Mystification :: essays research papers

MystificationIn Bergers essay, he uses the term mystification. Mystification is superstar way to set out describing the ways in which masses perceive what they chitchat. When people look at same painting or advertisement, they perceive and fancy differently. As John Berger says, we are always looking at the relation between things and ourselves (156). We see things differently from one another and in the beginning we see things, but without language and understanding, we cannot explain what it is we see. The way we see things is predetermined by different factors such as our own experiences and status. Berger provides an example two paintings by Frans Hals. The two paintings are picture of a group of governors and a group of governesses. The paintings imply that how our societyhas emphasized an upper class at the period. And, high status people control the peoples view. As Berger says, the art of the past is being mystified because a privileged minority is striving to invent a narration which can retrospectively justify the role of the ruling classes, and such a justification can no longer make sense in youthful terms (157). The upper class mystifies us to stay in control without being able to see things in our own way, we are being disadvantaged from our right to understanding ourselves and placing ourselves in a role of society. The privileged minority mystifies works of art in order to control peoples view. Berger explains how Hals becomes subsequently he painted the two paintings. According to Berger, he obtained three loads of peat on public charity, otherwise he would have frozen to death. Those who now sit for him were administrators of such public charity (158).