You have probably heard it said (often, if you are in the second year of my class!) that context is everything. Okay, so I admit, it is definitely a cliché, but I would also like to suggest that it is a whole lot more than that.
I recently read a blog post in which a woman detailed a story about attending a church service that was very "charismatic." In other words, people were very vocal and enthusiastic in their worship style. She was okay with that, at least at first. But it really started becoming annoying to her when a woman behind her started yelling "Glory!" and sometimes, "Glory, Glory, Glory!" during the service and the preacher's sermon. Once was fine. Twice or three times was pushing it. But when it became constant, the blogger had enough. She had formed a judgment about this woman and it wasn't a complimentary one.
After the service, the blogger stopped to speak with the pastor's wife, who was a friend.The pastor's wife asked, "Did you happen to notice the woman who sat behind you today?" The blogger commented that yes, indeed, she had noticed her, but she stopped herself from saying anything negative or judgmental that she might regret (she was in a church, after all!).That was when the pastor's wife said, "Her son was killed just last week in a drive by shooting." The pastor's wife went on to share what an inspiration the woman had been to everyone at the church in the way she had clung to her faith through her pain, "It's truly beautiful," she said.
In that moment, everything changed. No longer did the blogger see the woman as an obnoxious, over zealous church goer. The woman calling out, "Glory!" had suffered unspeakable loss and tragedy; she was a human being who was bravely confronting her pain and suffering. The blogger posted these words: "When we know context, we are slower to judge, slower to write people off, slower to feel disdain, and slower to puff ourselves up in self-righteous [or indignant] pride."*
Communication and social interaction processes are an integral part of our every day lives; at school, at work, and at home. In each of these situations, both our culture and the unique context of our individual lives and situations play a role in how information is communicated, received, and most importantly, understood. This is such an important revelation as you take in the flurry of information hurled in almost rapid fire succession at you everyday. Whether in watching the news, paging through advertisements, engaging in hallway gossip, or just making your own observations, you must always consider the role that the larger context of that message or sound bite is playing.
This should inspire this question in us all: Who is judging you without a context today? All of us can do only so much to allow others to see the "bigger picture." But ultimately, in a world of Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, short tweets and snippets of time that people may see us in the grocery store, hallway, or out on the field, they are going to see what they want to see, make of it what they will, and form an instant judgement. This shouldn't surprise us; after all, we live in a hurried, "instant" world. Personally, I'd like to hope that people who see me out and about, at my best and my worst, will give me the benefit of the doubt...
I have attached a video link here that highlights the results of a very interesting experiment. Several photographers were hired (unaware of each other) to photograph the same man. Each photographer was given a simple background or "context" of their subject. None of them were true, and all were very different from each other. It's very interesting how it affected even their artistic choices! Please watch it by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-TyPfYMDK8
In your post, share what you learned in the video, and what your own life experiences have taught you about the importance of context.
We live in a fast moving, rapidly changing world of quick reactions and snap judgements. Maybe it would do us all good to stop, take a deep breath, and consider all the experiences, emotions, interactions and relationships that have brought us to this very moment. Maybe it would do us all one better if we took the time to stop and consider all the possible factors that have brought each individual we encounter to this moment, as well...
(*Booker, Adriel. "Context is Everything," I Still Belong blog, 2017)
The biggest thing that I took from the video was definitely the quote at the end where it pointed out the importance of both who is behind the camera as well as what the camera itself is pointed at. I think it's really interesting to follow somebody's journeys throughout life and what they choose to represent about themselves and the world that they see through which photos they take and/or post. Context is important to note because you miss knowledge and appreciation for the underlying meanings, messages, and stories behind a single click of a camera.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that I found most important from this video was the ending point. It made me recognize a different perspective that the importance of a picture is not only the focus thing/person in the photo, but also who is taking the photo. Everybody has a choice of how they want to represent themselves, and these particular photographers purposely chose to take that picture to express and represent their thoughts or views. Context is so important to take note on because there is almost always a message coming from the photographer or the author, that the reader is not able to catch unless they have context on the photo and origins.
ReplyDeleteContext being a key part of understanding people is a principle that deeply resonates with me. The saying "You should never judge a book by its cover" is commonly repeated because the way something looks doesn't determine its value, and the fact, that people often do determine something's value off of its looks. I try to live being as non-judgemental as possible, but I have to make fast judgments about what I should say, how I should act, what people to be around, and what to prioritize. I'm continuously fascinated by what context explains actions, how my actions might differ from others, and where the dividing line is between what people consider to be human nature and what is considered learned behavior. This video was particularly interesting as it showed that false context can also be created, and taking a medium that is sometimes viewed as a simple act and looking at the impact that humans have on it is incredibly meaningful to me. The photographers all interacted with him in different ways and created portraits based on a false label of his life because context shapes the way we interact with people. For me: I have known what is a "good" way to act and what is considered "responsible" for a very long time. It was balancing that with my typical behavior and putting it into action that became complicated. I have struggled with regrets and certainty in myself many times. Being able to understand the proper balance of what I hold most important and making sense of the beliefs of myself, those I care about, and society is still something I work on. I tell myself that a situation will hardly ever be worsened by my words and if it is, I must accept it and move on instead of dwelling on it and shaming both myself and others for not fulfilling expectations. The article also touched on the shame that we feel in ourselves for not acting how we "would" have if we knew the full story, that potential shame is part of why I usually keep quiet. I suspect that sometimes though, my shame can keep me from a better situation and keep me from saying the words that would grow a relationship instead of harm it. I know more certainty in myself will come with time, but I also believe that looking at media like this video and reminding myself of core principles is a necessity that will lead me to those fair and genuine actions that are without thought but with meaning.
ReplyDeleteIn the YouTube video titled "THE LAB: DECOY | 6 Photographers 1 Man - A Portrait Photography Session With A Twist," six photographers are introduced to Michael, a man with a supposed diverse background. The photographers are challenged to capture who Michael truly is through a ten-minute portrait session. As they interact with him, they discover that some of the information Michael shared about himself was false. However, this revelation allows the photographers to appreciate the challenge of capturing a person's true essence and pushes them to think beyond their preconceptions. The experience encourages deeper creativity and a search for genuine authenticity in their work. In my life when I took photography I had to go and dig deep into my creativity and think outside the box. Seeing this video allowed me to take in the fact that everyone should be thinking outside the box in order to get good creativity.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching this video, it has taught me that context is really key and heavily affects how we see things in our daily lives. In the video, we see that 6 photographers are given different background info. on the person they are about to photograph. Additionally, they want to capture the person in a way that is best suitable for the information they have just received. Therefore, the styles, composition, techniques, etc. of these photos will be completely different to fit that criteria. Furthermore, this reminds us all on how we may see something based on the little information we know, hear, see, etc. As a result, sometimes we should take a step back and think of the bigger picture. Although, either way, many are going to perceive you as how they want and it is what it is. For instance, sometimes I can judge a person based off of their resting face which leads me to the assumption of them being “mean” but in reality when I end up talking to them plus getting to know them a bit more they are actually not how I thought they were. My mind is quick to see them in a certain way, although when I interact with them my mind changes to a different opinion. It is the same thing as if you see someone behaving a certain way. It’s not that they’re acting wrong it’s just that their behavior has logical reasoning behind it and we’re unaware of it. We can be quick to judge rather than to understand. This is why I don’t like to judge people as there is always more to a person than one will ever know. At the end of the day, only oneself will know the person they truly are.
