In this world, there are a billion different ways anyone can experience a single moment in their lifetime. Most of the time it all depends on the mood they are in and even down to the environment. Being in a particular location and actually seeing it in person is a lot more impactful than merely scanning over it within a textbook. For example, the Sistine Chapel is considered one of the most famous works of art ever created in the history of mankind. Having been painted in the beginning of the 16th century, one could say that it is definitely a huge part of history. One that can only be really experienced by physically going to Rome to look at the masterpiece that Michelangelo put more than four years of his life into.
John Berger said that pieces of art cannot be reproduced, because there can only be one original. For example, the Sistine Chapel obviously cannot be reproduced because of the vastness of it, and the amount of time and location of where it is. If anyone wanted to have their own “Sistine Chapel” inside of their house, then they could get a smaller framed version to put upon their living room wall. Or even a smaller version of that would be a postcard that can be placed anywhere, even be sent across the world over every sea. That is exactly what he is trying to express to everyone, art is something that takes a certain kind of talent, and that talent cannot be duplicated. To experience the Sistine Chapel’s greatness would to be to fly over to Rome and see it in person.
What About Way Back in 1512?
Living in the 16th century, there were multiple artists that were starting to come around and show their full potential. For example were Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, who at that time were no name street artists. In saying that, would looking at their art on the top of a ceiling be all that important, or worth seeing? Most likely not, because back then people wouldn’t go out of their way to see something that they didn’t appreciate or was amazing. But, then again, they were missing out on something that would go down in history as a piece of art that put a lot of work into it. Michelangelo spent around four years lying on his back painting versus from the Bible. Something that takes that long should be more appreciated rather than brushed off. For those living during that time era, they didn’t get to fully take in what they were seeing, because it was later in time that the Sistine Chapels ceiling became so famous.
Jump to Present Times
Fast-forward to seeing what Michelangelo did in the present time, and how it would feel like to be standing under the ceiling and looking up to see what four years of hard work does. Not many individuals can say that they went to go look at what Michelangelo did, and since there are no pictures allowed, all of those people have to keep in it in the back of their minds that they went. Truth be told, this is one of those life experiences that should be crossed off of a bucket list. Aside from seeing things in person, that is the only way that you are not seeing a knock off version of the original.
John Berger tells us that, that is the only way anyone would be able to see anything without a flaw in his theory. His theory that seeing it through any other sort of lens takes away from what the artist wanted you to see. Which is true, the only way to get what your “paying for” is to see something for yourself in person, or basically get a downgraded version of it instead.
John Berger tells us that, that is the only way anyone would be able to see anything without a flaw in his theory. His theory that seeing it through any other sort of lens takes away from what the artist wanted you to see. Which is true, the only way to get what your “paying for” is to see something for yourself in person, or basically get a downgraded version of it instead.
Reproduction at its Finest
Art is something that can be easily reproduced, because it’s a single picture that can either go on a post card or on a t-shirt. Either way the beauty of this single masterpiece is being shared around the world for those who want to be able to enjoy it. With saying that, there is always that one component that lacks from the true beauty of the hard work the artist took into creating their art piece. For example, a post card is small enough to fit into your hands, or into a wallet. And with saying that, those tiny representations of the Sistine Chapel is not truly showing the sweat and hard work it took Michelangelo to do for four years. As John Berger states in his video, “Ways of Seeing,” even though we as the audience are watching his show us original pieces of art, we still aren’t seeing the original, only him standing in front of it, is. No matter where you are seeing the Sistine Chapel, whether it is from a documentary, a textbook, online, or even on a postcard, you are not seeing the “original” piece of artwork. But in reality, those sources of reproduction are the only way that knowledge of its existence is out for the whole world to see. If those did not exist, who knows how anything would be able to become famous and well known.
Going into depth about how far along technology has come in the last couple centuries, is insane, to put it simply. Over the past couple years alone, the growth of it has increased more than what was anticipated. Not only art, but there are movies, books, and so much more that would not be well known at all if it weren’t for the invention of the word, “copy.” Where would society be today, if children in schools didn’t learn about history? Reproduction, or even stories passed down from generation to generation, is what basically makes the world go round, and lets humans make an impact on this tiny planet in such a huge galaxy.
Going into depth about how far along technology has come in the last couple centuries, is insane, to put it simply. Over the past couple years alone, the growth of it has increased more than what was anticipated. Not only art, but there are movies, books, and so much more that would not be well known at all if it weren’t for the invention of the word, “copy.” Where would society be today, if children in schools didn’t learn about history? Reproduction, or even stories passed down from generation to generation, is what basically makes the world go round, and lets humans make an impact on this tiny planet in such a huge galaxy.
Ways of Seeing Things
In conclusion, the only way to truly get to experience anything in life is to see it in person. No matter how much of a pain it will be, costs, or even physically exhausting, seeing anything in person can literally take your breath away. That is what John Berger has been trying to express to us in his videos, because he was the one that saw art in a whole new perspective. Museums are basically the only way that anyone would be able to see pieces of art from Michelangelo, or even Leonardo Da Vinci. Other than that, the only other way that anyone can see their artwork is from replicas or reproductions on t-shirts, or postcards.
Overall, John Berger has a point when he says that art is something that needs to be traced back in history, to the specific origin of whatever may be valuable in the future. Whether it be a book that Charles Dickens wrote, a painting that Van Gogh painted, or even a poem that Emily Dickenson made, all of those wouldn’t be here today in present times if someone where to either loose it, or even discard it thinking it was never going to be valuable.
Overall, John Berger has a point when he says that art is something that needs to be traced back in history, to the specific origin of whatever may be valuable in the future. Whether it be a book that Charles Dickens wrote, a painting that Van Gogh painted, or even a poem that Emily Dickenson made, all of those wouldn’t be here today in present times if someone where to either loose it, or even discard it thinking it was never going to be valuable.
Jennifer Juarez is a student at CSUN who procrastinates a lot, regrets every second of it, but does it anyways. She also is very fond of cats and other random stuff.