16 photographs of value clusters
Mar. 2nd, 2007 12:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
imomusHave a look at this picture-strip of someone's room, then answer ten questions about your impression of a person who might live in an environment like this.
1. Is there anything in the pictures which tells you what continent we're on? If so, is there anything here which indicates which country it is? (Don't rely on things you already know, if you know who this is.)
2. What do you notice about the colour range in evidence here? What, if anything, do these colours "mean"?
3. Is this a room occupied by people with university-level educational qualifications?
4. Could you predict which daily newspapers (if any) are read in this room by looking at what's in these pictures?
5. What kind of political views would you extrapolate from the pictures? Why?
6. Are the people who live here, in your view, earning more or less than the minimum wage (as measured in their country of residence)?
7. What is the likely age range of the people who live here?
8. Can we guess some of these people's life priorities -- their basic values -- by looking at the pictures? How would you describe those values?
9. Did you feel that these pictures gave you as much information about the people living here as, say, meeting them would?
10. If you lived here, would you immediately make some changes? What would they be?
Okay, pens down! This isn't really a test. You don't have to answer those (although if you want to, you're welcome).
I suppose what interests me about these questions is stuff to do with the politics of texture, or neural-style taste networks (just how does YouTube know what to dig up for me to watch next?), or cultural capital. This relates to this entry about "geodemographic" marketing, and the way direct mail marketers can target people on different streets, tying up specific postcodes with likely value clusters.
Sometimes I think that, whatever this blog is ostensibly talking about, it really just has one message: "these are my values". It isn't even "these are my opinions". It's not something you could really argue about. It's something textural, a set of values best expressed as colours and shapes. And yet, somehow, from those colours and shapes everything else can be extrapolated. I don't think that's the case for every blog. It would be more true of Lord Whimsy's, say, than Marxy's. But it's certainly true of mine.
I remember feeling this way about my family, when I was growing up. Only my own family had the right textures and colours in our house. It was something I was quietly proud of. (Now that the members of my family no longer all live in the same house, it's interesting to see whose house still feels this way to me. The answer is, my sister's. But in fact we all have different styles now, reflecting different outlooks on life, different diets, different cultural consumption patterns, different peer pressure, and so on. Could we all be in slightly different social classes by now? You'd need sharp marketers to pare social class down to the kind of fine distinctions required for a "yes" answer to that, I think.)
Anyway, I'm fascinated by the way language and most rational thinking (Gladwellian Blink stuff works better) are so utterly inadequate at expressing these values, while emerging description-sets like geodemographic marketing and neural networks are just beginning to find ways to describe and predict them. It's like they're just on the verge of mapping the genotype of human taste.
1. Is there anything in the pictures which tells you what continent we're on? If so, is there anything here which indicates which country it is? (Don't rely on things you already know, if you know who this is.)
2. What do you notice about the colour range in evidence here? What, if anything, do these colours "mean"?
3. Is this a room occupied by people with university-level educational qualifications?
4. Could you predict which daily newspapers (if any) are read in this room by looking at what's in these pictures?
5. What kind of political views would you extrapolate from the pictures? Why?
6. Are the people who live here, in your view, earning more or less than the minimum wage (as measured in their country of residence)?
7. What is the likely age range of the people who live here?
8. Can we guess some of these people's life priorities -- their basic values -- by looking at the pictures? How would you describe those values?
9. Did you feel that these pictures gave you as much information about the people living here as, say, meeting them would?
10. If you lived here, would you immediately make some changes? What would they be?
Okay, pens down! This isn't really a test. You don't have to answer those (although if you want to, you're welcome).
I suppose what interests me about these questions is stuff to do with the politics of texture, or neural-style taste networks (just how does YouTube know what to dig up for me to watch next?), or cultural capital. This relates to this entry about "geodemographic" marketing, and the way direct mail marketers can target people on different streets, tying up specific postcodes with likely value clusters.
Sometimes I think that, whatever this blog is ostensibly talking about, it really just has one message: "these are my values". It isn't even "these are my opinions". It's not something you could really argue about. It's something textural, a set of values best expressed as colours and shapes. And yet, somehow, from those colours and shapes everything else can be extrapolated. I don't think that's the case for every blog. It would be more true of Lord Whimsy's, say, than Marxy's. But it's certainly true of mine.
I remember feeling this way about my family, when I was growing up. Only my own family had the right textures and colours in our house. It was something I was quietly proud of. (Now that the members of my family no longer all live in the same house, it's interesting to see whose house still feels this way to me. The answer is, my sister's. But in fact we all have different styles now, reflecting different outlooks on life, different diets, different cultural consumption patterns, different peer pressure, and so on. Could we all be in slightly different social classes by now? You'd need sharp marketers to pare social class down to the kind of fine distinctions required for a "yes" answer to that, I think.)
