How to Look At Everything

by David Finn

Explores how to see more than a literal image, discussing such subjects as the "the mind's eye," "music to the eye," and "the gift of light."

Genres: Art, Photography, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[Fariha Tasneem]

i dont like it
its too slow to get to the point
too much feelings that i dont really need to know of, he talks too much

[Kevin Demel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just some general information on the idea of looking at everything. He didn't give specific details on how to look but did identify some things to look at.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried, I really did. But Finn is just full of s*. And even if you do feel sympatico w/ his philosophical perspective and his meandering writing style, this book is about worthless. For example:

Several pictures of sunsets, as if we needed them, but none of the jockey from ancient Greece, which I'd never seen before and had to Google. (He didn't even bother to tell us if it was a sculpture or fresco or painting on urn, turns out it's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jockey_....) Well, we don't need him to tell us what makes that sculpture marvelous, do we?

Virtually no notes, references, bibliography, evidence of fact-checking. Focus on the usual suspects: beautiful nude women, ancient architecture, urban graffiti, the spiritual.

Turns out he's a collector - goes to tag sales and old factories and collects interestingly shaped things to bring home and just look at, but can't explain what about them attracted his eye and his lust to hoard. The oarlock from a Venetian gondola is very cool looking, and I would have like Finn to put on his academic gown and talk to us about it, but no, he just mentioned that it caught his eye and he bought it. (http://www.gondolagreg.com/2009_09_01... "clamp-on forcola")

Worst of all, no instruction. The most I could find, paging through, reading what I could stomach, was at the end of the first chapter: look passionately. Really?

I say, also, look attentively. Focus on details, but also consider context. Use the photographer's trick of viewfinder hands: http://previews.123rf.com/images/xjbx.... If it's a work of art you're looking at, try to see it irl instead of a book, and also learn more about what is known of the artist's overt intent. If you can, whether it's art or a cityscape or a pattern of leaf-litter on your front walk, spend time with it; come back and look at another time, after you've eaten (or grown hungry) or slept, or read another novel, or had more life experience.

See, that's not bad advice. And it's off the top of my head, and I am not an artist or a scholar. Is it too much to ask that a book with the title that Finn gave this one offer us more guidance?

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, thoughtful read that is less theoretical and more one's meditation on all of the objects that bring him joy. Throughout the work, Finn is just as likely to reference a piece of artwork inspired by his children as a piece of classical art found in the Louvre. I read this book with a friend who is studying for his MFA with a focus in sculpture. As he is from Korea and was unfamiliar with many of the works (as was I), it was a great book to read with him as it was filled with references to art from all over the world - both ancient and contemporary. While I enjoyed the book, it is not necessarily a groundbreaking read, though Finn is obviously a well-studied art historian.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this book...many references to architecture, literature and art

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

dumb.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book on looking at patterns, shapes, objects and what intrigues the author.

[Anna Scott Lassiter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst.