Ways Of Seeing Ways Of Seeing -
: Seeing is an active act of choice. We only see what we look at, and to look is to situate ourselves in relation to the world.
: We know the Earth rotates away from the sun at night, yet we still see the sun setting. This illustrates that our knowledge and our sight often exist in a state of tension. ways of seeing WAYS OF SEEING
Berger begins with the simple observation that "seeing comes before words". Before a child can speak, they recognize objects and their place in the world through sight. However, as we grow, this "pure" sight is replaced by a complex web of cultural conventions: : Seeing is an active act of choice
: To see something is to realize that we can also be seen. Vision is a two-way street that confirms our existence as part of the visible world. How We See "Art" and the World This illustrates that our knowledge and our sight
In the 1972 book and BBC series , John Berger presents a helpful "story" or framework for understanding that our sight is never neutral—it is always filtered through what we know, believe, and the culture we inhabit . The Core Narrative: Seeing vs. Knowing
Berger uses several specific "stories" to show how our perspective has been historically manipulated: Ways of Seeing