The television show I chose to watch was The Fosters. First I watched the episode with the sound off and then re-watched it with the sound on. I only made it through the first half of the show with the sound off before I had to restart it with the sound on. I could only make it halfway through the show because there were so many characters with various relationships that I was getting confused trying to follow all the different characters.
As I was watching the first scene which showed a teenage girl who was relaxed brushing her teeth when a teenage boy entered to brush his teeth. Both characters are comfortable in each other’s presence, relaxed, and used a focused eye contact throughout their conversation. Then another teenage girl enters the room abruptly to brush her teeth. She moves her weight back and forth from one foot to the other while her face speaks of being upset and frustrated. Another teenage boy enters the room to speak with one of the teenage girls and he has his arms crossed over his chest and seems annoyed. Throughout the conversation between the four teenagers, they are all looking at each other with their eyes and offer their support with a nod of their head or a simple gesture. To me, the relationship of these characters would be siblings that get along well with each other. The next scene shows two women in the kitchen getting ready for work. One is getting coffee for her travel mug well the other is cleaning and putting the leftover items from breakfast away. These women are relaxed, look at one another with their eyes, and offer caring caresses or gestures towards one another. They lean into each other and kiss each other goodbye. This relationship tells me these two ladies are in a relationship and a couple with multiple children in their care.
Once I had the sound back on and restarted, for the most part, my assumptions about the characters nonverbal communication skills. The first two teenagers were relaxed and actively listening to each other express their thoughts about new developments happening within the home and about school. When the other teenage girl enters she is frustrated and annoyed about the changes happening in the home and the need to find new dancers for her dance group. As the other teenage boy enters the group he is defensive about what is happening around him that will be changing. They all were in agreement that they did not like most of the possible changes happening in their home and had each other’s support to overcome the changes that will be happening. The two women are a married lesbian couple that have opened their house for foster children. They spoke about a meeting with someone regarding one of the children and were nervous and slightly concerned despite being relaxed, it’s why they used simple gestures to ease their mind. They supported each other through their body language, eye contact, and gestures that everything will be fine in the end. They shared a kiss and expressed their love for one another.
If I were watching a show I knew well I feel I would be able to pick up on the verbal and nonverbal communication skills being used by characters that I know well. When watching a show, you get pulled into their world and the characters become your reality. You know their thoughts, actions, and relationships with others without thinking about it. You know, you see it first hand and understand the reasoning’s behind their actions of their communication skills. Though at times they might surprise you and use their nonverbal communication skills to get across what they really want to say but use their verbal communication skills to contradict their nonverbal communication skills in the first place. It is knowing the characters and their actions that will help gather a better understanding of communications skills of how some people use their communication skills with others despite their relationship and context.
References:
Johnson, J. (Writer). (2015, March 9). Justify the means [Television series episode]. In B. Bredeweg & P. Paige (Executive producers), The fosters, ABC Family.
O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Verbal communication. In Real communication: An introduction (2nd ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Nonverbal communication. In Real communication: An introduction (2nd ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Listening. In Real communication: An introduction (2nd ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Erin,
ReplyDeleteAs I watched my show this week I also found it difficult to follow when the sound was off. Once the sound was on I could see I had some right ideas of what was going on and some wrong ideas. I felt like a made a much stronger connection with the characters and what was happening in the show when I could verbally hear them speak. I definitely think it would have been easier to follow with the sound off if I was already familiar with the show and characters in the show.
Erin,
ReplyDeleteIt must have been difficult to try and understand the multitude of cast members, while viewing the show with the sound off. I felt the show I chose (Bates Motel) did not have that many "main" characters in it to understand the communication given.
I agree that we would be able to read the verbal and nonverbal cues given on our favorite television shows. Putting ourselves in “their” world gives us an opportunity to see how they would act. I give actors and actresses a lot more credit after this assignment. They have to put themselves fully into their character role and be able to read verbal and nonverbal cues (not to mention remember their lines) effectively.
I must take the time to watch The Fosters. I think that this week's assignment was exciting and scary. While reading the assignment, I thought how in the world I will understand the communication without sounds. I think this a direct way of becoming effective communicators. The more effort and practice we put in, the more instinctive and natural our communication skills will become.
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