ReplyDeleteIn the video, I learned that context is important in how people view others and the world around them. My own experiences have taught me that context is extremely important in any situation, whether that is getting to know someone or just accidentally overhearing a conversation I was not originally a part of. People tend to jump to conclusions and make assumptions about things they have heard or seen without knowing the full story behind them or understanding why. If we make assumptions then we create a false reality of what we believe to be true. This could not only be detrimental to ourselves but to others as well because it makes it harder for people to create connections and relationships with each other without them already having some sort of bias towards the other.
ReplyDeleteThe last quote mentioned in the video stood out to me “A photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than what is in front of it.” We shape our context of people or things based on what is in front of us what we can see on the outside but if we do this we don’t get the full context of the person or thing because we are only seeing one part not the whole picture. All six people had the same man to photograph but they did not get the full context of him, so their perceptions of him were not the real him. The video made me think of saying my dad uses “Context, Context, Context.” We can’t judge something until we have the full interpretation of what it is and why we have placed our judgments on that thing like we did.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that really stood out to me in the video was towards the end, when the subject finally came into the room to look at the pictures taken of him; saying that they all looked like six different people. It really shows the importance of context and how greatly it can impact our perspective of someone. What we are told about someone determines what we think of them, as we try to jump to our own conclusions without knowing the entire story. It was very surprising to see the differences in art styles and photographing methods that were used by each photographer on the same man. I never would have thought one's profession would be enough to determine what kind of person someone was, especially if nothing else was said about them.
ReplyDeleteI learned in the video of just how strong having context is. Through just the story of his career changing, the photographs were entirely different and each had different moods connected. Some photos were sadder whereas some were more up close and personal. It was incredible to see the shift in photos comparing the recovering alcoholic and fishermen's photos. Each photo told another story. This taught me that gaining context whether it be a story or a person can change your perspective completely and open your eyes to new possibilities you may have never considered before. This reminded me of a life experience I had where someone told me only a part of the context of what had happened to someone. I formed my perspective on the person they were telling me about based on this. A few weeks later, I was soon told another piece of context that had changed my perspective completely. If I had received the full context compared to what the first person had told me, I would’ve had a different opinion of this person from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say my name. The one above is Lancey Gerak's blog post.
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to bring bias, prejudice, or judgement to the table when encountering someone new. It's intrinsic, we look at previous information and patterns to make a guess on whether or not a person it trustworthy, etc. To some extent it's helpful, but it can also blind us to who the other person really is and miss out and misjudge. It can be good to take a step back and consider when you're thinking about someone, how much you really know. It's something that experience has also taught me in my own life but is easy to forget in the rashness of your own emotions. Considering without your own bias and learning the full story is important.
ReplyDeleteOne scene in the video that jumped out to me was near the conclusion, when the subject finally entered the room to look at the photographs taken of him, saying that they all looked like distinct persons. This demonstrates the significance of context and how much it may influence our perspective. What we are told about someone influences how we perceive them, because we form our own opinions without knowing the complete story. The contrasts in painting styles and photographic procedures utilized by each photographer on the same man were quite surprising. I never believed a person's career would be enough to define their personality, especially if nothing else was mentioned about them.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out most to me from the video was the final quote, “A photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than what is in front of it.” This first made me think of the news, and how news outlets may manipulate photos, like in the video, to further support their story. I then thought about social media. For social media, many people take pictures of themselves, allowing viewers to only see what the original poster wanted them to see. From the news and social media we get fragmented or altered views of reality and it shows the importance of doing our own research before making a judgment. In my life, I have found that people have almost completely opposite views of me. An authority figure in my life frequently comments that I’m not a happy person and rarely have a happy expression. My brother, on the other hand, has told me many times that I am too happy for someone my age and it makes me seem younger. I don’t believe either of these is completely true, it depends on the context.
ReplyDeleteShe is taking that last part out of context.
DeleteAfter watching the video I remembered one thing that stood out most, it was the quote “a photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than by what is in front of it”. I love photography, so this video was extremely interesting to me. The idea that each photographer was given different contexts/stories about their subject is fascinating. What I loved about the quote was that it was the photographer that is responsible for portraying the message, but they were each only given about one word to describe their subject. From that one word they were forced to decide what they personally associated with the context, but then pose the subject in a way that embraces their perception. Just like in other aspects of life, if only the photographer knew the whole story or knew the subject even a little bit more, they would have a much more accurate photograph of the model. This applies to gossip and first impressions immensely because as we know, people are very quick to make judgements when they aren’t aware of the whole story, especially seen in the church example earlier in the blog. Overall I think the video was extremly eye openeing and used an extremely interesting experiment that really made me reflect on my personal quick judgements.
ReplyDeleteI learned through the video that what you believe about a person's story affects the way you perceive them as a whole. They were taken with the same man, but the story each photo tells is different because that is how the photographer wanted to portray them. In my own life, I find this to be true as well. If someone is being rude to you for 'no reason' you may give them more grace if you knew that they were having a bad day, or if you knew they just found out terrible news. I use this type of context to give more grace to myself as well. When I have been doing tasks all day and would rather go to sleep than do my laundry, I am more understanding with myself since I know I've been working hard. Context helps me understand why people make the decisions they make and why they are who they are. In my experience, context helps people get the full picture rather than making harsh and quick judgments based on a small fact or situation.
ReplyDeleteFrom the video, it reminded me of the music video that we watched of that one lady without make up last year (?) and just how people are perceived. Context is really important to a lot of things, because if we don’t have the full context of what something is about, we can really misunderstand the situation and over or underreact depending on what is going on. I know from my own experiences, there have been people and times who have only had surface level context about others, and when they made comments or jokes, the other person broke down because that was a really sensitive topic for them, but they didn’t know that, they didn’t know the context from whence they came. Context is essential in almost all aspects of life (just not TOK lol) because it not only helps us understand the conversation, but those participating in it, and the place that they inhabit, and the shared experiences in this world that we all inhabit. By learning the context of others, who they are, where they come from, what they believe, and get to know them on deeper levels, we can avoid accidental offense, and get to know ourselves better, because as new information is revealed about people we decide internally whether or not that applies to us, and whether or not we want that to continue in us or not, or whether or not we want to implement it into who we are.
ReplyDeleteThis was from me, Waylen Pérez ^ from 4:15pm 10-22-23
DeleteAfter watching the video, I learned that it is so easy to believe what you hear about someone without concrete facts. All of the photographers took pictures of the same man, yet they were told completely different backstories about him, altering how their pictures turned out drastically. I think that even if all of the photographers were given the same story about the man, their pictures would have turned out different. None of the photographers have identical perspectives or minds for that matter, so while their images could have been more similar than if they were each told a different backstory of the man, the pictures never would have turned out the exact same because no two humans are the exact same. Seeing how different the pictures came out from each different perspective made me realize that several people could know someone and think that they have the perfect idea of who that person is but they could also be completely wrong. Rumors have been a thing for so long but especially today, with technology giving us easier access to communication than we have ever had before, it also becomes easier to twist the story about someone. For the most part, this video taught me that not everything is as it seems and you should get to know a person before making assumptions about them.
