Non-verbal communication: we make use of it everyday. To communicate from afar, to emphasize on a point we are trying to make, to show how we feel towards certain things. It even helps us make some deductions of a person's character and attitude.
The video shows a group of models on the runway for renowned brand Herve Leger.
Around 2:50/6:29 through the video, a model fell on the runway but rose immediately and continued the show. She was very professional in the sense that there wasn't much changes in her facial expression; she looked as confident, sharp and fearless as before. Her appearance tells a lot about the her professionalism. We can hence deduce that that particular model is rather professional and serious about her job.
The video shows a group of models on the runway for renowned brand Herve Leger.
When she fell, we can tell that the audiences were shocked by the exclamation they made through paralinguistics, or the "O!"s and deep gasps. (I believe you exclaimed too :) ). When the model rose and continued her show, audiences clapped. Here, it is obvious, they were very impressed by her professionalism and were very encouraging. Kinesics, or body language of the audiences is what tells us about how they felt towards the model's fall.
Designers and models use a lot of non-verbal cues in their work. Objects (their designs) are how designers express themselves or their feeling and views of what a certain theme should mean. Models, through kinesics and their physical appearances, enhances what the designers are trying to convey in their designs.
Non-verbal communication through various cues can be useful in professions like designing and modeling. However, it only works if receivers can understand and interpret the cues correctly and positively. This means that erroneous interpretation would make that particular cue a futile one. If the cues are irrelevant, they are equally useless.
Check out the following videos:
(Hmmm..think you guys should start watching from 8:20/10:02 for this one)
The competitors were supposed to design based on the theme "Olympics Opening for Team USA". The judges were pretty pleased with some of the designs as they get what those designs were trying to convey in them; they reflect the designers' view about what the theme is all about. Non-verbal communication (via design(the object) and modeling (physical appearance/kinesics) is considered successful in these cases.
However, the judges were pretty harsh upon commenting some of the designs as they really couldn't make out what the designs were all about. In these cases, irrelevant physical appearances and objects are failed cues and hence, non-verbal communication was ineffective.
Although we, the audiences, might think that some of the designs looked alright and we might have understood the meaning of them, the judges just did not see them as we did. This shows that though non-verbal cues can tell us a lot about someone/something, it depend on how a receiver interprets them.
Non-verbal cues can be subtle at times and hard to catch on. Misunderstandings can easily occur should a non-verbal cue be misinterpreted.
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Didn't realise that models depend so much on non-verbal communication. Every step & action they take is a challenge. Kudos to the model who fell. She won loads of applause. Impressive.
ReplyDeleteGood work Kel
Agree that the cues can be subtle and if misinterpreted, conflicts can happen. And it's true I really gasped when she fell. :)
ReplyDeleteI think that non-verbal cues are only enhancers of verbal communication.However,I do not think that it will be very efficient especially in the world today.Everyone is so busy working to earn a living.In order to save time,verbal communication is the most convenient and effective and direct way to pass a message around.We can't be expecting our superior to be guessing our non-verbal cues all the times, especially if he or she is of other race or culture.It will take ages to decipher our cues.
ReplyDeleteI think non-verbal communication can be useful as it helps to reiterate what we say verbally.Like when we want to ask someone to keep quiet,we place our finger on our lip.Or when we say yes and nodding our head at the same time.This reinforces the speaker's verbal message.
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes when my young relatives from overseas visit for CNY,they think I'm saying my prayers when i clutched my fingers together.I was trying to say Gong Xi Fa Cai to them actually.It is funny.
We should pay attention to our non-verbal cues. You never know who is going to do study on it (like this girl here. :p). It is important to be aware so as not to offend others, especially those who are not accustomed to our culture.
ReplyDeleteThere is really more to models than meets the eye. They really rely a lot on non-verbal cues in their job.
ReplyDeleteI think that it works both ways. It is how people carry out the cues and how audiences interpret them.