Self-image documentary

How would you describe yourself in one word?



What a tough question. In trying to answer it you agree to play by rules that are unfair to begin with. Though some people have less of a problem with it than others it seems: someone can just say "Jewish" without blinking. I answered "human" too, but I also liked one girl who said "alive". This is kind of the general area where I'm moving in now, after years of trying to label myself as one or another type of person and always inevitably coming to the conclusion that it's all partial and self-fulfilling. It amazes me when I notice how much of my/our thinking and conversation is dominated by finding comfortable generalizations to inhabit, rules about ourselves and the world that can be followed by a full stop. Being aware of that, I end up making statements preceded by disclaimers to the contrary.

Interesting to watch how many of these people think they are fun, bubbly, friendly and open. That is certainly a personality style that we are encouraged to cultivate. When answering these questions, especially for the camera, I have a feeling most of us would automatically come up with an answer that sounds good. Even maybe as a tape response, a "correct" concept that gets supplied (fill in the blank: I'm _______). It's as if only so many adjectives are allowed to be spoken, and the sociocultural context limits our expression. How funny that many of these people laugh after they describe themselves with this one word, like they can't really believe it themselves. Self-reported self-image may not correspond to actual internal self-image; these questions about the self are perhaps best answered indirectly.

"Broken mirror" was interesting too - so different from the others. Don't know what she meant to express, but to me, a broken mirror is neither good nor bad. It's a thousand different pieces each reflecting something else. Quite truthful.

But my favorite is the guy at the end who calls himself "awesome". He can only keep that face for so long. In fact, he's just himself. Yeah, awesome too, sometimes.

Would be curious to see how interviewees who are a bit older answer this question. The other videos with different questions for the same people, and longer answers, are worth watching too. I love people being real and simple and honest and giving thoughtful answers.