ReplyDeleteThe video presented gave me a very particular insight on perspective and context that I have never seen before. The experiment run in this video was unique to me, and the most influential part of it was at the end, where every photographer gathered to look at what they described to be "6 completely different people", in reference to the photos each of them took of the same man. I think that in the end, the photographers and the audience gained a better understanding of the importance of context, and how anyone can be influenced by any kind of background when the subject is unfamiliar to them. I believe that not only me but every person has had a situation where they lacked context, and therefore gained some understanding of how important it is. Creating an image of a person in your mind based on very little information or bias is something we've all done, I think, as is the human nature. All in all, the video reinstated to me the importance of perspective and context.
ReplyDeleteWatching the video made me really think about how perspective and portrayal can really change how you see a person. For instance, You may meet someone behind a counter at a coffee shop and think "Wow they're really nice and considerate" but then meet that same person through a job interview as you're interviewing them and you may think "They're really nervous, maybe they aren't the best fit for this job because they lack confidence". It's a pretty similar idea to the photos and different stories, depending on the context you're presented with. I think it's really interesting how perception and context can change how you see things, in my personal life it reminds me of a sign my sister has in her room that says "BAD!" but if you look really closely, it says "GOOD!". It's a metaphor for how you have to try and see the good even if you immediately see the bad, which requires you to change your own perspective on an issue.
ReplyDeleteIn the short video, I learned how others may view someone differently than yourself and that may affect how they treat and interact with that person. Someone's perspective of someone else does not make their conceived notions of that person incorrect, however, it is impudent to box said person into a narrow view without acknowledging that people aren't one thing. Context is built around not only the subject as even the subject of judgment has preconceived notions around themselves. Acknowledging people on the basis that your view may be on a broad spectrum of who they are is significant to understanding context.
ReplyDeleteFrom the video, I learned that people will view people's entire personalities differently based on small details that may not matter that much. For example, rather than focusing on how the man actually acted, they made assumptions about him from the information they had been told about his past. While this is alright to do sometimes, since someones past can contribute to their present identity, it is important to look at how someone actually behaves as well. From my personal experiences, we hold a lot of biases based on things that do not matter. For example, while someone may assume a doctor is completely logical, since it's a profession that requires knowledge of solid facts. Others may believe a doctor is more empathetic and kind, for doing a job that helps others. Both of these can be true, or neither of these can be true. The true way to understand someone's personality is to speak to them.
ReplyDeleteIn the video, I learned that the different angles presented made a difference on the perspective on how this man can be perceived. The different angles chosen to interpret the different stories the producer had told the photographers enhanced the importance of context. Based on the information that the other people had been told, they assumed that one detail of his life was his whole personality. The man's identity was interpreted by the significance of one piece of information from his life. In my own experiences, people assume the worst and if they find out one piece of information they see you in certain light forever. I've put that scenario in perspective and try not to rely on details from others to build a character that I didn't really know in the first place.
ReplyDeleteAfter being the video, I was able to take away that understanding the context of the people around you, the places around you, and the things around you, can determine your thought process about the specific person,place, or thing. Judging someone or something without enough context can lead a person to form conclusions that may not be true. The meaning of this video is something I can fairly connect to, as I used to be the kind of person to be a little too quick to jump to conclusions about an idea someone has, a thought about a person, or a thought about something I've never even done before. But now, I like to talk to people, try out new things, and listen to peoples recommendations, a little deeper than I used to be able to. I've grown into the kind of person that tries my best to hear everyone out, be open-minded, and not jump to conclusions.
ReplyDeleteafter watching the video ^^^^
DeleteThe lesson that what you think you know about people is how you view them was reverberated in this video. It spawned reflection upon the human experience... How we often pass judgment on people all the time without even knowing them. Like a person may fit the stereotype of being a certain way but are different, only more reason not to judge a book by its cover. This can also cause strain in relationships for those who misjudge. In conclusion, judging people is rather adverse to a positive human experience.
ReplyDeleteThe video helped me further understand how important it is to have context to everything. Without context to even the simplest things, miscommunication can occur. All the photographers had different ideas as to who the man was. With just that basic information, the photographers were able to draw an image of who the man was. After learning that was none of the things he proclaimed to be, the photographers changed their perspectives. As I've become older, I've noticed that I am a person who is extremely quick to judge or make assumptions even without knowing the full story (I'm trying to work on it..) There was a moment in my own life when I discovered how judgmental I was without the full story. A few years ago in a class, we had partner projects and the person I was partnered with would not do their work. I immediately assumed that they were being lazy and didn't care about their grade. As we continued to work on the project, the person apologized to me for not being consistent with their work due to the fact that they were going through difficult family issues. At that moment, I realized how quick to assume I was without even thinking of what the person may have been going through. From then on, I've been trying my best not to assume things so quickly.
ReplyDeleteWatching the video gave me a valuable perspective on how we unfairly perceive and treat those around us. Just as the photographers changed the way they shot photos of the man based on who they believed he was, most people can find themselves guilty of perceiving others in the same way; without a true understanding of who they are. For example, I have been a victim of making an unfair and typically untrue judgment of someone without knowing them. Nearly every time, the idea I had of that person was completely wrong, leaving me feeling guilty for my presumption of them. The video made me realize that without the context of who someone is, judgments should not be made on how to treat them, because the majority of the time, we would be wrong. Before knowing who someone is, we cannot believe what we think is true but instead, should aim to learn what actually is.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video, I think the ending is the perfect message to summarize what they wanted to prove; the message at the end is “[a] photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than by what is infront of it”. The moment where photographers saw the other images and said that they did not fit the profile they were given was very powerful, it proved how strong context is. While the photographers were only given one word about the man, they declared that other pictures were “wrong” based on their interpretation of the given context without ever questioning if the others were told a different story. I have definitely been guilty of making judgements without context and they were wrong everytime. These judgements are extremely unfair because we judge ourselves based on intention, which can be seen as context, and we judge others based on their actions. While that is a generalization of what occurs, it stands to be true in many situations. I always feel dumb after learning that my judgement is wrong but that feeling cannot change the past. I believe that feeling can help change the future, if everyone recognizes it as a bad thing we can all put effort into finding context when we want to make judgements for understanding.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video, I found that the ending point is what resonated with me the most. I believe that the preset opinions that we have can definitely alter the way in which we perceive new people. I think it’s also important to note that comparisons are always being made whether it be consciously or subconsciously, and this is why we tend to make so many first-time judgments. After watching this video it helped me reinforce the idea that everyone should begin with a blank slate, and we should always be aware of the ways in which our mind is trying to associate a new person with someone we’ve met before. With this blank slate we must not judge, but attempt to gain context in understanding the individual to learn who they really are rather than attempting to determine it for them.
