SUMMARY: Ways of Seeing - Chapter 3

Ways of Seeing, chapter three, points to the ways that women are being surveyed since the very beginning and how this has effected the way in which women and nudity is employed. John Berger gathers many examples of how this is present throughout art history, and uses them as clear evidence to prove his point. One of Berger's main points of women being there "to feed an appetite, not to have any of their own" (Berger,[1972]166:55), is saying something that has an almost sarcastic tone of voice as if mocking the once common opinion. The social concepts at the time of when this was the common opinion were very different to now, yet Berger is trying to point out that "the essential way of seeing women has not changed" (Berger,[1972]166:64). Not only is Berger saying that we still think in this way, but also that women are born to always consider the way they "appear" to their "surveyor". The text is mainly focused on old traditional paintings instead of modern art, but this is likely because it was published in 1972, although it does mention a photo from a "girlie magazine". Berger also focuses a lot on the aspect of "nakedness" and "nudity" and how they may have the same definition they have been made to mean completely different things. He explains "nakedness reveals itself, nudity is placed on display" (Berger[1972]166:54), which he highlights was first introduced in the story of Adam and Eve. This is a valid point as it has been made something that brings "shame" if one is naked rather than something to celebrate.