WAYS OF SEEING (first episode) 1/4

[johnzbarleycorn]

An appalling piece of illogical and left-wing drivel, very dated, very 70s, very Dave Spart.

[selskaseverinska]

Klasično

[liberalguilt]

Berger did not disapprove of the mass reproduction of works of art. He felt it helped to demystify art, to take it from the hands of the cultural elite.

[jabiani]

I have seen that paradox in college! You acussed Benjamin of being narrow in a candid and very short argument, and then...

[rrichrs]

Many do not realize that Berger and Benjamin for that matter ignore the opportunities that are presented when having the ability to mass produce such work. Not everyone has the ability to go around the world, or to travel to Italy to see a Botticelli. Their view, although extremely educated, is a very narrow one.

[FunkyFlower7]

What a brilliant opening scene.

[modomnoc1010]

Brings back memories of my Social Psychology course at LSE. Where did the Marxist revolution go? I moved on to become a Catholic. How life changes.

[freethoughtmusic]

Thanks for posting. I loved this back in college. Great to re-visit.

[trevorsacks]

Does anyone know what the choral piece of music is, playing behind the section on icons from around 5:40 onwards?

[buranyum]

hey, thanks for this documentary... it is very good for visual art and art history...

[vcimseo]

hello,

This is a great article and a great website. I liked it very much. It will help me to optimize my websites in Europe.

thanks

[steffemelec]

There are four parts in one episode right? And how many episodes are there? Can someone please help! I needed for a class..... Thanks for posting it though

[steffemelec]

There are four parts in one episode right? And how many episodes are there? Can someone please help! I needed for a class..... Thanks for posting it though

[RonAlmeida]

Thank you for posting this excellent series of videos. It is very hard for those of us not living in the affluent west to have a chance to see them otherwise.

[suddenlyitsobvious]

(5)

coupled to a "left-brain" pseudo-sensitive analytical discourse, that furthermore remains substandard. Kind of funny...

This documentary is self-defeating, but thanks for posting.

[metronomic1]

@suddenlyitsobvious Go sit on a dick.

[suddenlyitsobvious]

@metronomic1

36 and into Lady Gaga. You're obviously a complete moron.

[suddenlyitsobvious]

(4)

I think this is basically an instance of the "emperor's new clothes". Everybody is so terrified of being branded an insensitive cultural barbarian that they all go "Oh, it's so PROFOUND", when in reality they are doing PRECISELY what Berger's is spending the entire documentary explaining you should NOT do:

instead of being alone with a piece of art and absorbing it, all these people are being shown  RECONSTRUCTED, REPRODUCED IMAGES, ...

[suddenlyitsobvious]

(3)

Bottom line appears to be that we need look at the originals, and that context, reproduction, music, noise or whatever coupled to that experience affects our perception of a work of art.

I find Berger's apparent emotional investment out of proportion with the substance and informativeness of what is being communicated.

[suddenlyitsobvious]

(2)

...and capturing the world have changed through the ages using painting as supportive illustration.

That today camera's and consumerism exist is not exactly a revelation worth spending 7+ minutes on as far as I'm concerned...

Well, in part 2 Berger states:

"only if art is tripped of the false mystery and false religiosity that surrounds it",

when it seems to me that's precisely what Berger is communicating.

[suddenlyitsobvious]

While I understand his point that images, paintings were originally specific to and localized in a particular setting, and that today same images can be consumed out of context, this information has failed to captivate me.

I suppose I shall now be accused of being "ignorant" and having a "short attention span", but I'll see if the analysis gets more elaborate in the next parts.

I was hoping for a perspective on how ways of seeing ...

[uncompromising34]

Thanks man, intresting.

[codelocator]

I met John two years ago, he's a big man and a most righteous individual. Great series and a classic book too, if you haven't understood at least one of them it's your loss entirely.

[didier350]

@SSgtParmer... and the arrogance of non-thinkers (like you) is why we're in the shit we're in.

[Elecksia]

he sounds like the narrator of bagpuss

[DannyIndio]

Its fascinating how much the power and beauty of paintings and sculptures come from actually being in the places where they exist in their original form.

[7SinfulPleasures]

anyone who caught the dziga vertov quote, thumbs up this.

[108morris108]

Looking at this is a testament to how dumbed down society has become. No longer is anything so incisive or with concentration.

[bboessen]

I'm loving the repeated irony of Berger explaining to us the way the show is being broadcast to us live when in reality we're all watching it on our computers.

[keytoothed]

We see them as no one else has seen them before? Really? I think it's quite the reverse. This age probably sees far less than any other--so disconnected, compartmentalized, and alienated are we. Oh to be able to see with the same intensity, the same wonder, of those who first witnessed the cave paintings in Lascaux.

[corefee]

Its based on the book "Ways of seeing" right?

