John Berger Insights

1)   “The invention of the camera changed not only what we see, but how we see it.”

The camera reproduces the picture in any size, place, or purpose. It can be everywhere and anywhere. The paintings used to belong to their own space. They were always placed on the same wall and in the same position. The pictures that were shown in the video were duplicated. They are now on many different screens surrounded by different sounds, people, and materials.

This is an interesting idea. It’s something I never thought of on my own. Yes, the camera duplicates the picture and even changes the way the picture looks. Reproductions distort the actually look. We aren’t able to see the brush strokes, or even the exact color that was being used. However, that’s something I could infer without knowing much about art. To say that the art has been duplicated and is now “everywhere” is an idea I would have never thought of on my own.

2)   “Paintings are modified and changed by the sounds you hear while looking at them.”

This is interesting because I felt it work when John Berger gave an example. We looked at Van Gogh’s painting in silence. It seemed to be a nice painting with a calming effect to it. After, he said that this was Van Gogh’s last painting before passing away and then added solemn music to it. This gave the painting a completely different feel. This concept is something one wouldn’t notice while it was happening; it’s something that needs to be pointed out. This concept is exactly as if you’re watching a movie, and the music comes on in the background. The music gives the scene more meaning. If there were scary music playing, it gives it a frightening feel. A music-less movie means nothing because the music helps give the picture/scene more meaning.