Sunday, December 6, 2009
American Express-ions
I just adore this commercial! Not only is it funny how the extraordinary can be found in the ordinary, (or the expressive in the everyday) but, to me, it shows that whatever filter we have in our mind is what we observe out in the world. In otherwords, whatever we are looking for in life is what we'll find. (I confess I have looked for expressive faces in everyday settings and items after seeing this commercial...they're not that easy to find. But possible.) If we look for expressive faces in everyday settings in life....we will find them. Perhaps we're in a crappy mood, we may notice only crappy things around us. Is life really that simple that we can choose whatever it is we observe out in the world? I'm struggling so hard not to use the term "law of attraction." How about "intentional observation filtering?"We are bombarded with so many sense-attracting stimuli out there that the mind has to choose which perspective to allow in, while filtering the rest out. That's why I love this commercial. It reminds us how simple it is to find entertainment and humor right under our nose! Comedians and creatives are masters at this! Have you found what you're looking for out there...or does it start inside?
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4 comments:
Interesting commercial ~ though humorous ~ it also encourages financial obligations aka being in debt! Don’t have the cash to purchase the latest Gucci, Kenneth Cole, or Michael Korrs handbag/s, or new washer/dryer, iron, clothing, etc, etcetera ~ just charge it and pay later. Can’t say I’m a fan of certain commercials, esp. those that encourages instant gratification. Sorry for the rant, just my opinion!
Now, moving on to: “expressive faces.” In the City where I live, I travel by public transit most times and I’m all about the “intentional observation,” looking at the expression on the faces of other travelers ~ let me tell ya ~ they’re not many happy expressions on the face of most.
The majorities are sleeping, others are reading, and the rest just look spaced out.
At times an individual and I may look directly at each other, and I’ll smile or say hello ~ and most times they look at me like I’m alien or just plain ‘mad.’ Or by the time their brain and my smile/hello connect ~ I’m outta sight!
Rarely, does someone connect in the moment of my smile or hello. I don’t trip, due knowing everyone is growing through their own challenge/s or they make just be in thought re a happy occasion ~ though their expressive does not display happy.
I also play my own game ~ I try reading the expression on the faces of others. Not because I’m nosy, I enjoy people watching and find folks interesting.
I’m truly amazed how unconscious folks are to their surroundings, individuals bump into me and don’t even realize they just connected with another human body ~ at times I’ll say to folks ~ “I’m a person, not a wall!”
Conclusion: IMHO: I don’t think one can find ‘things,’ i.e. happiness, love, peace, satisfaction, outside of themselves, I believe all things worth having start on the inside. It’s about remaining present to the moment and all that surrounds one.
waheguru!
I forgot to say: I enjoy reading your blog/s and the cool visuals provided! You've got it like 'dat!' Smile!
Coolness, Yogagurl!
I had a real ephiphany when I last visited NYC. When on the subway, there's this unspoken behavior the riders participate in. We try not to look at each other...in fact, we use the ads posted above to give us a quick glance at others around us. It's a kind of an unspoken social human behavior that when we're all crushed into this public sardine can...we allow each other privacy by appearing zoned out and not gazing at each other, yet we can use the ads on the subway car walls as an excuse to catch a quick glance at the subway rider who is dressed so creatively,that we don't want to miss it.
I used to think all people were checked-out during transit and some are...but many seem to zone out to allow privacy because we're all crammed into each others' face!
I recently saw a video clip of a marketer upset that people are still paying for newspapers when they can read the news online for free....but I have a hunch that those newspapers are used more for privacy walls and do serve a function worth paying for when in transit.
You sure know your designers!!!!I'm in awe of that!
Yes, the ad does encourage materialism....and how AE strives to protect its customers. I have to admit I filtered out those perspectives and only paid attention to the artistic perspective. I just love how the ad encourages seeing things from a less common viewpoint...or even a less checked-out awareness (probably a good ad to open awareness for the permanantly zoned out people you mention you've noticed in your travels.)
I couldn't agree with you more that it starts on the inside and that's the neat thing about that ad. One can't see those expressive faces in the everyday unless they have the intent to do so on the inside.
Thank you, dear Yogagurl, for expressing your truth. That's one of the many many cool things about you.
Happy New Year!
Looking forward to your first blog entry for 2010 ~ wonder what it will be ~ inquiring minds wants to know -:)
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