ReplyDeleteHaving context is important for other things, as well. A lot of art is better understood and appreciated with context. The famous Starry Night painting goes from being a surreal water color painting of the sky to becoming a window into the mind of Van Gogh, stuck in the asylum. The Caretaker's "Everywhere At The End Of Time" goes from being a weird blend of old, outdated music that slowly deteriorates, accompanied with meaningless paintings for 6 hours; to being one of the most terrifying depictions of one's mental decline when afflicted with dementia, when given context. This can even happen inversely, where a factor outside the context of the original art becomes synonymous with the art itself. The how and why art is made can help get rid of misconceptions built by an individual's perspectives; context helps turn a single story into a dynamic source of interpretation. Think about unambiguous endings in movies, they can make fun thought experiments for a little bit on the car ride home.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video, the ending quote, "A photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than by what is in front of it," captivated my understanding of knowing a person's background. The 6 photographers got different descriptions of the same person but all 6 photos showed a different person. The man photographed was shaped into many different outlooks just because of the background given. This gives a great example of why you should never judge someone until you get to know them. This video helped further my understanding of getting to know someone first before judging them based on a rumor I heard about them.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out to me from the video is how a brief description of an individual can change how they are perceived and displayed to others. This idea of context plays an important role in how not only someone is perceived but how they are shown to others, ie images. This perception without truly knowing someone can negatively affect how they are treated in everyday life. This highlights the importance of getting to know an individual before creating perceptions of an individual. My own personal experiences have shown me the importance of getting to know a person before judging them as the judgement can be incorrect at times.
ReplyDeleteIn this video I learned people have different conceptions and ideas of everything they view and hear about things. With the use of context people are forced to dig alot deeper into understanding things more and be more creative. The specific quote at the end of the video, saying, “A photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than by what is in front of it” can relate to real life as well. My own life experiences have taught me that what people see can bring so many new ideas and considerations up that may have never even be true or thought of, although what they are looking at is limited of context and cant tell the story of what is real and true. People may choose to represent themselves in a specific way that can be viewed differently by all perspectives who choose to view and depict the specific subject.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video, it reminded me how we can treat others in different ways based on what we know and what we assume. Although the man in the video acted the same, was wearing the same clothes, and in the same room, the photographs came out completely different based on what they were told before. It showed me how easily people can form an image or idea on a person based on one thing they are told or see. I find myself doing this often as well with people in public where I assume things about a person based on how they are dressed, how they talk, or where they are. I’ve always found context very important and have often tried not judging people or a situation when I don’t know the full story. I also find myself associating people with someone I know personally if they are dressed or act similarly. I try staying away from this as well when meeting people and try learning more about them rather than assuming I know everything right away.
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that the different contexts of the man changed the look of the photo because a photographer's job is to show you who someone is and what they are like without any words. Context is always one of the best things to have because without context so many different concussion can be drawn and some people could look like a psycho. While talking with a friend of mine I wanted to message another about a situation that had just happened and give them 0 context of what happened in the middle and noticed how much of a psycho this could make me look and sound. Without the context of what happened in the middle and only telling them the beginning and end I could have seemed like a terrible human being. It is also why you can't read the first chapter of a book and the last chapter and expect to understand everything because there is so much context that is missing.
ReplyDeleteI learned that everyone has different ways of conceiving when told only a little bit of information and this can go with not only people but artworks, architectures, historical artifacts, and almost everything. I have definitely been a victim of thinking/saying without context; my best friend tends to act before she thinks and then I react quickly but I forget to think about what experiences shes been through and where shes coming from and when I react quickly I'm not giving myself a chance to ask myself questions about what she means. I try now to be more patient and make sure I get the full story without jumping to conclusions.
ReplyDelete^This was made by Kaeden S.D., I forgot to change the name
DeleteThis video was very interesting to me. It was cool to see how a bit of background information could change one's perspective so much. It has taught me that individual opinions and perspectives greatly influence how someone sees another person or the world around them. I want to keep this information in mind because I do not want my worldview to be limited by my point of view. I want to do my best to avoid allowing my own biases to get in my way.
ReplyDeleteWatching the video and reading about the story of the woman who attended the church made me realize how quickly people assume things. I knew this before, though reading about the woman in the church judging another for worshipping opened my eyes. Then, watching the video put into perspective how people assume different things when they know additional information. As Mrs. Caraway put in the header of this blog, context is key. I have had many people come up to me talking about a person I do not know and speaking about them negatively. When this happens, I choose to listen to what they’re saying but refuse to take sides with them. It is unfair to the person who’s being spoken of to have that negative impact on their image--especially when it’s a person who knows nothing about them. If the person were to find out they’re seen as negative or there are false assumptions about them, that person’s self-image would deteriorate. Therefore, knowing the context of someone before you start making opinionated assumptions about them will keep both parties sanities.
ReplyDeleteThe video went by a quick, frame by frame method so that the audience is inclined to listen more to the words and meaning of the video, rather than what is shown, until the end results are revealed. All of the photographers claimed that their subject looked almost like a different person in each portrait due to how the artist's thoughts on his story and their personal bias towards it shifted their minds to, consciously or unconsciously, change their view of this stranger.
ReplyDeleteWhen a person is not given the context, or only given small bits of it, the brain automatically fills in what is missing to make the picture fit into what makes sense to their brains. This is called an 'assimilation schema' and can drastically alter the way that humans interact with one another and retain knowledge.
I try to be as straight-forward with my personality as possible but assumptions are inevitable, even amongst close friends. Generalizations about me usually consist of me being 'all knowing' and never struggling in class because I enjoy learning and am not shy to broadcast my nerdiness. I tend to laugh this off and correct them, only to receive smirks of people still believing they know me more than I do or think I am being modest. I do my utmost to not let other's opinions affect me, however there are always opportunities and things that could outwardly affect me; image and perception creates false context, which can sometimes matter more to people than the truth. The only solution is context through communication- good luck
I thought the video did a great job of illuminating how quickly we tend to categorize others according to our preconceived notions of them. In my daily life, I also make assumptions about others based on brief observations or conversations, taking them at face value. This hasty judgment may prevent you from getting to know individuals as they really are. I know recently I have become friends with someone I had misjudged and if it weren’t for the circumstances I may have never became friends with them. Context clearly holds a vital role in human relationships and can allow for a different world perspective.
ReplyDeleteThis video was very interesting in the way it showed how a person felt differently once given context on something. I experience this almost daily as I have personal assumptions based solely on interpretation rather then real context and concrete facts.
ReplyDeleteThe video really displayed the importance of perspective and impressions. Knowing someone's background seems to really impact how they are perceived, and the judgments we subconsciously form about said individual. I think it was interesting to see how just one detail about someone's life directed how the photographers took their pictures, and the angle and lighting they set just based on that singular detail without any other context. Really, we as humans form such large judgments about each other's lives off of small things, which is why, on a side note, first impressions are so important.
ReplyDeleteThe video gave a lot of insight about the impact of a person's point of view visually. The photographers took their first impression of the man and shaped their entire outlook on their photo around what they were told and the assumptions made as such. For example, the photographer that the man told he had saved a life decided to have him smiling and proud in the photo; the image of a hero. This whole idea of first impressions brings me back to one of the main takeaways I had last year when we read Pride and Prejudice with how we can form another's character in either a more positive or negative light based on the judgments we make of a person in the first minutes upon meeting them. Again and again however, I have seen the significance of having context for a situation, including my own context in the eyes of others. Sometimes first impressions and intuition can be trusted, but many if not most times, such as with the lady in church or the man getting his photo taken, we need to get to know a person more and understand their perspective.
ReplyDeleteThis video brings to light how different stories, different contexts, can impact how someone or something is perceived. Even if our judgments don't have negative consequences, it can still leave lasting effects. Truthful context allows one to be true with their intents and how they go forward with the given context. Context allows us to have a deeper understanding in our lives as a whole. This video especially is great in illustrating how context changes perspectives because it physically changes perspectives (how to follow through the photoshoot) and socially (formulating personal opinions).
