Vainty Lair

Ok, since its taking a lifetime to render anything from 3D studio max, I thought I’d watch a bit of 4OD (channel 4's online on-demand TV). I’ve started to watch a program called "Vanity Lair". (This is related weirdly to identity)

In this program, 10 people reside in a house and fight it out to win and become the most beautiful person. Each one of the individuals thinks they are highly attractive.

So how is this relevant to identity?

Well, I noticed that when they had to rate people on attractiveness, it wasn't always based upon physical appearance. It was how they acted; their personality and how they came across that really affect people’s decision. So although you may be the most attractive person in the world, which admittedly might get your foot in the door for some things, it really isn’t that important.

This is partly why I’ve made my avatar the way he is. He clearly doesn't represent me at all, not physical at least, but on the other hand, I’ve tried to animate him to give him a personality.

I read another book recently by Edward De Bono which also supports this. His book is called "How to have a beautiful mind". I will give the synopsis since it pretty much sums it up:

"We spend a fortune on clothes, cosmetics, diets and workouts - even surgery - to make our bodies more attractive. Yet we hardly consider the one thing that enhances everyone's appeal. It costs nothing, takes very little time, and without it even the most physically beautiful person will be unattractive: it is a beautiful mind. No matter how stunning you are, if your mind is full you have no hope of impressing people in any situation"

Your identity is how you are perceived by other people,if we did not have speech and a way of expressing ourselves then looks would mean everything! But since this isn’t the case, Identity is what people are able to see.

Since I can animate my avatar, I’ve decided to give him a little bit of personality (however little it may be) because what you can perceive is just that. One example where looks mean everything is graphic design. Here there is nothing but imagery to portrait identity, so all emphasis is put into the design and look of it instead.

Anywho, hope that made some sort of sense ^_^. Read it again if not hehe.