The document discusses the concept of mystification, defined as the alteration of one's perception due to external and internal influences, such as biased viewpoints and societal ideologies. It highlights how the ruling class shapes perceptions of art and history to serve their interests, leading to conformity and motivated perception. The text suggests that to avoid mystification, individuals should strive for objective evaluation and form their own interpretations without external biases.

1. WAYS OF MYSTIFICATION OF AN IMAGE:
MystificationisdefinedbyBergerasbeingthe processof explainingawaywhatmightotherwisebe
evident. Accordingtome mystificationisthe change inone’soriginal orobjectiveperceptiondue to
certainexternal andinternal factors like readingsomeone else’sbiasedperception andmakingit
your own.It’slike plagiarismof someone’sperception.
“Mystificationof the pastisoften causedby a, fearof the present andthe desiresof aprivileged
minority tocreate a historythat can justifythe rulingclasses.”The RulingIdeologysimplymeans
that the class thatholdsthe authorityor more money,holdsthe powertoshape the ideologyof
society.They tendtopointoutthat supremacyand the dominationof one classoveranother,isat
the verycentre of history.
Accordingto Berger,“mystificationcanalsobe causedbecause of learntassumptions.The fact that
paintingscanbe mystified,ortheirmeaningcan become convoluted isdue to“learntassumptions”.
Andthe authoritative figurestellinguswhatto believeaboutcertain piecesof artbecomesa larger
issue thanjustmystifyingartbutmystifyingourlivesandourbeliefsonthe past.
The fact that art couldnowbe captured,copied,displayedinmore thanone place,placesthe art
where itwasnot originallyintended tobe.Thishasmany effectsonthe waywe perceive the image.
“Reproductiondestroysthe uniquenessof itsimage.Asaresult,itsmeaningchanges.Or,more
exactly,itsmeaningmultipliesandfragmentsintomanymeanings.”The contextof the photo
changes whenwordsare added,otherpicturesarounditare added, or isit cropped.The wayit is
experiencedchanges,butalsothe original becomeslikesome sortof “holyrelic”belongingtoand
preservedbythe richwhile the massesenjoyreproducedimages thatare “ubiquitousandfree”.
Conformityis anotherwayof changingone’sperception.We tendto have a herdmentalitywherein
we judge ourpointof viewsbycomparingthemtoothersor especiallythe privilegedminority’s
pointof view.We alwayslookupto the personof authorityto conformour choices to.Insteadof
appreciatingthe artitself, we seek the appreciationof ourchoices andourperception instead.
Anotherone isa phenomenon,called motivatedperception,whichhasbeenexploredin
psychological researchfordecades.Indeed,the worldaswe conceive itinourawarenessisnot
exactlyanaccurate representationof whatittrulyis.Our perception isoftenbiased,selective,and
malleable.Evenourdesirescanaffectwhatwe see byimpactingthe waywe processvisual
information. Forexample,if we are searchingforaspecificpersoninacrowd,we tendto visualize
themon the facesof otherpeople.
The concept of choice blindness isanotherwayhow mystificationisglorified.It suggeststhatpeople
are notalwaysaware of theirchoicesandpreferences.Accordingto aresearch by PetterJohansson
on thistopic,evenwhenyoudon'tgetwhatyou want,there'sa strongchance that youwon't even
notice.Andyoumay evendefendachoice justbecause youthinkit'sthe one youmade. People at
authoritymake these choicesforuswithoutusrealizingthatit’stheirchoice notours. They
somehowmanipulate usintodefendingtheirideologiestomake sense of ourjudgements.
Well,can somethingbe done in order to not mystify things? The easiestwaytonotmystifythings
are to see themastheyare withan objective evaluation.One hastobreakawayfrom their
assumptionsandexpectationsandlookatthingswithcleanslate andletthe image fill the slate for
you.Also,one shouldnotbe affectedbyothersopinionsandprejudices,especiallythe rulingclass;
and formtheirownopinionbytheirownperceptionandanalysisof whatthe art wantsto convey.
DishaPawar
27th February2019