In the book Ways of Seeing, the author, John Berger, offers his view on oil paintings. He explains that they are more likely to portray a positive situation rather than a negative one. Most artists painted subjects that bring happiness to their viewers. This consistency is because most oil paintings were painted for people of the rich, upperclass, who payed artists to create them. Therefore, these painting were not exactly representative of society as a whole. Every now and then, a painter would exemplify a negative situation, which served as propaganda or to prove a certain point. These painting were rare and usually banned by the ruling class of the time.

An interesting point we spoke about in class from Ways of Seeing was that if a person owns a painting, he or she also owns what is portrayed in it. I found this point to be interesting because I never thought of paintings or pictures in that way. I recently bought a painting of two songbirds, but I do not feel as though I own them. More than anything I feel that I bought the picture because it is representative of me, not because I want to own the birds. They symbolize freedom to me and I love music as well. I like walking into my room  and being able to see a beautiful painting that represents a certain idea that is important to me. I do believe that I own the picture, but I do not believe that I own what it is representing. I believe that is just reflective of me.

I love our seminar class because it is a place where we can share our ideas and listen to that of others. I like being able to hear the viewpoints of others, and using them to shape my own ideas. Even though we do not always agree with each other, we all hear each other out and allow one another not to feel judged. It is a great environment to learn in.