Exercise 5: Berger's Analyse an essay

Read Berger’s essay at least twice.  First, read the essay right through from beginning to end.  Don’t stop to look anything up or take notes, just absorb the author’s argument.  On your second reading (perhaps after a break,) read more slowly and carefully, highlighting or noting down key points or things you don’t fully understand.  Make notes during or after reading, in whatever way works best for you.

Summarise in one line the point of each paragraph.  Now answer the following questions:

Paragraph 1

The majority of people do not consider photography is an art form.

Paragraph 2

Few museums have been preserved photographs as art forms.

Paragraph 3

Art cannot survive and not become valuable property.

Paragraph 4

Photographs have little or no property value as they can be reproduced ad infinitum.

Paragraph 5

A photograph is someone's thought that was worth recording.

Paragraph 6

A photograph is a record, through the mediation of light, of a given event.

    

Paragraph7

Painting is the art of composition whilst composition canter enter into photography.

Paragraph 8

 Events portrayed are mysterious according to a spectator's knowledge of them prior to seeing the photograph.

Paragraph 9

A photograph bears witness to a human choice being exercised.

Paragraph 10

A photograph isolates, preserves and presents a moment taken from a continuum.

Paragraph 11

The only decision a photographer can take is the moment they choose to isolate but this 

gives the unique power.

Paragraph 12

A photograph is effective when the chosen moment contains a quantum of truth.

Paragraph 13

Photography does not deal in constructs, there is only decision, only focus.

Paragraph 14

Evert photograph is a means of testing, confirming and construction a total view of reality.

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1.    What is Berger's Argument?

Berger attempts to argue that photography should not (albeit in 1972 when the piece was written), be considered a fine art.

2.    How is Berger's socio-political stance reflected in the arguments presented?

Berger's communist background and views emerge clearly in his stance on ownership of fine art by the “nobility class”, thereby excluding access to it by the masses.  Because photographs are easily taken, reproduced and available, they are merely records of things seen by the photographer.  Therefore they have no rarity value and cannot be regarded as fine art.  Photographs can, in his opinion, be used as ideological weapons in a class struggle showing particular truths.

3.    Are you convinced by Berger's arguments?  If not, why not?

His views, expressed in 1972, reflect the situation vis a vis photography before the digital age.  It shows that strongly-held opinions can look ridiculous when set in current times where “the camera never lies” philosophy is patently untrue and where computer applications, used creatively, can become a work of art.  Many modern museums throughout the world now house exhibitions of photographs taking their rightful place alongside what Berger considers to be fine art.  Form, composition, lighting and structure are as important in photography as much as in painting and sculpture by artists such as Rembrandt and Michelangelo and their more modern counterparts such as Picasso and Van Gogh.  The main and perhaps only difference is that producing a painting or sculpture takes much longer than taking and adjusting a photograph.

4.    Berger's writing style. 

In my opinion, Berger is verbose and contradictory.  He uses long-winded confusing arguments to substantiate his far-left views  which emerge clearly as the driving force of his beliefs rather than relating to the aesthetic value of art.  His style leaves the reader confused as to his main points and makes it difficult to follow his justification to its clearly political conclusion.
 

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I had a complete mental block as to where to find this essay and finally came up with it after reading another student's blog!  I'll have to set to and read the essay twice as suggested in the course manual and think about it before committing pen to paper, as they say, or fingers to my keyboard!

I find it extremely difficult to analyse articles so feel it would be helpful to read the course support booklets on essay writing and critical analysis first.  I'll continue with the other exercises whilst I complete my reading.

I found several useful pieces on writing critical reviews so need to find some peace and quiet to absorb all the advice.

I've found the OCA booklet 'Academic essay writing', the Visual Arts critical review booklet and an article on Photo Journalism by Ron Frampton FRPS which I think is worth reading as well.