When I first learned that our next blog topic would require us to write about one word, I was scared. I am not a good writer. I have trouble writing an essay about a general topic that’s supposedly easy to write about, so how the heck am I supposed to write a paragraph about a single word?!?!? I’m not the type of person where ideas just spring up in my head. I’m the type who gets ideas, but not necessarily good ideas, after thinking long and hard about what to write. So, here goes nothing:
When I think of the word “Image”, I think of how people see objects. For example, when an individual (usually a famous one that is in the spotlight) talks about needing to clean up his/her image, he/she wants to change the way people see and think about him/her. I like to think that my image projects a nice guy who laughs or smiles when someone makes a joke in front of a group of people (no matter how stupid the joke is), politely listens to whoever is talking, never talks unless he absolutely has to, and wears clothes only for the sake of wearing clothes (translation: I’m not fashionable). BUT, image is not the true individual, and is only the picture behind which the true person hides. For instance, I may look like I have some muscle on my arms (If you look hard enough, you’ll see it) which might imply that I am strong. That’s wrong. I might be a little bit strong, but what you are seeing is called “mirror strength”. Mirror strength is when a person looks strong because he looks big, but in reality, is not as strong as imagined. I consider myself to be a good example of a guy with mirror strength. I’m trying to get true strength by going to the gym often, but it’s coming along slowly. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I’m an average guy hiding behind an image of a relatively strong guy for his size.
So, image is … an image. It’s what people, who don’t know you, see you as. Only when the person really gets to know you, the image of you they see is actually what you truly are.
By the way, it’s not necessary to tell me that I’m not that big when you see me.
2 comments:
Actually, I think your writing style is fluid and crystal clear: you have a way of introducing an idea, giving evidence, and making your reader chuckle along the way. This is an excellent essay on image, and it certainly posits many ideas to be debated, explored, and further articulated. I will be curious to see how your classmates respond—for identity is an elusive (and potentially illusive) thing, as you rightly point out. Nicely done, Arlen!
One more comment: Arlen, where could you include a link in your post? I could imagine a link to this idea of "mirror strength," which is quite fascinating.
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