Framed

It’s hard not to notice how the current political climate has shaped our ability to be numb at times and on fire other times. Very few are at a loss for words, yet very few often do more than rant. It’s an easy tactic. Get loud, proud, and mad, accuse and malign with your mob and that feels like action.

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Self-awareness seems woefully absent, and self-indignation seems abundant.

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I took a class on politics last spring, and the Professor spent a lot of time on a strategy known as ‘framing.’ Highlight a morsel of truth in the propaganda to make a point but be sure not to move the lens to the edge to expose the entire picture. The Professor was not encouraging this licentiousness; instead, he was shining a light on what can and does frequently occur with showmen and women in politics- governance or otherwise.

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Imagine observing and trying to interpret a famous painting. At first, you see a miniature painting and begin to study its meaning. There is no immediate indication of something more profound. You don’t even realize it’s only a smidge of the whole work of art. This version seems authentic because there is no anticipation of something else that immediately meets the eye. You might think the artist isn’t talented, or you can’t see why it’s considered “famous,” and you might even walk away shaking your head because you can’t even grasp the concept, and by the way, it’s way overpriced.

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What if the artist walks in and adjusts the frame to expose the enormity of the painting. Perhaps the richness of the message suddenly makes sense? Would you look at your next exhibit differently? Or would you accept what meets the eye without wondering if perhaps the frame is too small this time, too?

Author: Michelle Hart