Critical Analysis of Artwork

                         Robert Polidori, Looking East, 42^nd Street, New York, 2002

     John Berger writes about publicity image in his book “Ways of Seeing”. The photograph I took of the In Looking East, Polidori captures society’s constant blink of the eye images of publicity. The extravagant, spectacular captivating propaganda is seen in every inch of the In Looking East, Polidori photograph. I grew up in New York and this photograph In Looking East, Polidori captures the electrifying dynamic energy of New York City’s spirit.  The spirit of New York City is a unique experience, attending the Yankee games under the big lights during the week. New York City has so many advertisements it just sucks the consumer in. The advertisements are captivating so they catch the consumer’s attention. “Publicity is effective precisely because it feeds upon the real”(pg.132).  
     One argument that is made by Berger in “Ways of Seeing” is that publicity “turns consumption into a substitute for democracy”(pg.149). As an individual staring into the In Looking East, Polidori photograph I can image myself standing in the square. As I am standing in the square, I can smell all the different nationalities of the food being cooked, there is nothing better than spending the day in the city with no care in the world. The advertisements in the city are on every piece of real state. Advertisements are everywhere when I check the mail; half of our mail is advertisements. The stores do a great job of using color graphics to catch your attention. Even if I did not plan on shopping at that store, I still can’t help but looking at the colorful advertisement. Now the grocery stores are keeping up with the lighting speed of technology, they have apps that you can download your coupons or the coupons are sent directly to your Smartphone. In a way this makes it more convenient but it is a great example of publicity. I think advertisers have a great understanding of or fundamental appetite as human beings.  Publicity “proposes to each of us that we transform ourselves, or our lives, buy buying something more”(pg. 131).  
     Another argument that is made by Berger in “Ways of Seeing” about publicity is “publicity, situated in a future continually deferred, excludes the present and so eliminates all becoming, all development”(pg.153). In the photograph, In Looking East, Polidori you can see this argument that Berger identified on page 153.  On the right side of In Looking East, Polidori there is two advertisements of The Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King. By advertising the upcoming shows on Broadway demonstrates the requirement for the deferred future. Maybe there is a possibility that the consumer can afford to go see at least one show or both shows if they are lucky. These two advertisements exhibits the upcoming Broadway shows to make the consumer fanaticize about having the glimmer of hope to see the shows. So the consumer can state I have seen The Lion King on Broadway. The bigger picture is that the advertisements are directed towards the consumer’s happiness. This goes back to Berger’s point that “Publicity is effective precisely because it feeds upon the real”(pg.132).

Works Cited:
Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London: British Broadcasting, 1972. Print.
Polidori, Robert. Looking East, 42nd Street, New York. 2002. Photograph. 

Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, CO.