[RealisticMeg]

@corefee No, the book was made after the program, Berger and others created the book from the transcripts of this program.

[samshipstone]

Man, all the stuff at 3:40 to 4:40; Mr Berger must have burst a node the first time he discovered the internet

[RBGTHUG]

ugh, I just waited like 24 hours downloading this via torrent and the version I downloaded turned out to be black and white, while the youtube version is in color, I just can't seem to win, huh?

:(

[lexo30]

@RBGTHUG On the other hand, probably most people who watched this programme when it was first broadcast back in the 1970s would have watched it in black and white because colour TV was not then universal, so in a way your experience was typical.

[machtrebel]

I like watching this; when I'm done, I will go buy some PRADA shoes

[dimseeeen]

he is very handsome

[newellgirl]

my media teacher showed us this in class..hasn't aged at all in terms of message..brilliant....

[sponsoredwalk1]

The Anthropomorphic Camera!

[magnetikal]

Right, there are reproductions, but there are also PRINTS. Some work was never intended to be "original" but instead disseminated widely, for commercial gain, since before the Gutenberg press. Woodcuts. Engravings. Books. And then lithographs and other forms. I wish he acknowledged that.

[shakeyourdimsims]

welease woderick

[paradiceislost9]

i love how this has aged and yet remains so visionary

[martinjp1958]

Some Art Historians seem to shed light on the subject. Most tend to obfuscate, or keep their observations within the art world - revealing very little. For me, Berger was one of those rare visionaries, often sadly derided by the sneering classes.

[usases]

That was very very interesting. Thanks;)

[lameplanet]

Thanks for posting this.

It seems like the reason there are so many negative comments is that a lot of people I guess are "forced" to watch this and - god forbid - engage their brains for something more taxing than watching X-factor while txtin wiv their m8s lol.

God, thinking is *so* last century.

[Tehcarp]

I've read his book which accompanies this series and I am just now watching the series for the first time.

That being said, this type of movie has an academic audience, and that fact is accompanied by a discomforting 'learning curve' for people just coming to watch academic film.

There is a chance that you, like me, can recall the first time you watched academic film - wasn't it dry? I didn't enjoy them till I could watch them alone in a viewing room with pauses and fast forward etc.

[joolsduane]

@Tehcarp I must say, I disagree entirely. I think this is a really compelling piece of television. But that's just me...

[Tehcarp]

@joolsduane You don't disagree with me, you are making a new point.

[charold3]

@lameplanet but the great majority of viewers like it: 213 like and only 8 dislike, as of today.

[Raveninety9]

@lameplanet

It doesnt matter, though I appreciate the thoughts given here I dont neccesarily want to learn this btu I must do so because my school tells me to do so & change my perspective upon their expectations for artists. I cannot accept that fact & wont care about failing or not I will choose my beliefs. All ı wanted was to learn the techniques I dont give a rats ass about the model of students they expect us to be like water to be frozen in any shape they want

[slybuster]

@lameplanet That and the fact Berger is a raging marxist...interesting but f*&* sakes...

[WhoopsieTheWolf]

@lameplanet You are my hero :D

[cpmpal2]

@lameplanet I think you miss a critical application's of the point berger is trying to make here. Thinking about the way we interpret the paintings is important, but thinking about the paintings in many ways ruins their significance. If I can think about a painting long enough or hard enough to summarize a point or a message even a story, I have then mentally killed the painting by creating a snapshot of consciousness in my own head that I can carry around much the photos berger talks about.

[matrixfan58]

@lameplanet be careful up on that high, high horse of yours

[sybyly]

@lameplanet

hi lame, any noticeable rise/decline on the planet the last 2 years? -- for me this isnt even about the xfactor brain-drain: even today's arts programs seemingly dare not credit its viewers with this much ability to think for themselves or to overcome their attention-deficit disorders.

[idpakuryak]

@lameplanet Such a dad comment, but i do agree! haha!

[doceigen]

@lameplanet Actually what is so THIS century is the use of exaggerated statistics and convoluted asymmetric politicizing though them. ONLY 17 people thumbed down this video, while 555 gave it a thumbs up. 17 out of 567 observes does NOT validate your negative assumption, people who think know that, you must believe we are so stupid as to simply believe you. THAT is this centuries' trend so far... enter the 'democratized comments section' where 63 people who cannot think, agreed.

[gerryxterry]

gewisses am sehen kommt uns rätselhaft vor , weil uns das ganze sehen nicht rätselhaft genug vorkommt. l.wittgenstein

[araucaniad]

reading this book was a fundamental part of my education in school. I never got to see the actual program before. thank you. John Berger is great. I learned so much from him.

[beanulike123]

More like " ways of seeing hes a Cock Bag!"

