This week, I was given the opportunity to view a television show that I have never seen before and then make observations about the show first with the sound off and then a second time with the sound on. Thank goodness we have On Demand to watch shows that have already aired because it has been years since I recorded a show.
The show I chose was called "Melissa and Joey" and I just picked it randomly so I had no idea what it was about and also if it was a comedy, mystery, etc. In fact, I thought the show was going to be some kind of drama because of the commercials of preview shows I had to watch before the show started. Much to my pleasant surprise, "Melissa and Joey" is a situational comedy.
SOUND OFF
SOUND OFF
As I watched the show with the sound off, I made assumptions based on my observations. One observation at the beginning of the show was that there was a teenage boy talking to Joey and it appeared to me that Joey was the boy's father because it looked like Joey was looking at the boy's homework and talking to him while showing him something on the homework. I also assumed that the woman kissing Joey was his girlfriend. There was also a woman who I assumed was interviewing for a job with Joey because she was sitting and talking with him in what appeared to be an area that looks like an office. I noticed that there were two teenage couples and it appeared that they lived at the house.
I noticed that when Melissa talked and/or communicated, she used big hand motions but seemed calm and wanted to work out conflict. She also seemed more relaxed and her body seemed to flow through a room while she moved. Joey, on the other hand, seemed to have faster hand and body movements and more exaggerated facial expressions.
SOUND ON
When I watched the show with the sound on, I discovered that the teenage boy talking to Joey at the beginning of the show was a student that Joey tutored. I also found out that Joey had a tutoring business out of the garage of Melissa's house. The other teenagers that appeared in the house were Melissa's niece and nephew that lived with her and their teenage boyfriend/girlfriend that came over to visit. I was actually right about the woman who I thought was Joey's girlfriend but her son was also getting tutored by Joey. The woman that I thought was interviewing for a job for a Joey was actually a parent wanting to sign her children up for tutoring.
As far as body language, Melissa is not as calm but kind of all over the place when she talks and although she does want to resolve conflicts, seems flustered when trying to do so. I realized that Joey is not as scary when the sound is on. His quick and direct movements actually showed me how confident he was in his speaking and handling issues. Out of the two characters, Melissa is more optimistic where Joey tends to be more pessimistic but also realistic.
As far as body language, Melissa is not as calm but kind of all over the place when she talks and although she does want to resolve conflicts, seems flustered when trying to do so. I realized that Joey is not as scary when the sound is on. His quick and direct movements actually showed me how confident he was in his speaking and handling issues. Out of the two characters, Melissa is more optimistic where Joey tends to be more pessimistic but also realistic.
HOW DID I DO?
As you can see, most of my interpretations/assumptions were incorrect when the sound was off. I also found out a lot more information when the sound was on and I do believe that I would have had even more information if this was a show I regularly watch because based on my experiences of watching "favorite" shows that I like to watch, I know the premise and the characters of the show and how the characters and plots are developing. I believe this is why people have their "favorites" because they become attached to certain things about shows.
I really enjoyed going through this experience because the experience enlightened me to how much we miss when maybe we cannot talk to someone and/or listen to someone verbally. I would like to challenge myself to try watching a show blindfolded only able to hear the sound. Now that would be interesting to see how much information I gain because although I would be able to hear the conversations, I would miss out on the body language. Kind of makes you think how people who are visually and hearing impaired also miss out on a lot of communication and how we might have to adapt our communication styles.
I really enjoyed going through this experience because the experience enlightened me to how much we miss when maybe we cannot talk to someone and/or listen to someone verbally. I would like to challenge myself to try watching a show blindfolded only able to hear the sound. Now that would be interesting to see how much information I gain because although I would be able to hear the conversations, I would miss out on the body language. Kind of makes you think how people who are visually and hearing impaired also miss out on a lot of communication and how we might have to adapt our communication styles.
References
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York:
Bedford/St. Martin's.
Nicolette,
ReplyDeleteGood observation with the body languages of the characters. I thought about what you mentioned about hearing and visually impaired. It makes you wonder how verbal cues or body languages are absorbed when you only have limited abilities. In my culture, it is appropriate to look at someone in the eye but avoid eye contact as much. I can only imagine how that is seen with no verbal translations to other cultures. Great post.
Thanks Charlotte for your comments! I do wonder about other cultures with social graces and communication, especially in the United States we teach children to look at someone when they are talking to you and adults as well to make eye contact.
ReplyDeleteNicolette
Ohhhh I love the idea about watching one blindfolded!!! That's an awesome idea! I thought this was pretty interesting to watch it with the sound off, but blindfolded, thats just awesome! Lol! What a great idea! I've seen Joey and Melissa before, I really like that show, but I'm like a teenager at heart. I would still watch Saved by the Bell and Clarissa Explains it All if it came on all the time, haha! You did a great job and great explanations.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Shanda! Let me know how it goes with the blindfold experience:)!
ReplyDeleteNicolette
Nicolette,
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a great question about how visual and hearing impaired persons adjust their communication style to be effective. I love the show you highlighted and watch it every week. The part that keeps me watching every week is to see when Melissa and Joey are going to get together. He has been her nanny since her niece and nephew were about middle school age. The storyline is going that direction but there is always something that prevents it from happening. A good post and good observation skills on your part.
Laurie
Wow- good to know Laurie because I was having a hard time figuring out what that relationship entailed. I enjoyed the show- I might keep watching it! Of course I'm a sucker for Melissa from Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Joey from Blossom. My kids were cracking up when they googled him and read what Blossom was about because they have never seen it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments!
Nicolette
Awesome...I think what you did was so cool...I was telling another classmate that I had did a paper on the relationship between the eye and the ear and what I discovered just by paying attention in class is that the eyes and the ears have their ways of processing information so that the brain itself can see what is going on in the outside world.
ReplyDeletethe problem that most of us have is that we have preconceived notions about what we are seeing...our eyes lie to us often we just don't know it. for example, when we are riding in our cars and they have that sound proof design, what goes on outside the car is oblivious to us unless we roll the windows down and fully listen...its funny because we misinterpret the visual cues making us come to an emotional conclusion that may not be what is supposed to be expected at that time...
another example would be how we view the different nationalities in our country through commercials and radio personalities. we have been so misinformed that is because a sickness and it then gets encoded into the DNA and people don't realized that is where some of the inert behaviors about "other" people come from....
Good Post Nicolette..
Awesome...I think what you did was so cool...I was telling another classmate that I had did a paper on the relationship between the eye and the ear and what I discovered just by paying attention in class is that the eyes and the ears have their ways of processing information so that the brain itself can see what is going on in the outside world.
ReplyDeletethe problem that most of us have is that we have preconceived notions about what we are seeing...our eyes lie to us often we just don't know it. for example, when we are riding in our cars and they have that sound proof design, what goes on outside the car is oblivious to us unless we roll the windows down and fully listen...its funny because we misinterpret the visual cues making us come to an emotional conclusion that may not be what is supposed to be expected at that time...
another example would be how we view the different nationalities in our country through commercials and radio personalities. we have been so misinformed that is because a sickness and it then gets encoded into the DNA and people don't realized that is where some of the inert behaviors about "other" people come from....
Good Post Nicolette..