What Is Cultural Mystification?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Mystification is defined by Berger as

being the process of explaining away what might otherwise be evident

. Mystification of the past is often caused by a fear of the present and the desires of a privileged minority to create a history that can justify the ruling classes.

What is mystification according to John Berger?

For Berger, “mystification is

the process of explaining away what might otherwise be evident

.” According to Berger, art history more often obscures the meaning of an artwork than reveals its real politics.

What are some examples of mystification?

Social Examples of mystification

a.

Poverty

: We observe that some people are poor and some people are well off. We also observe that some people who are born poor become well off, and some do not. Since these people differ in their outcomes/fates, the cause of these outcomes must be born by the individual.

Is there still mystification in modern art?

However, neither of the two manifestations is in force in modern society. According to Berger,

mystification is a false religiosity

. The works of art from the past are represented as holy relics, the important aspect of which is that they are so old that they have endured all that time.

Who coined the term mystification?

1814, “act of mystifying;” 1817, “state of being mystified,” from

French

mystification, noun of action from mystifier (see mystify).

What is a mystify?

transitive verb. 1 : to perplex the mind of : bewilder. 2 :

to make mysterious or obscure mystify an interpretation of a prophecy

. Other Words from mystify Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About mystify.

What is the meaning of mystification?

1a :

an act or instance of mystifying

. b : an obscuring especially of capitalist or social dynamics (as by making them equivalent to natural laws) that is seen in Marxist thought as an impediment to critical consciousness the mystification of the sources of wealth— Henry Staten.

What do you think Berger means when he addresses knowledge and seeing?

Also, in the chapter, Berger says, “The way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe.” What he means by this is that if we are looking at a painting or an image of something that you are very knowledgeable about,

then the way you see that certain image while be different than the way the person

What is naturalistic mystification?

particular pattern of mystification that – judging from the amount. time he spent discussing it – Marx regarded as especially importa. and prevalent. This is what could be termed “naturalistic mystifi. tion,”

the viewing of social phenomena as if they were natural even

.

What is mystification in sociology?

Definition of Mystification: 1.1 MYSTIFICATION =

Distortions of perceptions of reality that mask/obscure that reality

. Ideological practices produce human beings as social subjects by transforming “lived experiences” into subjectivity.

How do you use the word mystify?

(1)

He was trying to mystify his opponent

. (2) I was mystified by her decision. (3) Her disappearance has mystified her friends and neighbors. (4) The magician’s tricks mystified the audience.

What does ecologist mean?

An ecologist is

a scientist who studies how animals and plants interact with their environment

. … Ecology is a word that comes from the Greek oikos, meaning “house.” Basically, ecologists study the environment like it’s a big house, and all the living creatures in it are roommates.

What does bewildering mean in English?

:

extremely confusing or difficult to understand an utterly bewildering experience a bewildering number of possibilities

What does err is human mean?

formal. :

it is normal for people to make mistakes

.

What does Bewider mean?

:

to confuse

(someone) very much. See the full definition for bewilder in the English Language Learners Dictionary. bewilder. verb. be·​wil·​der | bi-ˈwil-dər

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.