The brutal exposure of history-making Olympian, Michael Phelps, and his pot-smoking incident captured with a cell-phone camera at a house-party has raised a ruckus from the newstand that would not even have made it to a squeezed-in one-line print in the Classifieds section, had it been me caught getting high on a bong-stick plastered to my face at a friend's party.
Why then, is it that 23 year old Phelps is subject to such global scrutiny whilst fellow American peers are condoned when engaging in this smoking activity? I'm pretty sure that Phelps wasn't the one and only man in the room who'd touched that pipe.
This encapsulates the concept of "Figure and Ground" covered in our communications class, falling under the category "Perception" and one of the "Organisational Principles" governing it. Essentially, the "Figure" decribes the focus of out attention while "Ground" refers to the setting or context surrounding the focus. The salient point: it is the FIGURE that exerts a considerable influence on our perception.
Applying these principles...
Ground: A private house-party attended by students from the University of South Carolina. According to illustrated facts provided by "News of the World" (http://www.notw.co.uk/), Phelps had dropped in on the party to visit Jordan Matthews, a student of that school, and with whom he was dating.
Figures: School kids getting high on smoking marijuana.
The Figure that stood out: Michael Phelps getting high on smoking marijuana.
We might think that double standards are being applied to the little scenario we have here, and that it is unfair that Phelps should have to shoulder this guilt of being caught smoking pot. He later confesses to the act after the release of the news by the press and offers a public apology for his actions where he says: “I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.” http://www.popcrunch.com/michael-phelps-smoking-marijuana-photo-im-sorry/
However, that is just the way it is. Perceptions are made and formed with the quick transmission of electrical pulses that surge through the synapses residing in the place we call the brain. Before we can catch ourselves from making possible skewed and slanted or biased impressions, it is done. Only upon reflection later on do we find ourselves looking back on an issue and wondering if we had overlooked missing pieces to a puzzle, and if judgement had been passed too fast.
As a repercussion of this published news "scandal", Phelps has lost an endorsement contract with Kellogg, and faces a suspension from partaking in any competition for three months. Some would say he deserves a heavier punishment, undeserving of such "light" sentences simply because of his status as a sports celebrity, implying the presence of special treatment. Others deem that the meriting of attention to such a menial act of smoking pot at all in the first place is ludicrous, when there are plenty others getting killed on the streets over heavy drug-dealings everyday.
We have one figure and one ground, illiciting a million drawn perceptions.
What is yours?
6 comments:
Celebrities are often expected to have a better code of conduct as compared to civilians, which is the cost of having the limelight that others dont. Just because there are a couple million pairs of eyes fixated on him and watching his every movement, we expect him to behave simply for this reason; that he has the potential to influence so many people. I believe there is enough justification for this. It may not be unfair to Phelps, but it is definitely needed. Great post! I like your explanation on grounds and figures. Will be waiting for your next one!
Apologies. I meant to say that "It may be unfair to Phelps."
:D Thank you for your insights, babe! I guess once you're up there on the pedastal of celebrity-hood, you assume responsibiities beyond that of the everyday Tom, Dick or Harry (not potter okay! haha).
As a role model icon, and a distinguished FIGURE in society, there is a great impetus for him to maintain his golden-boy reputation. I did however, like the fact that he had owned up to his actions with an apology, instead of picking up the fight-thread of "everybody does it anyway." (Obama did smoke pot too you know, back in the heydays of his youth.)
This brings to mind the recent removal of US Treasury Sectretary Timothy Geithner and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle from their offices due to the trail of tax evasion episodes they had left behind .
Barack Obama's conducts strict checks into the backgrounds of all the memebers he picks for his office comes with reason. It would not be prudent for a man of shenanigans to become a FIGURE of authority governing the USA. Such people (Phelps inclded) simple have to abide a stricter sense of conduct.
Obama used to smoke pot back in his youth, yes. But the reason why anyone hardly pays attention to this trivia of a fact is because he wasn't President back then in his twenties.
He is the one same man, and this shows that the positions or titles and roles you undertake in society determines the kind of behaviour your should exude, in accordance to the FIGURE you play.
The figure of any image would naturally be the focus our attention - it being prominent. However, is this snap judgement lasting? I would think so, as the figure works together with other elements, such as the title, caption, etc. It's all a matter of context. As for Mr. Phelps, it is regrettable that he has been caught in such a compromising situation. Perhaps we should show more sympathy for celebrities as they have a right to live too.
Post a Comment