In paper #2 I want to write about episode 5 “Power” of “Ways of Hearing” by Damon Krukowski. In the episode he talks about how companies like Amazon, Facebook and Instagram collect our information for example, information about the things we’ve bought or things we find interesting. They send us ads about those things. Krukowski explain how these ads they send create exposure for us instead of surprising us. This has actually happen to me. I remember talking to my friend about a product I liked in Sephora and I go on Facebook and I see a Sephora ad and all I said was “woah thats a coincidence” after that I kept seeing different types of makeup ads not only on Facebook but on Instagram too. This episode made me wonder how much power all these companies have.

The image I decided to write about is the picture of Donna Gottschalk. The sign she’s holding saying “I am your worst fear, I am your best fantasy”. This message really got me thinking about John Bergers “Ways of seeing” episode 2. In the Episode he said how nude pantings of women are for men pleasure. Putting these two things together made me think that the message was probably for men to see. I can also connect the picture to how lesbian are view today. Not so long ago I seen a video on Snapchat about a lesbian couple who were beat by at least four men because they wouldn’t kissed for their pleasure. This prove Bergers point. Women are not meant for men pleasure or their fantasy thats why we keep fighting for our rights.

John Berger said that oil panting are a way to show people’s wealth. He also said that people who make portaits of themselfs usually have possession that belong to them around the panting. Adding these possessions show the wealth and power that these people have. The portrait of Georg Giese is an example. Objects are everywhere in this portrait. The glass vase, the ornament in the back but most importantly the clothes he’s wearing. The clothes look very expensive not something someone who isn’t rich would wear. This painting is similar to the oil painting Berger discussed in the video because you can clearly see how rich this man was and by his face expression he doesnt look like the type of person you want to mess with. Sometimes its not always about having objects to show people how rich they were. But to show they once existed and had all this money. In the video Berger said that rich people would have generations of portraits to celebrate their life of continuous wealth and power. Those who weren’t rich had nothing.

In high school we went to the MET a lot. We were learning about world religions. The Burning of Sodom was one of the paintings we were going to see. I looked at it online on google images so I can get an idea of the painting and what we were going to be looking at. When I saw it, I didn’t see a lot of details on the picture or knew any information about it. I didn’t see no fire I assumed the painting was dark because it was old and the colors were washed out. The only thing that caught my attention was a man and his three daughters fleeing from someone or something. I didn’t know the reason why Sodom was burning. Then I saw the painting in person I notice how big it was and the details were more clear. The sky so dark and grey, the angel in the sky throwing fire, and one of the angel leading Lot and his two daughters away from everything that was happening in Sodom. That’s when I learn about Sodom and why the Angel was burning it. It’s better to understand a painting when you’re looking at it up close than just seeing a picture online. You can learn so much.