The show I chose to observe appeared to be an African American
family standing in a room with a couch and 1 chair. The room the individuals
are standing in is also joined with what appears to be the kitchen area. There
are 2 older women, and an older man, along with a teenage boy, a younger and a
teenage girl.
There is a conversation going on between the teenage boy and
the older couple. The two other children are sitting on the floor smiling up at
the three involved in what appears to be a positive conversation. Through the
door brings a very attractive African American woman who walks in with no
invitation, she communicates something, claps her hands and greets the older
women already present with a side hug, As she stops laughing and hugging, both
women look at one another, and give each other what appears to be a longer
heart felt hug.
The show I am discussing is called; “Good Times”. This
particular episode was one where the family (mother, father, and three
children) were getting evicted due to nonpayment of rent. Through the laughs
and smiles displayed, one would assume the conversation was joyous, and
possibly a happily family enjoying each other’s’ company, when all along the
family was in jeopardy of losing their home.
The women that entered was a longtime friend of the mother,
she made a joke as she always does when she enters the family’s home. The look
in the mother’s eyes displayed sadness, in which time the two (neighbor and
mom) gave one another a hug.
“If others tell us something we make assumptions, and if they don't tell us something we make assumptions to fulfill our need to know and to replace the need to communicate. Even if we hear something and we don't understand we make assumptions about what it means and then believe the assumptions. We make all sorts of assumptions because we don't have the courage to ask questions.”
― Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
Hi Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteLOVE GOOD TIMES!! I started to do my observation with this, but I have seen these episodes so many times I thought it would defeat the purpose of the assignment. But, great job. I know this episode so well and I think the perfect part of non-verbal communication that we can depict that something was wrong was when James came home from work and sat at the kitchen table and the mother Florida holds the eviction notice in his face. James facial express changed dramatically from when he first walked in the door. Great Job!!
Brenda
Hi Cynthia, Just like Brenda, I also love "Good Times" I know all of the reruns by hard and even though I never watched the show with the sound off I can imagine that it's easy to depict when something was wrong or right in the show because of the gestures in their body language and facial expressions. You did a great job in picking this show to observe communication in action.
ReplyDeleteHi Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brenda and Cynthia that Good Times is a good show to observe communication in action. Watching an episode with the sound off, you may not know the family's dilemma, but you can tell if a situation is good or bad by the characters’ body language and facial expressions. One always knew James' mood just by looking at his body language and facial expressions. I loved Willona as well. She brought happiness and cheer to the Evans household. She knew just what to say to make the Evans family feel better about a situation.
Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteThis was a show everybody ran home after school to watch. It was a show that always had problems but they always manage to solve them. I never experience watching it with the sound off, but as everyone else stated you can tell what was going on in this family just watching their actions and what was going to take place next. Great show!!
Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteI love this show! If I would have chosen to observe this show it would have defeated the purpose of the observation because I am familiar with the plot and characters. This assignment was very interesting. I would had never imagine that it would be so difficult!! I have never observe non-verbal communication but I often make assumptions based on gestures which can be invalid. This was a great assignment that required critical thinking and close attention.