What's in an Image - Subliminal Messaging & Human Response
- Jan 31, 2018
- 3 min read
I live with 5 absolutely incredible women. Show-stopping, jaw-dropping, brilliant, kind, powerful, selfless, & bold women. As we journey through this year as a community on campus, I find myself leaning into them when I need support, and more often than not, laughing along with their silliness. They are amazing!
Something I've definitely noticed about living and working with five other people that are so unique is the ways that we pick up on each other's little habits. We've all adopted my roommate Alexis's "what the bleeeeeep?" when something surprising happens, or calling everyone "love," like Sarah does. But something I don't think we have the capacity to adopt is our own gut reaction to things. I think that we each have responses that our mind naturally is inclined to feel, unrelated to the responses of those around us.
In my first post, I talked a little deeper on the harmful ways that ads can affect women. When we experience something, it doesn't take a while for it to settle in to affect us. On the contrary, we have gut reactions as soon as we see an image. Ads are simply images. And if ads can stir up a response immediately, other images will as well. I was super interested in how this actually plays out in real life, so I picked 8 images showing women in all different stages and points in time, showed them to my house mates. I asked for a word or phrase about how the pictures made them feel, or what they noticed. Here are their responses.
Alexis: "Imperfect. Look at her tininess!"
Anna: "Why do women feel like they need to do this? Men wouldn't do that."
Amanda: "I feel like I'm being judged by unreal standards. This makes me feel like I need to go do jumping jacks for fourteen hours."
Sarah: "Uncomfortable."
Jeanne Marie:
Alexis: "I feel welcomed, warm, cuddles, sweet tea"
Anna: "She's southern! She probably makes a mean Southern dessert. I'd feel welcomed in her home."
Amanda: "That makes me feel like I want to work harder. It doesn't make me feel empowered or unhappy, but it makes me feel like I don't want that particular outfit or hairstyle, but I'm glad she's embracing her femininity as a mother and woman."
Sarah: "Welcoming."
Jeanne Marie:
Alexis: "If I'm just looking at Jesus, loved. I associate with Mary, like appreciating her Son's love."
Anna: "I feel grateful. I see Mary mourning the loss of her Son."
Amanda: "That picture immediately makes me feel guilty, but redeemed, but also love."
Sarah: "Loved."
Jeanne Marie:
Alexis: "Makes me hungry!!! Wow look at the melted cheese." [I asked if they noticed the subliminal messaging] "Oh, is this a real ad? Oh my gosh, I just looked at the sandwich. Now I feel like a child, that was way over my head."
Anna: "Look at that deal, I'm so hungry right now" [they took this together]. "I totally didn't think of this. I didn't even read it, I saw the sandwich and the price and I just wanted it. But now I feel uncomfortable and I would not want to see this anywhere."
Amanda: "That makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't like that at all."
Sarah: "Confused"
Jeanne Marie:
Alexis: "Awww, that is my happy place! How do I fit into this? I'm glad I do. Also Amanda is growing a tree from her head."
Anna: "Aww, cuddle puddle! Can we go back there? How was I so lucky? Look how happy everyone is."
Amanda: "Aww, I feel so happy! I feel empowered by women who love me and I love them."
Sarah: "Aww, family"
Jeanne Marie:
Alexis: "I can kind of relate to this, but I think it's too much. When I look at this, I'm confused."
Anna: "This half, I'm fine, but this half makes me uncomfortable."
Amanda: "Insecure. Is that an allowed option? I don't like that at all."
Sarah: "Confused."
Jeanne Marie:
Alexis: "Oh my gosh, happy, joy. I want that. Could you imagine her looking at you like that? The way she looks at whoever she's looking at is the way I imagine Christ would look at someone. I want to be on the receiving end of that."
Anna: "This is a person who has done everything to follow Christ's call."
Amanda: "Aww, that one makes me feel happy and empowered. I wish I could do that."
Sarah: "Compassion and selflessness."
Jeanne Marie:
Alexis: "Aww, family is so beautiful. Youth is refreshing and exciting. There's a lot of energy. I can imagine the second after this photo was taken, goodbye."
Anna: "Aww, she definitely has her hands full, but she realizes the gift she's been given. A full life filled with chaos, but also with joy.
Amanda: "Aww, I like that one. It makes me feel like I can do things and be loved and give love."
Sarah: "Family"
Jeanne Marie:
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