Blog Post 2: Observing the Ordinary

Learning how to observe the ordinary is critical in becoming an effective media creator and viewer. The essays and photographs in Seeing and Writing 3 demonstrate great examples of actively looking at the ordinary. After studying these texts I have gained greater insights into the mundane events or objects in my own life. From a viewer’s perspective, I love how the textbook describes how we can gain further understanding of the ordinary through other people’s perspectives: Because we are all different, people will observe ordinary texts or events differently, and thereby gain new meaning and understanding.

An example from the text that helped me gain new meaning was the photographic series of Americans of differing faiths praying. I found myself spending a lot of time examining these photos, first individually, then collectively. Some photos weren’t as familiar to me, such as the Buddhist man laying prostrate on the ground, and others I felt more connected with, such as the mother and father praying at their daughter’s bedside. I wanted to learn more about the photos I wasn’t as familiar with, but as interesting as the Buddhist man was, I found myself even more interested with the family prayer picture. I followed the council in the book to make observations and inferences, and after doing so; layers of meaning began to flood my mind. I will share one observation and inference I had that made this ordinary photograph extraordinary: When observing the setting, I could not find any clues that identified the family’s denomination, and that is what I found most interesting. While inferring that this family was unlikely Latter-day Saints, I couldn’t help but think how familiar this photograph was to me – family prayer has been at least a daily event throughout my entire life. The sincerity and devotion of this family reinforced to me how connected the whole human family is, regardless of race or beliefs. The photograph helped me feel connected to them as well causing me to re-examine the sincerity of the prayers I have with my family.

Learning to observe and infer the ordinary helps us learn more about others and ourselves – both are fundamental in viewing and creating media texts. This idea of observing the ordinary reminds me of a documentary style I enjoy, which is exalting the ordinary, which I believe is a worthy and a high form of art. Ordinary life and events can be so interesting and educational if we will take the time to truly look.