ReplyDelete"The photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than it is by the whats in-front of it." This quote and the entire video was extremely thought provoking, it showed me how easily someone's perception of a person could change. This makes me think of how many times I might have had an incorrect perception of someone due to lack of context. Overall, this video and blog assignment as a whole was eye-opening and in the future I will think twice before making immediate judgement.
ReplyDeleteIn the video, I learned that we have preconceived notions about people, and that we like to believe only one thing is true about people, so the first thing we hear is often the only thing we see. I thought it was interesting to see how the photographers were shaped by just a few introductory words, and how much their photographs differed as they tried to capture those words instead of the person in front of the camera. I think that it is very important to consider context, but you have to make sure you are making the right assumptions or judgement, or else the context that you are basing everything off of is not true. It is important to spend time with people to discover their true personality, rather than basing all judgement off a few words or how someone looks.
ReplyDeleteThe video displayed the idea of never believe what someone tells you as it is important to not focus on their past actions but who they are as a person. As each photographer tried to capture the stroy line they were given thgey forgot to capture Michael as a person instead. With each different perspective and impression the photographers were easily influenced to captrrure the charactrter he was representing. I thought it was intresting that with one conversation they were able to judge him using the lighting of the image, the pose of the person, along with the angle at which the image was taken., Based off my personal experience I definitly judge people the same way that the photographers judged Michael I am very gulibal when it comes to meeting new people. I believe everything they tell me making me decieve them a certain person which is good and bad when meeting new people. As you are getting to trhe know the person first and not judging them based off of their looks. However, it could also be bad as they could be lying just as Michael did to each photographer.
ReplyDeleteThis is noelani Palafoc
DeleteThe video shows how something or someone perceives things can be impacted from multiple different contexts. The quote "The photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than it is by the whats in-front of it" is also impactful as it talks about how someone's perception of something or someone can be changed based on the current context they get, whether it be little to full detail or sometimes none. I think about how sometimes my perception on a lot of stuff can be so different based on the context i am given and how it can change either a bit or drastically with or without the full context. The video in general helps show how I should not be quick to judge something or someone.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how toward the end of the video the man came into the room and one of them said that he looked like six different people. It really shows how the photographers different perspectives of the guy created the image and a different person in front of the camera. I also really liked the quote toward the end, "A photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than by what is in front of it". It really expressed the art of photography and how the photographer takes things into perspective, and with knowing only one main thing of this guy you can really see how their creativity was put into place.
ReplyDeleteI always try to consider context when interacting with those around me and what I saw in the video reaffirmed my beliefs on context. The fact that the photographers profiled him in a completely different way just based on a brief suggestion of his background shows that we as people put a lot of stock in the backgrounds or "contexts" of others. We tend to have preconceived notions of others and the video proves that they are not always correct so we should always take people at their face value regardless of the context of their past. I try in my life to follow this idea, and it is why I do not trust things that people say about others. If I want to know the true context of a person or situation that I will go straight to the source, not someone who briefly witnessed it. All in all the video does do a good job at representing this idea surrounding context and demonstrates how it is important to consider in everyday life.
ReplyDeleteSorry this anonymous one is mine
DeleteMy biggest takeaway from the video is that what matters the most is the person behind the camera. I find it interesting how our individual perspectives influence our perception of reality. Our actions and words are influenced by what we know and our experiences with the world around us. While I am not a photographer, I am an individual who meets and talks with new people almost every day, and one of the most important things I have learned is to always try and put bias or other perspectives aside. While I may not always do this perfectly I always attempt to implement it in my thinking. I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt until they give me a reason to. There is a reason behind everything that someone does and attempting to be understanding towards everyone has shown me that people are not all that they appear or are said to be.
ReplyDeleteThis video taught me that we as people are quick to make a whole character out of a person with few details about who they are. These assumptions are dangerous for society since they limit understanding between individuals and can create confusion. Through my own life experiences, I've gotten better at getting the full context before making a judgement on something. Two years ago I went to a summer camp with my church with other students around my age. When I got there, a student I had never seen before walked up to me while playing basketball and started asking a lot of questions. At first, I was extremely annoyed since a random person was bothering me when I was enjoying my personal time. I later found out that the student came to Arizona from Indiana for this camp and had no friends at the church. Throughout the camp, we bonded in our interest in basketball and became good friends! The experience as a whole really showed me the importance of context.
ReplyDeleteWishing everyone a safe Halloween,
Andrew Rangel
In the video by the camera company Cannon, I found it very interesting that different photographers treated the same man differently. Before the photo shoot, each photographer was told the man's profession, and each photographer was told something different. The most significant difference in reaction I saw in the video was when the subject was described as a former prisoner and when he was described as a millionaire. When the photographer thought the subject was a millionaire, he was more laid back and almost seemed to admire him. While the other photographer, who was told he was a prisoner, was more cautious and nervous. All the photographers were quick to judge the man when they were told a lie about his past.
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned from the video was how differently the photographers had the man pose. Each photographer was told a characteristic of the man, each characteristic different from the other. That characteristic affected how the photographer viewed the man and how they positioned him. The context of the man greatly influenced the resulting photo and how the photographers interacted with him. Sometimes, in my life, I let my first opinion of someone determine how I feel about them or my perception of them. Then, I learn one new aspect of that person and that perception changes. Context is a significant deciding factor for how people perceive and interact with others. It can change everything about a conversation, friendships, and further interactions in the future.
ReplyDeleteI found that the video greatly exemplifies how our perspectives of people can affect how we see their actions and words. The video shows how the context in which we meet someone can completely change how we perceive them. The pictures taken by the photographers in the video all depict a very different person. They are able to do this through lighting, angles, and zoom. Considering how easily they are able to change how someone viewing the photograph would perceive him, it's easy to see how a narrow perspective can be deceiving. It's interesting how when the photographers were describing their interaction with him the one told he was a millionaire described him as intimidating despite no one else feeling the same. This shows how simply the context in which he was introduced to the photographers affected how they saw him. This video reminds me why it's important to not judge someone based on rumors gossip and to let them give you the full picture before jumping to conclusions.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found very important in the video was in the end when they all came to view the photos that they took. In the photos you can visually see how the statements that the photographers were given affected the way they took a picture of the man. With the information they were given, they acted a certain way with the man and made the photos align with the characteristics they were given. Even in my own experiences, I have treated people a certain way from the things I've heard about them. In the end, I say my judgments were very far from the truth. Getting the full context and then making your decisions is far better than only having a part of it and then acting on it.
ReplyDeleteThe video shows the vast differences that can be created in an artwork such as a photograph with different contexts. Typically a photo is supposed to represent something real and should also be able to represent aspects of a person, when the artist was given different aspects of the person they were shooting they decided to frame their photos differently. All that changed was context but still, 6 dramatically different photos were produced for each context. The video also shows how much of an art photography is, how a photographer incorporates their knowledge into the photo they take and it is not solely dependent on the subject of the photo. The most significant (and comedic) aspect of my life that shows the importance of context is the collection of out-of-context quotes that my friends keep. The lines that have been said and then recorded sans context are often very comedic but this is due to the context being removed. In context, the statement would be more normal or would make sense but a quote for example that has had words cut off or was taken out of a larger conversation will often be odd to those who were not present in the situation. Context is incredibly important and approaching things with differing context or devoid of it will change how the viewer views said thing.
