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Books and covers April 20, 2009

Posted by smartley in Uncategorized. trackback

According to some academic studies, it takes no more than 100 milliseconds (that’s a tenth of a second to you and me) to make up our minds about someone we have not met before. The judgements made are on the basis of visual appearance and can take no account of character or other personality traits.

Much of western society seems to be very concerned with image and conforming to expectations which are constantly thrust at us by the media. When confronted with something which does not meet the expected ideals, there is often surprise that such-a-person could possibly be capable of ….

I’m not a viewer of the many talent shows and competitions broadcast on television, but having heard a snippet on Radio 4 about the phenomenon that is Susan Boyle, I was intrigued. For the few of you who haven’t yet seen it, the YouTube video of Susan’s performance on Britain’s Got Talent is definitely worth watching. Why? Well, first, to hear Susan’s voice, but also to look at the smirks, scepticism and ridicule initially seen in the faces of judges and audience. It is good that this was caught on camera. Within five seconds – 5,000 milliseconds – of Susan beginning to sing, the audience were applauding and the expressions of disbelief as to how “someone so ordinary looking” could possibly have talent, had melted to be replaced with expressions of amazement at her talent.

Once can only hope that with all the media adulation surrounding her, Susan will manage to maintain her integrity, sincerity and genuineness and that the dream she dreamed is fulfilled.

How does this relate to wider society? As you will see if you have looked at other items on this blog, I am involved in education and have a passion for the value of the individual irrespective of creed or colour. In society, we often make judgements or sweeping generalisations about whole groups of people on the basis of a word or the actions of a small sector from within a group. It is so easy to lose the individual and forget that we are all unique with our own set of characteristics and talents. So perhaps, the fleeting 100 milliseconds should be replaced by giving a person a fair chance to reveal their true worth before making inaccurate judgements.