Please take a
moment to examine this image. As you are looking at it for the first
time, try to keep a tally in your mind of how many individual characters are
depicted. When you are done counting, tell me what you came up with.
(After less
than a minute) the participant replied 'over a dozen'.
Give it more
attention if at all possible. I realize your brain has a high-powered
high-speed function that is just-egging-you-on to pay attention to something
more captivating (sorry about that boomer phrase I just used; it's absolutely
not about what you think). Think of it as a 'spot-the-hidden'
thingy. Try again. How many do you see?
Sixteen.
But, I don't think some of those would count as a character in many other
people's minds.
Tell me about
one of those, if you would. One that you question if it would count as a
character.
There's the
silhouette in black on the side of the house. It stands on two legs with
a stick in one hand like a supporting staff; it's got a very long beak-like
nose; and it's wearing a kind-of crown. I think most people would
consider graffiti on the side of a building to not qualify as 'a character',
but I included it as one because this artwork wants me to include it as one.
Nice
answer. Of all the characters — the sixteen you counted — pick one that
you most identify with as depicting how you feel at times. Maybe not at
this very moment. But it, "says something to you." I would like
you to imagine what the artist was attempting to portray when they included
that character in this collected depiction of these images.
The native in
the middle of the field with a head-dress carrying a flaming torch. The
artist was hoping viewers would recognize his plight. He is one of the
few characters staring directly at us. He's surrounded by the effects of
the smoggy industrial refinery, desolation, despair and a dead-dry
field. If I'm not mistaken this character is made of wood? No
matter, he's considering burning it all. Completing the destruction
begun by . . . you get the idea.
Yes, wonderful
imagination you have there when you take it out and give it a chance.
What's the
correct answer to the total number of character's; if you don't mind me
asking.
You hit the
nail on the head with the 'depending on what one counts as a character'.
I've received answers as low as 'one' and as high as 'twenty eight'
if-you-can-believe-that!
Which one was
the 'one' answer?
They felt that
the only actual human, visible in the frame, must be the only 'real character'
and the others were inanimate objects. It's not easy to see, but, a
person is peering out the front window.
do it until you're satisfied with your newly refined ability:
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