ReplyDeleteI thought the video was a great example of how interpretation and perspective means everything. Whether it be understanding other people or making judgements, it’s important to recognize that most of the time there isn’t just one objective lens that can be looked through. In order to truly grasp the full picture and weight of the subject one must take into account perspectives and context which they previously did not consider. I take this as a great form of advice and a helpful tool to use in the future.
ReplyDeleteFrom the video I saw how easy it was to form an assumption on a person and then saw how the photographers used those assumptions to influence the way they took the picture. Each photographer was told a different fact about Micheal and based off that information alone opinions were already made. As a result each picture looked different as they were meant to reflect who Micheal is as a person. For example when being told Micheal is a self made millionaire that comes off as intimidating so that’s how he looked in his photo. Compared to being introduced as a recovering alcoholic and he was seen as brave in the final photo. I know that anytime I meet someone or go somewhere new for the first time the stereotypes and immediate guesses of what that person or situation is like immediately pop up in my head. I do this while also being aware to the fact that its not good to judge right off the bat which is why context is so important. My mom had randomly told me and my sister she signed us up for Judo (martial art) and as soon as I heard that I instantly thought “I'm going to hate this”. She gave me context to what it is and then I proceeded to go to the practices which only confirmed my judgement of not liking it. Overall context is important as it helps form a valid opinion and eliminate the surface level judgement we sometimes have about something or someone.
ReplyDeleteWhat truly stuck with me about the video was how each photographer was so quick to form a pre-concieved notion on the subject based on his said "profession". Each photagrapher choose to pose the guy in such a way that depicted their own personal viewpoint on what they belived he would be like which really caught my attention. It reminded me of how us as indivisuals form single stories about others without truly understanding all of the person and most of the times who they really are. This could evidently be seen when when all the ohotograohers got to see the differeing representations of the same person and how they too fell into the single story. This video was such a great representation to, when you dont have full context you dont fully know and get to understand who a person is. As once the photagraphers got to see other versions of him there perspective was able to be changed. In my life I am just as guilty to falling into this trap, alot of the times without me even catching it. There have been so many times where because of an incomplete context its lead me to truly not know a person for who they are rather than my untrue assertions about them. This video reminded me on just how important it is to have full context as without it, it leads us to fall in to judging and making misinterpretations on a person we ourselves have yet to know.
ReplyDeleteSomething I found very interesting about this video was how influenced the photographers were by the context they were given about the man in the video. Nothing had ever changed about the man’s actions or how he looked, but each one of the photographers depicted him as someone that none of the others had. From the photos taken, I realize that the context given about someone can create different thoughts about that person based on who is the one getting the context. I realized this by the poses in the photos being different from how I would have thought they would’ve been. Some of my own life experiences have helped me to see that not everything I think about someone is true and that I should get to know them first before making any assumptions. I realize that I do judge people a lot and that I shouldn’t, but it’s something that everyone does and these assumptions differ from person to person.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video, I learned that the context of a person can influence the lense of the people around them. Having different background stories of the man caused the photographers to look at the man a certain way as they took his picture. Not only did it affect the photographers view, but also the man's body language. What my life experiences has taught me about context is that the way I present myself and prior knowledge about something can shape how people view me or certain aspects of me. The context of a person is what determines how the person carries themselves and how people perceive them.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how much it pushed the idea of perspective. The way that the photographers viewed the same man was fascinating to learn of. It taught me not to make assumptions of people based off of their look or something that I might of heard about them.
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot about how we wrongly view and treat others around us from watching the video. Most individuals are guilty of perceiving others in the same way, without having a clear knowledge of who they are, just as the example of the photographer and the man. For instance, I am guilty of unfairly judging people without knowing them. Almost every one of my assumptions or judgments about that person was entirely false or unfair. The video helped me realize that we should never judge someone right off the bat since most of the time we will be wrong. We should not make judgments and believe something to be true before we know who someone truly is; instead, we should seek to discover the truth.
ReplyDeleteI found it quite provoking how much the photographers artistic choices were influenced by their judgments of the man based on the information they were given about him. Each photographer took into account the man's background they were told and were quick to make assumptions of his character as a whole and made it the sole focus of the photo. This correlates with every day life as many of us are quick to come to conclusions about people based on little information we are told about them. The video helps to demonstrate the fact that we should get to know a person entirely before coming to terms with who someone is entirely as a person. As stated above, the more context we have on someone and their character, the less we will be quick to judge them or dismiss them to have any good qualities. There is always a deeper layer to a person and it all depends on how willing you are to dig and find out who someone truly is, not merely the quick conclusions created in your mind based on minimal information. In the video, once the photographers gained more information on who the man really was, their opinions and views on him changed drastically. I personally have made quick assumptions of people based on little information heard about them and that person most of the time is complete;y different than what I may have assumed about their character. There truly is no way of knowing who someone is unless you get to know them fully. It's easy to let ones own bias get in the way when determining a person's character or even one's own pride as it's easy to believe your own judgments of a person to be true. With pride and bias put aside we can begin to view people as how they ought to be viewed and not the mere assumptions we have placed on them.
ReplyDeleteI learned that even if you aren't actively aware of any of your biases you're still acting on the subconsciously, and it can affect the light you shed on a person for yourself and/or other people. I learned that context is king when I learn about other people's perspectives. If there's something I don't agree with, or there's something that stands out to me as strange, I have to make sure that that perspective o opinion doesn't make me define them with that one small thing, because there will always be a backstory behind it. I don't have to agree or empathize after I learn it, but at least I can understand it and I actively make sure that I'm not excluding anyone based on something I don't know the context about.
ReplyDeleteThe background information the photographers were given shaped not only their understanding of who the man was, but more importantly how they then chose to portray him for others. From their interpretation of who he was, they had the power to rewrite a narrative about him. The drastic difference in the stories told by their pictures would suggest that context has the power to change how people feel about a person as well as how they will portray them for those around them. From my own experience with context, I have often been told by my friends that before they knew me, they initially thought that I was mean or did not like them. Once they had the context that the face I make is just my resting face and nothing personal, we were able to become friends. Without this context, they would have, and did, tell others that I was standoffish.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing I took away from the video is the overall message. This video made me reflect on how people often times are biased solely on how the see a person or on what the know of a person. I thought it was intresting that these photographers automatically knew how to pose this man just based off his "title". In my opinion this was a everyday example of a single sory, and how it can be so easy to fall into that steryotype.
ReplyDeleteFrom this video, I learned that people’s perception of an individual originates from that person’s prior knowledge to the individual. I became more conscious of the importance of understanding the different aspects of an individual. The factors of an individual’s personality better helps us in obtaining an accurate outlook on that individual’s views and values. Understanding the morals and ethics of an individual allows you to have a proper interpretation of the meaning they attempt to get across in a conversation. I learned that without context, people can never understand the “truth” of the situation. Oftentimes, without context, people gain a false perception of the situation, as they have to create details to, for lack of a better term, fill in the blanks. individuals filling in the blanks has affected me personally, as many people focus on a particular detail of my character, and disregard every other aspect of it. This is known as motivated seeing/hearing - where an individual gains insight based on their own personal needs and desires. I think it’s important to not allow my own preconceived notions to affect how I approach a particular situation, or interact with a specific individual.
