Ways of Seeing: John Berger

Ways of seeing, a documentary that teaches us to see paintings as no one has seen them before, throughout this documentary, narrated by John Berger, the documentary focuses on the art of photography as well as allowing us to see how the human eye is able to travel a multitude of places with photography itself.  As the documentary continues John Berger shows us how perspective makes the eye of the human world possible, as there are many different points of view in which to see a picture. Berger shows us a fresh perception of the world, and explains a new world seen through the camera. The camera was an invention that changed not only what we see, but also how we see it, for instance seeing a single painting in a million different places. As the documentary continues the camera is an object used to portray art in the setting of the viewer’s life.  Cameras can be seen as a tool to keep records of a life or even a buildings interior life. This can be seen where Berger speaks about the Renaissance Churches and the art work throughout the building.   Throughout the documentary John Berger describes the camera as a messenger of images. It reconstructs as well as reproduces the image and makes it available in anyone’s home. As he continues on he soon makes the point that the camera can be seen as a substitute for what the painting has lost. The documentary Ways of seeing is an informational record of both camera and art and how they coincide to portray an image in many different ways for many different viewers.