Saturday, May 23, 2009

images and first impression are manageable, is not it?? (2nd blog entry, 3rd week topic)

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/05/19/angelina-jolie-child-soldiers/

 

This article talks about Angelina Jolie, a very famous actress in Hollywood who is known to be involved in issues concerning children problems. She attends the trial of a Congolese warlord charged with using child soldiers held at the International Criminal Court.

Angelina Jolie has been known as a very caring and advocate actress who is also an activist for children, not only in United States but also in Africa. She has been known as a very generous actress that supports children not only in material value but also gives her ‘high-priced’ time to make a visit especially for children in the rural area. Being a well-known actress and also a children activist, Angelina Jolie has attracted our focus more towards her when she takes action(s) as a child activist. It diverts us, as Hollywood audiences; to see her as figure and ground from other child activist.

There are ways to which we select our information; influenced by mass media, environments, and many more. As human beings, we are used to organizing information through influences such as cognitive schemata, structural principles and organizational principles. Where cognitive schemata is also divided into personal constructs, prototypes, scripts and punctuation.

Angelina Jolie has created a different interpretation as a public figure, as audiences have personal interpretation; through personal construct and prototypes influences. Most of the case, other famous public figure does not really care about their surroundings; even though they do appear in the media as a voluntary social worker, most of them are doing that because of the scripts given, thus audiences have good interpretation about them. The first impression I have about public figures is whatever they do, is basically to make a better image for themselves. However, Angelina Jolie has proved that what she is doing is because she really cares about the children, and she changes my perception about her due to her sincere concern towards those children.

What Angelina Jolie has done this far, also shows a different perception in regards to the matter of caring about other people’s children in general, from one that has been developed in Asia. As known in Asia, people do not care much about another’s child, including those random ones and poor people children. This condition is also influenced by structural principles that shape our overall approach towards a task.  Because we are mostly being taught that taking care of other people’s business would cause trouble for ourselves.

Last but not the least that can be recognized from the article is Angelina Jolie was using verbal communication by speaking in French. She used it since she was communicating with people who talk in French. Therefore, we can conclude that Angelina Jolie is not only well versed in English, but also in French. This ability allows her to communicate better with those people who understand French instead of English when she wants to bring across her ideas.

Do first impression really cannot be changed? Do people always say that other people should have the same perception as they are?  I do not think so. This article has changed my perception towards Angelina Jolie as a famous public figure. 

9 comments:

  1. I have heard that first impressions stick like glue. Within seconds, we are able to form an impression of, set expectations for, accept or condemn another person. The human mind (or cynicism) is absolutely remarkable.

    However, I personally believe that first impressions can be changed if we allow for communication and interaction with a person. Bad impressions can become good, and so can good impressions become bad. It is all dependent on the second/third chances we give others to re-model the images we have in our minds of them.

    You made a very good point about how our view of Angelina Jolie has been diverted from a mere Hollywood star to an active child activist. It is important to note that the reason for this easy shift of focus could be due to a fresh and different light that has been cast on a celebrity and not necessary the fact that she indeed is more outstanding than any other child activist. In other words, we see what the media chooses to portray to us, but we should not take what we see simply at eye level.

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  2. "dont judge book by its cover"

    we can tell people to not judge, but unconsciously we do the same to most people we firstly meet in real life/not.

    the perception of 'this book' will slowly change if we look from different point of view.

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  3. It's pretty simple, pretty obvious: that people's first impressions of people are really a big mistake.
    Vincent D'Onofrio

    I agree with J, we should not take what we see simply at eye level.

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  4. This is a very crucial issue in my life where first impression really indeed a very important thing because it really manage whether we are going to be recruited for next contract or not. Once you blew it, you are in a hard phase to get your "ass" back on track where you want again.
    As someone whom always being SEEN by other, no matter when and where we are, impression is so important since our 1st one!

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  5. to achieve is easier that to maintain.

    for me, first impression is quite important, it is memorable to the interviewer of an employee whether or not there will be a next interview.

    altho dont close your heart for everyone in second contact...he/she might be your best friend or best enemy...

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  6. First impressions can be shattered.
    A friend once shared with me that when she first entered a new class, she had first impressions about everyone. To her surprise, after getting to know everyone a little better, she realized that all the impressions were inaccurate and very far from the actual personality of the person.
    First impressions do not last.

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  7. Personally i do not place much importance on first impression. It is maintaining a good impression that is the important aspect of any relationship.
    Just like how i never say an apple is bad until i have fully analyzed the apple and come to a conclusion.

    First impressions can be changed, for the better or worse. We are all dynamic individuals. It all depends on whether we are willing to stick pass a lousy first impression and hopefully get to see the shining jewel hidden underneath the dirt. Like digging for diamonds, a person's true self is hidden under layers and requires time and effort to bring to the surface.

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  8. FIRST IMPRESSION is the UNFORGETTABLE IMAGE!

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  9. first impressions are what leave a mark in the memory. and i totally believe in that. i mean sure they can be wrong and all but if you dont like what you see, would you even approach the person and say "hi"? i hardly think so. Would you talk to someone or get to know them better if they did not leave a good impression on you? of course you wont.
    Without even realising it, we all remember the first time we met each other and what kind of impression we got and not everyone likes it when they are told that they gave a bad impression do they. . .=)

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