Anyway, I'm fascinated by the way language and most rational thinking (Gladwellian Blink stuff works better) are so utterly inadequate at expressing these values, while emerging description-sets like geodemographic marketing and neural networks are just beginning to find ways to describe and predict them. It's like they're just on the verge of mapping the genotype of human taste.
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Living TV
Date: 2007-03-01 11:48 pm (UTC)Some homes I know always seem to smell of a particular gravy salt. Perhaps their cupboards have not been emptied for years.
The Olfactory is always a good guide for territory and space.
Smell is often referred to as limbic and part of unconscious memory. How can it even be measured? Where is its physical spectrum? It becomes almost musical referred to as tones in a composition.
Yet, whole chemical enterprises have evolved around our approximations of the clean and fresh.
Someone once said to me they could never get used to the fact that they were shitting in someone else's space or someone was shitting in theirs. The existence of a bathroom was to him official sanction that one could shit. Or else we would be using buckets and pails.
Yet at parties , the great common house warming, the bathroom can become a great meeting place.
Click Opera Scavenger Hunt!
Date: 2007-03-01 11:48 pm (UTC)1. Publications in image 15 indicate country
2. Color is a bit mono, usually Click Opera is more colorful
3. Yes these people are college educated, you can tell by the literature selection, the whimsy is bourgeouis
4. No I could not predict the daily news read because I am not a daily news reader and do not know the names of the publications that would be read in these rooms
5. Political views are iconoclastic
6. The people that live here don't care about money
7. Age range is 27 to, well, I can't answer this one objectively because I know how old you are Momus!
8. Life priorities: music, color, diversity
9. Probably more info is disclosed in these images than would be in a lunch meeting
10. Changes? Lose the paper, you can't take it with you. Paper is only good as art.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 12:19 am (UTC)Orestes
late Barley Baroque?
Date: 2007-03-02 12:20 am (UTC)There is a lot of similarity between the way I decorate my home (and the choice of objects on display) and how some of my friends do - the mix of ikea and vintage danish modern, plants and electronics. I have a corner of my house (granted, it's not the one that's the most 'designed') that looks a bit like this, with piles of small cult-culture objects, posters and whatnot, magazines and the like, but mine aren't set out for display to show how au courant I am...it's mostly back issues of Sound on Sound (sigh, audio nerdiness).
What I do see in this (and in that corner) is an overwhelming sense of a temporary living space. Storage = shelves = moving crates, to be packed up, shipped crosstown or around the world as roommates leave and/or the need arises. It's very studenty...By comparison I have a lot more "permanent" furniture. I suppose it says something about class or class aspirations. Then again I always hated living in studenty conditions...
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 12:37 am (UTC)Colors are fairly subdued. Combined with the choice of objects visible in the pics that points to Europe. Phone looks German. Radiator maybe, too.
2. What do you notice about the colour range in evidence here? What, if anything, do these colours "mean"?
3. Is this a room occupied by people with university-level educational qualifications?
Yeah, or something equivalent to that.
4. Could you predict which daily newspapers (if any) are read in this room by looking at what's in these pictures?
None, they only read mags and books, maybe scan papers on internet.
5. What kind of political views would you extrapolate from the pictures? Why?
Left-leaning apathetic.
6. Are the people who live here, in your view, earning more or less than the minimum wage (as measured in their country of residence)?
More.
7. What is the likely age range of the people who live here?
25-50
8. Can we guess some of these people's life priorities -- their basic values -- by looking at the pictures? How would you describe those values?
Art art art. Happiness. Friends.
9. Did you feel that these pictures gave you as much information about the people living here as, say, meeting them would?
No.
10. If you lived here, would you immediately make some changes? What would they be?
I really like the space.
But.
My space would have to be less masculine.
Black leather/plastic sofa would have to be chucked out.
Ideally it would be less cluttered (although my space is just as…).
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 12:40 am (UTC)If I just saw those photos without knowing who's flat it was, I'd probably guess Sweden, just because that's where I happen to live. I see nothing uniquely German, but there's definitively a North European vibe.
I also see someone who's pretty bad at taking care of bills, I bet there's a few nastygrams from collection agencies in that pile.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 12:54 am (UTC)It may have something to do with the way the pictures were taken, but this room looks a lot like the pictures you take of the world outside. It's like what you see outside is the same as what you choose to put around you.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 01:33 am (UTC)Marx and Lenin.
Japanese magazines.
European interiors.
Musical insturments and mac.
Ricecooker.
I think it's you, living there, baby.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 01:53 am (UTC)The electrical sockets are European. The magazines are European and Japanese, and center around art and music. Other than that, it's hard to tell. Definitely the place of a world traveler, or someone who's familiar with various cosmopolitan centers. It's not an expensive place (there's shoddy patches on one wall).
2. What do you notice about the colour range in evidence here? What, if anything, do these colours "mean"?
Bright and 'happy' tertiaries highlight a very clean and modern white. The white reminds me of the cold modernism attacked in Chromophobia, but most European and U.S. apartments look like that. The person who lives there likes color, but for some reason hasn't invested a lot of time decorating the place. Ready to remain transient?
