The Power Of Person'S Evaluation
Human perception of daily events and objects vary significantly from one person to another. The perception of the world around us depends on our vision (Langer 41). Besides, our interest in other things in our surrounding also affects our perception of the things. In this regard, Langer stated that we only see and notice things that momentarily interest us. Also, the significant characteristics that people use to evaluate items in their environment differ from one individual to another. As artists, for instance, the daily experience of a dance artist and a painting artist, for instance, will vary greatly. From daily experience, it is apparent that what the two artists look into in the objects they interact with daily significantly differs. This, in turn, affects our evaluative abilities. In light of this, failure to look into objects in our environment through someone else’s lens create a false impression that we are right and they are wrong. Evaluation, specifically in the works of art, and the consideration that the opinion of others is better than those of others considered inferior, limits the perspectives of others in the field. Therefore, in daily evaluations, individuals need to see beyond their lenses to have a more objective view of the item under consideration.
Evaluation of our works by others is one of the greatest hindrances to our growth. Notably, an individual creates their works of art with their evaluation in mind. However, these individuals are significantly affected by the evaluation of others who often do not look into their piece of art from their point of view. Just like rules, evaluations guide our moves. This, in some cases, can lead to one’s description for instance on cases where the evaluation is not objective. In dance, for example, acquisition of motor patterns, quality movements, and improved dance techniques profoundly affect one’s dancing outcome. However, what defines a quality dance in this case? In most cases, this is informed by the opinion of the judges or the dance teacher which may in some cases lack objectivity and destroy a good dancer who could develop their own best moves based on their own judgement. Evaluations affect one’s growth from a junior stage. Junior artists for instance work hard to ape senior artists, whose evaluation they consider superior. This, in turn, affect one’s growth throughout their career. In this regard, it is noted that evaluation affects how one perceives their world. Since people’s daily experiences vary, evaluation thus only make sense from the point of view of the actors.
Further, the mindless nature of other people’s evaluation of our work imposes a rather harsh tyranny on us. This stems from the fact that people are quick to judge our actions from there own point of view. While there may be no particular preferred motor movement, dancing feedbacks can significantly affect the development of the learner. In some cases, this may include negative feedback that may adversely affect the development of learners. This is because other people’s evaluation may make one think that they are not talented. The effect can be even more significant when the origin of the feedback is considered superior. However, failure to evaluate the work of others from their point of view limits the objectivity of the evaluator since the object evaluated only makes sense from the actor’s lens. The effects of evaluation in an individual are only limited to the perception of the individual. Given this, Langer noted that all things could either be good or bad depending on the point of view of the actor. Like in the case of dancers, there are no known tools used to assess folk dancers. What therefore constitute an excellent folk dance depends on the perception of the dance teacher. Therefore, what may constitute a ‘bad motor movement’ in this case may not necessarily be bad because it is based on the opinion of the dance teacher. Such negative feedbacks, which are non-objective in some cases, may be very destructive to one’s personal development. People hesitate to make further decisions due to the fear of other’s judgment which may be destructive to their careers.
For evaluations to be fruitful, therefore, there should be a standard metric that influences every judgment. The question of the standard metric to use in making evaluations results into an even more significant challenge. What basis should one use to evaluate themselves as well as others? This, as the presents above an even more significant challenge since individuals all, see circumstances and events from their point of view which in itself varies. People, therefore, resort to a single method of carrying out evaluations. Explanations are only sorted when all other things seem to fail. Further, this also depends on whether one is an actor or an observer. For instance, a dancer would feel that their performance meets the expected standards. The dance teacher on the other hand (from an observer’s point of view) would be critical of their move. These differences in perception as Langer observed are based on varying experiences as opposed to differences in personalities.
Notably, mindless evaluations that are based on single perspectives can in some cases be more discriminative rather than evaluative. Therefore, individuals should be more responsive to their environments instead react to them. Evaluations can also hurt an individual and may deter the individual from future actions. However, in most cases, individuals become afraid of other’s evaluations of their work even if there are no costs attached to it. Therefore, artists need to take into consideration that evaluations are based on the experiences of the others. The notion of the existence of absolute criteria for evaluation may deter people from acting either after a first success or rejection. For instance, in daily lives, if one is made to believe that they are weak for instance academically, the latter may be discouraged from further attempts to better their work. This, in turn, may adversely impact the individual in question. In a class of art, for example, individuals have been made to believe that they are not meant for the course. This has negatively impacted their performance. Interestingly, the evaluations upon which they base their actions are usually opinion based and non-objective. This evaluative stance in some cases may result in depression, suicidal feelings, and a bad feeling about life. Further, like in the case of painting where pictures in museums depict that there is no single standard, the same variety exists for dance styles. Therefore, the opinions of others should not deter an individual from acting. As aforementioned, evaluations are premised on the perception and experience of others. Therefore, people should be mindful about the impacts of evaluations and its adverse effects. This will help people from being held hostage by the adverse impacts of evaluations. For instance, people who shun being mindful about the perception of others will not question what others will say before they act.
On the one hand, the recognition that doubt allows choice as stated by Langer makes people mindfully creative. On the other hand, acceptance of evaluation is approval of giving up choices. Additionally, personal renaissance allows people to choose the context for themselves. Since evaluations are closely tied to contexts, what interest one today may fail to interest one the following day. Personal renaissance is thus more valuable as it helps individuals to be more confident. This, state of knowing what one wants leads people to be mindless of external evaluations. Further, the pleasure derived from such an experience keeps an individual’s highly motivated. Also, there is usually an urge to continue with activity until one gets the necessary satisfaction or perfect their art. Perfection, in this case, is derived from being responsive to one’s surroundings rather than being reactive. Otherwise, people who are more reactive to their environments, for instance, may suffer the consequences of inaction due to the external evaluations. However, ‘inaction’ as highlighted by Langer is not necessarily dangerous as one may be inactive in one situation while simultaneously pursuing another situation. Based on the impacts of evaluations; both external and internal and positive and negative, it can be deduced that the path to a happier and more fulfilling life is mindfulness. In this case, one is never either positive or negative.
The mindful view has shown to be beneficial even in openly adverse situations. To be positive for instance only achieves the objective of one party while hurting the other. For instance, if a dance student only chooses to accept positive comments from the dance teachers and other judges, they would set up a negative punishment for themselves. Being mindful therefore means that the students may find solutions to their challenges in dance classes before their limitations escalate. In conclusion, there is a degree of relativity in individual behaviors. Each person’s traits can be couched in either a positive or negative direction on an evaluative scale. Therefore, each needs to do what he or she thinks is morally right and justifiable. To avoid being affected by both external and internal evaluations, each person needs to be mindful of their actions. Each person reacts to the same thing differently. Similarly, people may react to different things in the same way. As such, having an open and objective view of every circumstance is one step into addressing the adverse impacts of evaluation.