[jdgreen304]

this is a load of shit

[consheen]

gmit art students , what a crap college , want to go back to real art college like crawford

[MIGYOAKLAND]

The most exciting part of the whole video is dude cutting up that painting. I thought watching the video would be easier than reading the essay. SIKE!!!

[celticghirl88]

This man is possibly the dullest man on earth. We have to study his books and while i understand what he is talking about, the manner in which he puts it forward makes me want to slit my wrists.

[budhaheart]

@celticghirl88 His voice is so dull that I could actually use the audio of this video to fall asleep and never wake again.

[celticghirl88]

oh i know! But god forbid we should think this, there are people on here who obviously think that he's an absolute genius who should never be slated. God forbid we should hold an opinion!

[LocksAndChains]

I know what you mean, but I'm probably biased right now, having to write a 1200 word essay about his work :'(

[celticghirl88]

ooh that's not nice lol. Thankfully we havent had to do that, though i wouldn't be surprised if we did

[innelle]

ocad student?

[ketchups]

this has nothing to do with the book :x i have to read the first chapter and I will still have to read it. if someone has the ebook plz mail me.

[frobang2009]

thank you. This was massively helpful to watch while writing a paper on Berger.

[zemidjan]

i have to read the book and summarized it but now im watching the video.. hahahaaha technology. less work for me.

[ColinMeloy91]

LOVE this what song is at 5:23?

[polymath7]

I'm sure this is premature, but thus far I am not in the least impressed.

He has yet to say a thing that is not *entirely* self-evident.

[faultyfault]

Provocative knob

[Casualvacancy]

This is a great book

[polkacat]

Why does he just walk up to a canvas and nonchalantly cut a hole in it?!

[tiberiousgraccus]

its about the reproduction of paintings.And at the same time we give them less importance buy making them available in shops.

[teaknees]

He's a kind of freelance art desecrator.

[mozo2112]

Should be required viewing for any liberal arts major.

[Yerningeleven]

Along with the walmart training videos.

[knifacolyte]

very funny!

[faraz1729]

Haha!

[anacaroldf]

alguém sabe se tem o mesmo vídeo legendado em português?

se souberem me mandem uma mensagem

Obrigada!

[rageddyanne]

Yo pensaba que era el Chavo Del 8! jajajaja

[kfarm2001]

I believe it first aired in 1972. Watch "The Spectre of Hope" too, recently up on YouTube.

[BajkonurBobby]

I love that they made it a TV show so it could be spread to... well, "the masses"! It's a great show!

Whn was it aired(/made)???

[thibaulthalpern]

Uh....the documentary came before the book. This was made in the 70s. You probably know it first as a book but it actually came out on television first.

[BajkonurBobby]

Oh, yeah, I know. I just wandered when they made it. Do you know the exact year?

[gabachin27]

thanks for uploading! i've read the book a million times, but this was my first with the original... i'll surely use this in my class.

[Oscar301]

sublime

[amazingtessa]

i read the book a while back but HOLY SHIT this is good. thank you!

[festilina]

Many, many thanks for posting this. This is what really good TV can do, when you assume that the audience is intelligent. The format is great and still feels radical. The use of one's own actual, personal TV to make the point at 4'30" is the kind of imagination you don't get anymore, now that TV has pretty much given up with serious arts coverage and criticism, reducing everything to the level of those boring, establishment farts they wheel out on Newsnight.

[ARCHETECTONIC]

Thank you, thank you for posting this!! This book was highly recommended at art school and the show is even better. Thanks.

[quietlikesnow]

Although I am able to show this on poor quality VHS tape in my courses, I wish it would be released on DVD! I don't think book version is as compelling.

[manwithaplan999]

NB - THIS PROGRAMME IS BEING SHOWN ON UK TV THIS WEEK (starting Sept 28th, 2008). BBC4 at 7.30. Sunday-Wednesday

[kassdogx]

Thank you for the upload. This kind of videos make youtube community worth being part of.

Thanks pal.

[DFORCE1969]

At last! Thanks for posting this fascinating series!

[jaironia]

You don't know how much I was waiting for this video! Thank you very very much. John Berger is perhaps the most important person for Art History and Visual Studies in the last 30 years. This is brilliant. Thanks again!

[StauffDante]

This is amazing - Thank you so much for putting it up - I was despairing of getting to see a copy, as the book is notedly very different from the series....

[miloandottis1]

yes, the difference between the naked and the nude - and the space in between - very informative :d

[thewordygecko]

What a treat! Thanks so much for this, and the series.

[lexo30]

I'm a huge Berger fan and have always wanted to watch this. Many thanks for posting it. It's a scandal that while Kenneth Clark's contemporary BBC doc 'Civilisation', vastly more expensive, much more glamorous and much less provocative and interesting, is out on DVD, you can't get 'Ways of Seeing' in the same format. It's so much more fascinating than Clark droning his worshipful way around the great art of the world.

[toughpat]

Thank you for posting this.