chapter 12

The Art models in chapter 12 are a simple way of mapping out the pieces of a work of art of any sort and its influences. Going further than Abrams model, Berger’s model points out that art, the artist, the audience, America (or society) and the medium are all connected. These elements all influence one another. The medium is in the middle (probably just because it’s the only word that doesn’t start with the letter ‘A’) however even though Marshall McLuhan said “the medium is the message” Berger disagrees. He does however say that the medium is still very important and influential. Art or communication in a sense, in Berger’s model, does not have specific effects but he’s just saying that communication does have effects and they often come from and further influence the other elements in the model.

I wonder, why did Berger use the word “America” instead of “society” when so much of today’s art of many sorts is highly influenced by other countries especially suffering ones, ones with sports teams, etc. aside from the fact that the word just starts with ‘A’. Wouldn’t he have been better off not losing the meaning and just having a word that started with another letter?