Panopticonism
Janvier 1
Ricky
ENC 1101
Colegrove
Assignment 3
John Berger’s “Ways of Seeing” Through Panopticonism
Panopticon is a scheme used greatly by the political hierarchy to manifest social order towards the underclass. It carries the expression of power and it is used as a mean of discipline through the exploitation of surveillance. Panopticonism is a way to control every man in to agreeing with the system that can take many different forms and fashions. John Berger and his views towards art historians mystifying paintings are branched from the panoptic schema used by the “ruling class” to inspect, sort, and oppress the public. As indicated by Bentham, Panopticonism is “a great new instrument of government…; its great excellence consists in the great strength it is capable of giving to any institution it may be thought proper to apply it to” (Bentham 66). John Berger’s radical views on the way we appreciate art are great aspects on how artworks can affect us socially. An implication of one of Berger’s theory is that the ruling class enforces their own cultural control over the oppressed. In this case, the ruling class (the government) establishes institutions to educate others (art historians) on how to focus and scrutinize artworks that are delivered to the subjugated (the citizens). Art historians have been taught by institutions to acknowledge certain artworks highly which can lead into the many reproductions distributed into the community.
Janvier 2
Pop culture in society also plays a significant role in emphasizing the art historians’ views. Music, Movies, Theater, and other forms of entertainment greatly add weight into the standpoints of the art historians. Songs like the jazz hit “Mona Lisa” by Rhythm and Blues legend Nat King Cole puts emphasis on the importance and principles of the painting. The lyrics in the song go as follows:
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you
You’re so like the lady with
Ricky
ENC 1101
Colegrove
Assignment 3
John Berger’s “Ways of Seeing” Through Panopticonism
Panopticon is a scheme used greatly by the political hierarchy to manifest social order towards the underclass. It carries the expression of power and it is used as a mean of discipline through the exploitation of surveillance. Panopticonism is a way to control every man in to agreeing with the system that can take many different forms and fashions. John Berger and his views towards art historians mystifying paintings are branched from the panoptic schema used by the “ruling class” to inspect, sort, and oppress the public. As indicated by Bentham, Panopticonism is “a great new instrument of government…; its great excellence consists in the great strength it is capable of giving to any institution it may be thought proper to apply it to” (Bentham 66). John Berger’s radical views on the way we appreciate art are great aspects on how artworks can affect us socially. An implication of one of Berger’s theory is that the ruling class enforces their own cultural control over the oppressed. In this case, the ruling class (the government) establishes institutions to educate others (art historians) on how to focus and scrutinize artworks that are delivered to the subjugated (the citizens). Art historians have been taught by institutions to acknowledge certain artworks highly which can lead into the many reproductions distributed into the community.
Janvier 2
Pop culture in society also plays a significant role in emphasizing the art historians’ views. Music, Movies, Theater, and other forms of entertainment greatly add weight into the standpoints of the art historians. Songs like the jazz hit “Mona Lisa” by Rhythm and Blues legend Nat King Cole puts emphasis on the importance and principles of the painting. The lyrics in the song go as follows:
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you
You’re so like the lady with