Perceptions
Copyright Vladimir Kagan, August 5, 2015
The Rorschach test (/ˈrɔrʃɑːk/ or /ˈrɔərʃɑːk/,[3] German pronunciation: [ˈʀoːɐ̯ʃax]; also known as the Rorschach inkblot test, the Rorschach technique, or simply the inkblot test) is a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation. The test is named after its creator, Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning. In the 1960s, the Rorschach was the most widely used projective test.[5] and was ranked eighth among psychological tests used in outpatient mental health facilities.[6] Currently it is the second most widely used test by members of the Society for Personality Assessment.
Life is nothing but a Rorschach Test. It is all about perception and miss-percetions. It is how we interprete things.
Perhaps the earliest miss-Perception was seeing “The Man in the Moon”
Of course, religion is a longtime player in the field; mono-theism vs. polytheism. How do the concepts really differ? Both teach respect and fear – both bring rewards (sometimes) and totally ignore you at others times.
Staring at clouds on a lazy day at the beach triggers many interpretations. The fun part of this activity are the ever changing images, a custom-built Rorschach every minute.
Driving along on any of our Nantucket roads, I see beautiful women from the back, sometimes pony tails swaying like a pendulum as they jog along. I see slender trim girls and ladies riding their bikes. The imagination carries you to the front to complete the vision, but often driving won’t permit that second glance. Not infrequently, what I envisioned as a prety girl turns out to be a man. Imagination is deceptive.
The other night I went to a beautful ballet performance. One of the highlights was Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake almost entirely danced on toes, to the delight of the audience. Realistically, dancing on toes is a grotesque and unnatural movement only facilited by specially designed “toe shoes”. (choreographers of modern dance have virtually eliminated this practice.) Dancing on toes is akin to Chinese bound feet. The elegantly embroidered tiny silk slippers were considered beautiful and walking on them an act of daintiness and upper-class idolitry. Both skills are precieved pinacles of grace. I adore toe dancing but shudder at the sight of the ocasional older Chinese lady mincing along the street, the result of her years of bound feet. Is one more beautiful than the other? Preception!
“To tell the truth” as a preamble to a sentence implies what’s to follow is a lie. Of course, that is not the case, but there is one more Rorschach.
“Whatever” as a closing phrase. Is it a discussion ender, or is it a lazy incomplete thought? A Rorschach of two minds.
I often preface every question with “so” - “So what are we going to do?” - ”So where are we going?” - “So what does that mean?” Another Freudian question for a Rorschach analysis.
Abstract art is another great deceptor - your interpretation is as good as the next person’s, but neither of you probably sees what the artist had in his mind.
When Chinese super hero artist Ai Weiwei takes a priceless Ming vase and shatters it into a thousand pieces in front of a camera it is called “Art”. When a disgruntled Florida artist takes one of Ai Weiwei’s crudely decorated “priceless” Ming vases and shattered it at last year’s Weiwei’s exhibit at the Perez Art Museum in Miami, the poor slob is arrested. Figure that out, Dr. Rorschach!
I sometimes gape off into space, not focused on anything. The perception of what I am visualizing is not what is actually out there. It isn’t what it ought to be! Just ruminating!
So why am I writing this Blog? Because these thoughts come into my head at night when I can’t sleep. Some people read a book; I entertain myself with random thoughts. What you see is not always what is out there. What you think may not match-up with reality. There is no absolute truth. Truth and lies fall into a grey area. It is one person’s perception over another’s.
Food for thought!
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