I have read this book as a title from a suggested reading list prior to studying for a Foundation Degree in Photography. I found digesting some of the points raised quite difficult. I thought that some of the writing has a sexist bias when talking of women being objectified but some was just downright confusing. I guess that I started reading with a preconceived idea of what the title "says of Seeing" was going to tell me. I found that the book or its way of telling the Ways of Seeing was unfamiliar in its approach. I intend to read it a second time to form up what I understood from my first read through.

Great book, fast shipping. Thank you

Especially since I think I was supposed to read it in Art School thirty years ago. In fact I thought I had read it, and I was just buying it to show a student. Read it myself. Slow going at the beginning.

The book is very small papers are like novel quality (not the usual art book quality) all pictures included are black and white. A bit disappointed الكتاب صغير جدا الاوراق رديئه النوعيه و جميع الصور في الكتاب بالاسود و الابيض

A must read for artists and art lovers. Literally shows the ways to look at art. A gem to keep. Small lightweight handy book. Full of fascinating perspectives and visuals.

This book is a collection of conferences which Berger and other critics held on TV. The illustrations are too small and of very poor quality, so don't expect a fancy art book or something like that. It is a bit irritating especially on one of the essays, which is only consisting of pictures and not a single word. Said this, it is a pure compendium, extremely inspiring and modern. 5 stars because you should never complain about a Penguin pocket book.