ReplyDeleteI think the video was an excellent example of how a photographer's prejudice may be seen in a shot. Each shot simply represents the photographer's interpretation of reality. After watching the video I also realized how much impact our preconceived notions have on how we view and act towards others. This made me realize that I too tend to misjudge people simply based on things I've heard or the way that they present themselves, which has held me back from fruitful and meaningful relationships.
ReplyDeleteThe video is a clear example of how the context surrounding a person changes our way of seeing things and people. What caught my attention the most is that it not only demonstrates how our perspective changes with the given information, but also how it influences our attitudes toward that person. In the video, the photographer who was told that Marco is a fisherman appeared more friendly and open, while in contrast, the photographer who was informed that Marco was a recovering alcoholic acted more cautiously, sensitively, and prudently. It is crucial to consider that biases, which often form instantly upon first meeting someone, not only impact our opinion of the person but also our attitudes and behavior towards them.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I have seen this in action in a negative way. Stereotypes are one of the most harmful preconceived notions that can have a long-term impact in society, from passive-aggressive comments to a long history of radicalizing individuals due to discrimination. It is imperative that we analyze our own biases and prejudices towards someone as we can create a big impact with our behavior caused by these preconceived notions.
The video interestingly emphasizes that context is king. We judge a situation based on the details we know. And from these details that arise, there may be stereotypes. For example, the photographer who captured the ex-inmate perspective described Markle as aggressive. In my personal relationships, I’ve learned context can help so much. I tend to overthink other’s actions and words a lot and make unrealistic assumptions as a result of anxiety. But when I communicate and ask for the perspective of the other person involved, I feel relieved. After receiving context I am able to better understand the situation whether that be a miscommunication or a poorly made assumption.
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting to me on behalf of the whole photographer aspect. I found it intriguing that they asked questions about their lives to try and help paint an accurate (or what they thought was an accurate) representation of people's lives. In addition to that, it was wild to me just how different all the photos were, capturing different aspects of the man and all telling different narratives. But what is arguably the most important essence of this video is the fact that we adjust the way we approach a situation based off the credentials of other people. Now, this could be beneficial in the aspect of safety, don't trust someone who isn't going to protect you. It could also be for the negative however, going in with a prejudice about a person. Many people including myself fall victim to this at times and is definitely something I can work to improve on myself.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest takeaway from this video was when the people had a sort of realization about the man, and the photos were able to somewhat speak for what his character truly is and gave the photographers the real him rather than their incorrect idea about him. I enjoyed this as I feel people are often too quick to judge and never attempt to know the person. In my own life, I too have judged while being misinformed and once I learned about more about those people I quickly learned everything I thought about them was extremely incorrect. In the end context is really king as being informed can shift an entire situation or someones views.
ReplyDeleteIn the video it shows us how important context can be and how much it can change how someone acts towards you. It showed how people will act towards you even when a little amount of context is given and how they would perceive you. This can especially be seen how the photographers portray the man in there photos based on the context they were given.
ReplyDeleteThe video was interesting as each photographer took drastically different approaches to capturing the man with their cameras. One of the photographers even noted that the subject looked like a different person just because of the different style of photography that was applied to him. Not having the whole story of course limits your idea of a person, but sometimes that can be a good thing. A quick snapshot or first impression may deter you from talking to someone that would be harmful or toxic. However, my personal experience is very limited, but I've always been told that you don't know what someone is going through or what they might be like normally.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to have context on a situation before you go to judge someone in that situation. Without knowing the context of a situation you might judge a person in the wrong manner. This could happen because you don’t have the whole picture of what’s going on or you have a misinterpreted picture of what’s going on. Gaining context on a situation requires you to be able to put yourself into the other person’s shoes and seeing the world from their perspective. This can help you see the world as they see and see why that person does the things that they do. Knowing why someone does something rather than just what someone does can be the key to not being judgmental of people who have valid reasons for doing what they do. It may be easy to jump to conclusions and not look for context but most of the time it is not the right thing to do when judging someone.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video, the part that resonated to me the most was the ending. I really think that our preconceived notions can have a big impact on how we view new people. It's critical to recognize that ongoing comparisons—conscious or unconscious—have a role in shaping our first assessments. This video strengthened my belief that it is crucial to approach everyone with an open mind. We have to be aware of the way our minds tend to link new people to people we've met in the past. Accepting that no two people are same, we should avoid making snap decisions and instead make an effort to get to know one other.
ReplyDeleteThis is from Jasmine Mysona my bad
DeleteThe most important aspect of this video to me seemed to be identity. All photographers were given different perspectives of one singular person and by using their own perspective and personality, they were able to come up with what they deemed fit. Their criteria of a “millionaire” was someone who looked distinguished so the photographer had taken a photo in which made it seem as though the person was someone who was in power. The ending of this video for sure helped coincide and conclude everything the audience was taught about perspective, even those who deal with personality’s every day, tend to have their own spin on what they see the person
ReplyDeleteas. -Lucien DeSantiago
In this situation, context could be seen either as a problem or as a positive thing. On one hand, since the photographers were given a context and backstory, they already had opinions formed about the man before he even walked into the room. They didn't give him a chance to show who he is, they just looked for evidence that proved their preconceived ideas of him correct. On the other hand, having context gave the photographers a better understanding of why he acted the way he did, and were a logical explanation of his behavior, such as flinching away from the woman that tried to fix his shirt. If I have context about a person before I meet them, I am more close-minded in that I don't put as much work into getting to know them, since I feel like I already understand them (usually for the worse). For me, not having context allows me to be more open-minded. I like hearing the context of a person's life directly from said person, so that outside opinions aren't being inflicted on me and affecting my judgement, positively or negatively. In general, though, the message I received is to be open-minded regardless of context, especially if the context is not provided first-hand.
ReplyDeleteThroughout my life, I have been perceived in a myriad of ways. I have been seen as energetic or quiet, mean or nice, weird or calm, all by how an individual perceives me at a given moment. It could be the clothing I wear that day, the activity I'm doing, or even the people I'm around; in every photo I take and reflection I may see, I perceive myself differently. I may feel ugly, or beautiful, big or small, tall or short, yet each way, I am perceived through the lens and experience of who is viewing me. Although humans make judgments every second of the day, it is based on a unique series of events that we have built to make that specific judgment. Every day the context of our personal lives and the experiences we've been through shape our perceptions and actions tremendously, as you can never know what someone else has been through or their context in any given situation. There is no definite way of how another may perceive you, a room of 10 people may each think a different way about you for no apparent reason, distressing as that may be. In the video, it's seen how we often use this context to care for ourselves and express the way we view the world, exhibited through the photographers. The woman photographing who she believed to be a former inmate stayed defensive, scared to approach at times, and captured him in a more threatening pose. A photographer, who believes the man to be a former alcoholic, photographed him in a more positive and impactful light, while consistently describing him as strong and brave. While one believed him to be an aggressor and another a champion in both, their context on what they believed not only shaped their creative view of them but their actions towards that person. It is vital when making these judgments to not only look outwards at the way you affect others and at the greater context of any given situation or reaction but also not to be afraid to look at the way you perceive yourself. Now, during a time of social media and an overwhelming self-consciousness of how others may view you, you must step back and see how you view yourself without the context of social media and how you can always be better. You can always be better, and there is always room for improvement, but that does not mean you can not be proud of yourself for what you are and the person you are at any given moment. Value your context and use it to take value in the contexts of others to be the best you can be.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this - love how you started it. I can completely relate!
