By on January 26, 2010, with 97 Comments

UPDATE: We had a critical situation here – a database crash, and website ceased to function over the last couple of hours. Luckily backup was available, so everything should function correctly again. But I still need you to help me identify if there are any errors on this site left! Please report all your findings and experience during the down-time.

I don’t know if these shots were taken from an actual photojournalism, or were they just used as a theoretical example, but either way consider this a pretty powerful demonstration. See for yourself how our our perception can be easily shaped, and manipulated with by the media. I believe it isn’t necessary to explain this optical illusion. Photos speak for themselves. Imagine you worked for an administration that wants you to show how soldiers have no mercy when it comes to war. You would use the cropped picture on your left in that case. However, if you worked for the other side, and wanted to depict soldiers as human beings, you would crop the right part of the original photo. There you have it! Such powerful example amazes me, but in the same time scares the sh*t out of me. Which makes me think, should we be more skeptic to stories medias bombard us with?

Media Manipulation Optical Illusion

Comments

97 Responses
  1. Nelson says:

    If global warming is a illusion, ok, you can be right, this dont make difference. But if this, can change the peopleĀ“s mind to protect the forests and biodiversity of species, well, so the people can do anything as this. And so they make all difference. Because the extermination is real, is fool, and is for ever. Excuse my poor brasilian-english…

  2. fossda says:

    the bit where he said our twice is another optical illusion, as you probably didnt notice first time, although i dont think he meant to to that!

  3. Marius says:

    Can you please provide us with the reference of the photography? Cheers.

  4. plmethvin says:

    There’s something screwy about the perspective (like with the gun and the dude’s head) here…. Are you sure it’s not shopped? ^.-

  5. jj says:

    it does not matter if this photo is real or photo shopped together. it is the fact that photos can easily be manipulated and the general public is not aware of this. we are told what to believe by the images that we see. if we can not believe these images, than what can we believe, when and how do we know when we are actually being represented with the truth? Unless you see it happen with your own eyes, the validity of any picture can be doubtful

  6. jack bowden says:

    why would they point a gun at him and give him water?

Speak Your Mind

You can add some images too.