Yesterday I went for an exhibition in one of the museums in the city. One of the showpieces was a video booth showing the changes that happened in people over the years in a kind of social experiment. For every person, there were two 10 to 20 second videos: the first one from when they were children/young teenagers and another about 10 years or so later when they were already adults. Every person was asked to behave in a way that depicts who they are or who they feel they are.
'Children' parts(looking between ages 8 to 15) of the video were quite diverse. Playful at times, making funny faces, singing songs, playing, some being a bit shy or lost in thoughts - you know like kids behave. Very lively, not exactly loud but all slightly overwhelming at times like only children can be.
'Adult' parts were... the same. No, really. They may have had different appearances but they behaved in such similar ways it was simply disturbing. The same way of looking at the camera, the same angle, the same kind of smile, this little polite smile everyone seems to wear, or lack of thereof, the same kind of make up even. No playfullness, no individuality, just looking at the camera like lifelike dolls. I'm not joking. It was kind of freaky, how little of them had something similar to the child they used to be. I think I saw a person, maybe two people that had a similar or the same kind of smile, the warm and real one, and eyes as when they were children.
How much society influences people into loosing the individuality everyone is born with? How much does everyone has to mask? They call it growing up but it looks more like fading away. I'm aware that videos of this kind can be easily manipulated but it's not the first time I realised it, previously having seen it while comparing people I used to know as children and who they are now.
Is it even possible to truly retain your individuality? Is there even individuality in the society cherishing only the rat race and profits that can come from it?
I'm trying to give the world and people a chance. To understand it and find something to appreciate, something positive but every time I look, I only feel like taking another step back.
'Children' parts(looking between ages 8 to 15) of the video were quite diverse. Playful at times, making funny faces, singing songs, playing, some being a bit shy or lost in thoughts - you know like kids behave. Very lively, not exactly loud but all slightly overwhelming at times like only children can be.
'Adult' parts were... the same. No, really. They may have had different appearances but they behaved in such similar ways it was simply disturbing. The same way of looking at the camera, the same angle, the same kind of smile, this little polite smile everyone seems to wear, or lack of thereof, the same kind of make up even. No playfullness, no individuality, just looking at the camera like lifelike dolls. I'm not joking. It was kind of freaky, how little of them had something similar to the child they used to be. I think I saw a person, maybe two people that had a similar or the same kind of smile, the warm and real one, and eyes as when they were children.
How much society influences people into loosing the individuality everyone is born with? How much does everyone has to mask? They call it growing up but it looks more like fading away. I'm aware that videos of this kind can be easily manipulated but it's not the first time I realised it, previously having seen it while comparing people I used to know as children and who they are now.
Is it even possible to truly retain your individuality? Is there even individuality in the society cherishing only the rat race and profits that can come from it?
I'm trying to give the world and people a chance. To understand it and find something to appreciate, something positive but every time I look, I only feel like taking another step back.