DeleteSidenote: I posted this blog at 12:30 at school on October 31st but it didn't upload. Thankfully, I made sure to double check (which leads me to my response below):
ReplyDeleteWhat spoke out to me the most was the quote at the end of the video: "A photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than the by what is in front of it." This quote seemed impactful to me because it truly shows how we see what we are wanted to see. The person behind the camera has control of how we perceive what is in front of it. This idea can be applied to life because it shows how words can influence how we view an individual. While your framed view of something may seem reasonable, it can never truly be without seeing what something is for itself. Context is just like this example because both perspetcives have to be understood.
Who is this?
ReplyDeleteBased on this video, I have learned the importance of obtaining context behind characteristics and behaviors of individuals before making assumptions or believing a stereotype. There are multiple layers and aspects to a person, and I feel as though personally, if someone were to focus on one of my own without having true context, it could damage their perception of me in terms of not having the full story. In addition, when lacking context, we as people tend to add in our own assumptions of them to simply make their character make more sense in our own eyes, however, those details might not be completely accurate, considering the lack of context and knowledge they have regarding that individual. Each person has their very own perspective and view of someone, however, without sufficient context or information, this could damage a genuine connection with them.
ReplyDeleteThis video has shown me that context is vital in understanding people in a more complete way. Often times people are much more than what they seem and that is why it is important to make an effort to find out more in order to really "know someone". My own life experiences have shown me the importance of context because I've come to learn that I view some people as weird simply because I don't understand them. This is incredibly tragic as there are so many wonderful people out there that I simply just don't really understand and this causes me to change my perception of them.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting just how much each perspective was changed. From the angles, positioning, and even the attitudes of the photographers. Seeing the reactions from the photographers was also quite interesting. Despite knowing much, they all knowingly or unknowingly placed an assumption on him and it showed through their photographs. I have definitely been in a position where I have assumed something and it's interesting to see how it can drastically change opinions on something, regardless of context.
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned from this video is that not everyone sees things in the same way. The video demonstrated this by showing all of the different things the photographers were told Michael was. The way the photographer who was told he is an alcoholic is different from the way the photographer who was told he's a millionaire set him up and viewed him. I also learned that just by talking to a person, you can learn a lot about who they are and what they've been through. Going just based on what you've been told prior to meeting them can have an effect on the way you view them.
ReplyDeleteFrom the video I learned that people make assumptions or see you differently even though they know nothing or barely anything about you. Like when one of the photographers said she felt like the man treats everyone like they are and she wanted to capture who he was even though she didn't fully know who he was. From my own experience, I've learned context is really important because you may be looking at the person or experience completely wrong.
ReplyDeleteThis video has shown me that context is an incredibly powerful thing, even if it is incorrect. Everyone subconsciously makes split-second judgments about everyone they meet and if these are coupled with a limited amount of context then this can change how you see a person. Context has played a very important role in my life as there have been multiple instances where I have found myself judging a person based on their actions only to find out later through context that there is a very reasonable explanation for them acting that way.
ReplyDeleteSomething that stood out from the video is that first impressions have lasting impressions on an individual's preconceptions of others. The way we present ourselves to the world can have a significant impact on the way others perceive us, and you never know if someone is having an off day or what their circumstances may be. In filming prescreens for my upcoming college auditions, I have learned the importance of always slating with a smile and the impact your presence in a room can have on a viewer. I’ve noticed from those who have watched my videos that the takes in which I smile at the beginning are typically the favorites. Even without knowing the context of the rest of the video, people already have opinions on who I am as a person from the first moment I say hi to the camera.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching this video I realized that this happened a lot around me. People seem to take the work of one person and never talk or even look down at the individual being talked about. I have learned that we should just go to the source, talk to them, get to know who they really are and no just get info from others because chances are they know just as little as you. I can relate to this because I did this a lot when I was younger and now that I look back at it, I was right sometimes of what I thought of that person, but I was also wrong. People always have a mask on and it is only when we look pass what we see that we can unvile their true personality.
ReplyDeleteThe video was very eye-opening to me personally because often times we can take a lot from photos. We often here the phrase, "a picture says a thousand words", but we often dtimes the unseen words behind the photo go unnoticed. The video also shows us the importance of perspective and how easily things can be altered or misinterpreted because of someones perspecitve on a person or situation. For me, I think I can fall victim of sticking to a ceratin perspective and not finding out other perspectives before coming up with a judgment or consenses. I often times can be a victim of such prejudice. It may take a lot of effort and work but I think as we look to be more open-minded and understanding of the fact that one perspective does not define us, the world will become more merciful and become a more loving place of peace.
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the video it made me realize how perspective can change the way you see something. You don't truly know someone just by looking at them, there is context and background to everything and without it you'll never get the "full picture". You can't make assumptions about someone based on a moment in time that you see of them, there are angles and motions that can play into how your brain perceives something. With every perception being different. This videos target relates to my personal life as I used to only believe or think something about someone based on an image or what I see or am told. Without actually getting any of the context. It took me a bit of time to train my brain not to be tricked into the grasping perception of something.
ReplyDeleteI loved the quote at the end of the video stating “A photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than by what is in front of it.” It was interesting that their pre-conceptions drastically changed the whole photo shoot. Each of them perceived the exact same man in very different ways. I think it is very important that we take the time to hear someone’s story and truly get to know them before we jump to conclusions or take someones else’s word for it. I have had a few experiences in which I have judged someone before I truly got to know the context of their life. Each time I proved my self wrong, and the person ended up being much nicer than I expected. These experiences have taught me not to just a book by it’s cover and to never made up my mind about someone purely based on their first impression. They also taught me to not trust other peoples’ judgement, and to find out for myself instead. I have learned that I’ll be happier and have a better perspective, If I give myself the time to learn the context of someone else’s life.
ReplyDeleteThat was me^ - Toy Landers
DeleteWithin this video the photographer is demonstrating that a photo can be shaped by the person behind the camera, displaying how one's own preconceived biases and perspective can limit the amount of context in which we preserve.
ReplyDeleteThe video itself challenges the ideal, what is man , in regards to perspective and perception. It is heavily implied that one's own biases and perception can impact the way in which we perceive, this can be elaborated through personal ideals or the information we are given including the story we are told to dictate our perceptions. An example of this , is if we are told a particular story regarding a person and their background it impacts the way in which we perceive them or makes us develop a preconceived bias based upon what we have heard about them.
While in school, especially high school , we see this tendency to judge someone based on what we are told fog our lens or limit our ability to validly understand someone without already processing reconsidered connotations regarding them due to our background knowledge.
While watching this video, it really showed me how easy it is to doubt oneself simply out of caution if other people will think the same. Especially when making preconceived notions of others, I generally try my best to keep an open mind of new people, but as we are all human, it is normal for us to make basic assumptions of what we expect from others. What I had learned from this video is how important it is to ignore self doubts and embrace your inner creativity or else you may never know how amazing a product can truly be if you didn't second guess in the first place.
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