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Ways of Not Seeing
The critic John Berger is a writer of world renown, famous, amongst other things, for his seminal studyWays of Seeing. He is clearly a very intelligent and perceptive man. Yet here he was in The Guardian, (17/7/98), singing the praises of Formula One racing champion, Michael Schumacher. The article noted that this driver is reputed to be a bit of personality defective. But Berger sees something else: 'an ascetic', all 'poise' and 'grace', one moment Schumacher is compared to a 'great musician' next to the Virgin in an early Flemish painting. Berger has the decency to note that F1 racing is noted for its financial greed and manipulation. Yet he is blind to the real degeneracy of this sport. It is the epitome of the sickness gripping the planet. It is an utterly profligate activity, burning off tanker loads of petrol, serving no real human need, gross in every respect, dirty and noisy. There has been much talk about Millennium celebrations. Here is a helpful suggestion: close down all racing circuits, dig up the track and create nature parks. Such action would symbolise society's collective commitment to turn its back on its dirty, wasteful ways. In the meantime, Berger should take a good look at himself. There is something sick as well when aesthetic theory becomes so separate from earthly realities. The accompanying picture of Berger shows him with cigarette stuck between his lips. Perhaps he should see something else as well.
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