HOME | DD

theloverofTMI — Open Letters that Matter Post- dehumanization [NSFW]

Published: 2016-03-27 06:37:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 107; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description DISCLAIMER: I found this post on Facebook and it just struck a strong cord in me..

“This piece was primarily a trust exercise, in which she told viewers she would not move for six hours no matter what they did to her. She placed 72 objects one could use in pleasing or destructive ways, ranging from flowers and a feather boa to a knife and a loaded pistol, on a table near her and invited the viewers to use them on her however they wanted. 

Initially, Abramović said, viewers were peaceful and timid, but it escalated to violence quickly. “The experience I learned was that … if you leave decision to the public, you can be killed… I felt really violated: they cut my clothes, stuck rose thorns in my stomach, one person aimed the gun at my head, and another took it away. It created an aggressive atmosphere. After exactly 6 hours, as planned, I stood up and started walking toward the public. Everyone ran away, escaping an actual confrontation.”

This piece revealed something terrible about humanity, similar to what Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment or Stanley Milgram’s Obedience Experiment, both of which also proved how readily people will harm one another under unusual circumstances.”

This performance showed just how easy it is to dehumanize a person who doesn’t fight back, and is particularly powerful because it defies what we think we know about ourselves. I’m certain the no one reading this believes the people around him/her capable of doing such things to another human being, but this performance proves otherwise.”

and then a follow up comment:

So every single person who told me ‘ignore them they’ll go away’ and ‘you can’t let them know they bothered you’ and ‘They’ll stop if they don’t see you react’ and all that bull shit, my entire school career, I want you to look good and hard at this.

I want you to think about what you said.

What you keep saying.

What you are telling your children.

You are making them powerless."
Related content
Comments: 6

WhyYesIamaMoonchild [2016-03-27 15:36:32 +0000 UTC]

I love this. Like, I love it but I hate it. I love that it brings awareness to a fatal human flaw, but I hate that we have this flaw. What I think would be interesting though is that if she was faced with just one person instead of a group. Would that person do the same violent things when alone with her or would they do opposite because they're not with peers? Also, does the bystander affect come into play? Like, because one person was doing something harmful to her did those who thought it was wrong just stand by because they felt someone else would step up and do something about it? I am so happy you posted this and really hope people stop and take the time to read it. Would you mind if I shared it too with your description? I feel like you say it best.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

theloverofTMI In reply to WhyYesIamaMoonchild [2016-03-28 09:04:33 +0000 UTC]

I legit had this really deep analytical response as to why I think it depends on the person as an individual but I accidentally back spaced on this page and I lost everything. So I'm just gonna say that it depends on the person as an individual. but yeah in a situation like this we have to consider the variable that us as a society only follow what others do. So for 6 hours if this behavior was normalized than alot of these people's values may have been passed off in their minds momentarily. and ahah yeah go ahead. I didn't actually write this though. It was a post from a facebook page XD but yeah it would be great if you did 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WhyYesIamaMoonchild In reply to theloverofTMI [2016-03-28 13:26:31 +0000 UTC]

I completely agree with you that it depends on the individual! People become sheep when in a crowd and usually look for someone to follow unfortunately. And Thank you! ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

GhostOfTheEmptyGrave [2016-03-27 09:22:41 +0000 UTC]

I already knew humans are dispicable.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

theloverofTMI In reply to GhostOfTheEmptyGrave [2016-03-28 09:04:42 +0000 UTC]

agreed. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

GhostOfTheEmptyGrave In reply to theloverofTMI [2016-03-28 09:52:31 +0000 UTC]

That's why we have laws.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0