Article Title: Why we like what we like
By: Alva Noe
Central Argument: A person's judgement is based on his or her perception of somebody or something and not on the qualities that person or thing possesses.
We live in a strange world. We care more about outward projection and artificial behavior rather than about the qualities of a person or thing. Our judgement is more influenced by artificial characteristics rather than actual characteristics. Most of us care more about our girlfriend or boyfriend's look rather than how they are as a person. We might disagree with this, but within our heart we all know this is true. This is a basic nature of all humans. A person's judgement is based on his or her perception of somebody or something and not on the qualities that person or thing possesses.
Street restaurants and expensive restaurants, both serve food. But even if the food of the street restaurant is better, people will still prefer expensive restaurants. This is because from outside the street restaurant is a shabby, simple, eating joint and the expensive restaurant is a 5-star, pretty, high-tech, well-reputed place. Because the expensive restaurant is good looking from outside, it does not mean that it serves better food than the street restaurants. I personally sometimes prefer the food of a street shop as compared to that of an expensive restaurant. But again we humans do not judge restaurants on the basis of the quality of food but on how big the restaurant is, how expensive it is, whether it has expensive decoration, whether it is visited by the elite of the society and whether it is tall and attractive. Simply put, we care more about the outward appearance of the restaurant rather than the food it serves. This is wrong because we go to restaurants to eat food and not to admire the poshness.
The film industry is another example of how people care more about outward appearance. In the film industry there are some superstars and some not so popular actors. But this does not mean that the unpopular actors were not good actors. In India, Bollywood is the biggest film industry similar to Hollywood in U.S. The films in India which have superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and others are a guarantee hit. Films having great casts, promotions, songs and locations are guaranteed hits. But films with good stories are never a guaranteed hit. This is because people are more attracted by the outward projection of a film rather than the story. Fancy things like the actors, money spent, catchy songs etc. are more important than the message that the film is trying to convey or how good the acting of the actors is.
Shopping for clothes and shoes is another example where outward projection is more important than the design of the clothes. In the 21st century people care more about the brands about clothes and shoes rather than the designs of the clothes and shoes. Even if two dresses have the same designs, the one having a better brand or better package will be considered better than the other. This is because studies in psychology has shown that the mind is more influenced and attracted by colorful, bright, attractive, appealing objects rather than objects of good quality with dull, unattractive designs. Brands like Armani, Gucci, Prada etc. are considered better than local brands, not because they have better clothes but because their advertisement and brand appeal is more than that of the local brands. Humans may argue that they don't care about brands but about the quality of the clothes. However this is not true. Choices of most of the people during shopping is more influenced by the brand name and the fanciness with which the material is showcases as compared to the actual design of the thing. I have experienced this myself. When I go shopping, I care more about the brand name and how the thing is showcased and not so much about the design. Thus the outward appearance of the products and the brand name is more important for most shoppers as compared to the quality and design of a product.
There are many situations in today's world where we consider outward appearance more important than the character or nature of a thing or person. Wine in an expensive bottle is better than wine in a cheap bottle regardless of the quality of the wine. Chocolates in a gold box are better than chocolates in a plastic box regardless of the taste of the chocolate. These are a few examples of how outward appearance plays a more important role. Even though our beliefs teach us not to go by outward appearance, we do. This is basic human nature and common amongst almost all humans. A person's judgment is based on his or her perception of somebody or something and not the character of that person or thing.
By: Alva Noe
Central Argument: A person's judgement is based on his or her perception of somebody or something and not on the qualities that person or thing possesses.
We live in a strange world. We care more about outward projection and artificial behavior rather than about the qualities of a person or thing. Our judgement is more influenced by artificial characteristics rather than actual characteristics. Most of us care more about our girlfriend or boyfriend's look rather than how they are as a person. We might disagree with this, but within our heart we all know this is true. This is a basic nature of all humans. A person's judgement is based on his or her perception of somebody or something and not on the qualities that person or thing possesses.
Street restaurants and expensive restaurants, both serve food. But even if the food of the street restaurant is better, people will still prefer expensive restaurants. This is because from outside the street restaurant is a shabby, simple, eating joint and the expensive restaurant is a 5-star, pretty, high-tech, well-reputed place. Because the expensive restaurant is good looking from outside, it does not mean that it serves better food than the street restaurants. I personally sometimes prefer the food of a street shop as compared to that of an expensive restaurant. But again we humans do not judge restaurants on the basis of the quality of food but on how big the restaurant is, how expensive it is, whether it has expensive decoration, whether it is visited by the elite of the society and whether it is tall and attractive. Simply put, we care more about the outward appearance of the restaurant rather than the food it serves. This is wrong because we go to restaurants to eat food and not to admire the poshness.
The film industry is another example of how people care more about outward appearance. In the film industry there are some superstars and some not so popular actors. But this does not mean that the unpopular actors were not good actors. In India, Bollywood is the biggest film industry similar to Hollywood in U.S. The films in India which have superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and others are a guarantee hit. Films having great casts, promotions, songs and locations are guaranteed hits. But films with good stories are never a guaranteed hit. This is because people are more attracted by the outward projection of a film rather than the story. Fancy things like the actors, money spent, catchy songs etc. are more important than the message that the film is trying to convey or how good the acting of the actors is.
Shopping for clothes and shoes is another example where outward projection is more important than the design of the clothes. In the 21st century people care more about the brands about clothes and shoes rather than the designs of the clothes and shoes. Even if two dresses have the same designs, the one having a better brand or better package will be considered better than the other. This is because studies in psychology has shown that the mind is more influenced and attracted by colorful, bright, attractive, appealing objects rather than objects of good quality with dull, unattractive designs. Brands like Armani, Gucci, Prada etc. are considered better than local brands, not because they have better clothes but because their advertisement and brand appeal is more than that of the local brands. Humans may argue that they don't care about brands but about the quality of the clothes. However this is not true. Choices of most of the people during shopping is more influenced by the brand name and the fanciness with which the material is showcases as compared to the actual design of the thing. I have experienced this myself. When I go shopping, I care more about the brand name and how the thing is showcased and not so much about the design. Thus the outward appearance of the products and the brand name is more important for most shoppers as compared to the quality and design of a product.
There are many situations in today's world where we consider outward appearance more important than the character or nature of a thing or person. Wine in an expensive bottle is better than wine in a cheap bottle regardless of the quality of the wine. Chocolates in a gold box are better than chocolates in a plastic box regardless of the taste of the chocolate. These are a few examples of how outward appearance plays a more important role. Even though our beliefs teach us not to go by outward appearance, we do. This is basic human nature and common amongst almost all humans. A person's judgment is based on his or her perception of somebody or something and not the character of that person or thing.