3. Is this a room occupied by people with university-level educational qualifications?
Yes. But they're not big readers (except for magazines).
4. Could you predict which daily newspapers (if any) are read in this room by looking at what's in these pictures?
The Guardian, The Independent, The New York Times, The Village Voice, various left-leaning weeklies. Even with the pictures of Marx and Lenin, I don't think this person is an extremist in their views because there's nothing else in the apt that is extreme.
5. What kind of political views would you extrapolate from the pictures? Why?
"Far left." The art world is almost exclusively left-wing, as is the music world. If the resident isn't directly a part of one or both of those worlds, he or she is intimately involved with them. And the bright tertiaries are significantly in vogue with the creative world, and not in vogue with the mass cultures of Europe. They like Lee Perry and images of Marx and Lenin - who else but far left?
6. Are the people who live here, in your view, earning more or less than the minimum wage (as measured in their country of residence)?
More. But not a lot more. The equipment is very nice, but the apartment isn't top of the line. And the place itself isn't personalized, so I'd assume that it's a rental.
7. What is the likely age range of the people who live here?
20s to 40s
8. Can we guess some of these people's life priorities -- their basic values -- by looking at the pictures? How would you describe those values?
Yes. Creative. Open to the new. More interested in worldly matters than provincial matters. Cosmopolitan. A world traveler, or wants to be.
9. Did you feel that these pictures gave you as much information about the people living here as, say, meeting them would?
No. But it tells me that I would have no problem sharing a pleasant afternoon tea with them.
10. If you lived here, would you immediately make some changes? What would they be?
Yes. I would put up shelves and books. Other than that, no. If I had art, I would put that up, but I like the person's style. I'd really only need my books. But if that person was gone, the apartment would be a cold white box, and THAT is not ok.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 01:56 am (UTC)And most of the furniture is from IKEA.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 02:06 am (UTC)And yeah, it's gotta be him.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 02:16 am (UTC)Anyway ...
neural-style taste networks
Is this a term/phrase you just coined or has it been used before? If the latter, could you point me in that direction? I'd really like to see in what context it was used.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 02:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 02:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 03:30 am (UTC)byebye free will, hello machine learning. if it could figure out how our tastes are formed, i guess it could also be reprogrammed too?!
(frozen) (no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 04:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 04:09 am (UTC)-- electrical outlets, window style and heating remind me of german interior design. besides, i think i can spot a Deutsche Telekom logo on that phone. also, must be a country with ikea stores. the book in the box below the super ape is a karl kraus biography published by rororo, a german publisher of pocket books (i felt tempted to google that, since the sleeve design of the series is pretty distictive.) - hell, this was fun.
2. What do you notice about the colour range in evidence here? What, if anything, do these colours "mean"?
--
3. Is this a room occupied by people with university-level educational qualifications?
-- not necessarily, but almost certainly that; at least the "intellectual", "artist", etc. type.
4. Could you predict which daily newspapers (if any) are read in this room by looking at what's in these pictures?
-- the guardian or similiar publications probably.
5. What kind of political views would you extrapolate from the pictures? Why?
-- much rather left than right. though probably "above" the political spectrum. apple products, ikea furniture, culture/design magazines, marx/lenin. not your typical cowboy.
6. Are the people who live here, in your view, earning more or less than the minimum wage (as measured in their country of residence)?
-- the people living in there probably do not put much emphasis on the "earning money" aspect of life.
7. What is the likely age range of the people who live here?
-- 25 to 35, roughly.
8. Can we guess some of these people's life priorities -- their basic values -- by looking at the pictures? How would you describe those values?
-- beauty, curiosity, cultural awareness come to mind first.
9. Did you feel that these pictures gave you as much information about the people living here as, say, meeting them would?
-- depending on one's skills in semiotics, one could read almost anything out of a person's personal interior design. i am just an amateur in these terms. but i am pretty sure that this is the habitat of the momus.
10. If you lived here, would you immediately make some changes? What would they be?
-- i would feel pretty cosy. i'd just probably declutter that pile of paper in the box in the last pic.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 04:13 am (UTC)a speaker ON a ibook.. look at these certain magazines. the mac keyboard shows i 2 different picture. would make me think each shot was set up. verse just all taken in quick succession.
the walls are white. and the artwork that is up. are copies/prints. not original. or by them.
there is an unplug organ against the wall. and an old, but not really old consumer reel to reel. looks cool. not to many uses. i would guess this person. likes art, but wishes they did it, verse actually doing it. probably a writer who says they are an artist. and has a slight obsession with proving their personality through pocessions. i don't think its in japan either. i've never seen a japanese apartment like that (in japan). europe or nyc.
answers
Date: 2007-03-02 07:20 am (UTC)The power socket beside the keyboard perhaps?
2. What do you notice about the colour range in evidence here? What, if anything, do these colours "mean"?
The person is into "design" they are not someone who prefers a "natural" wooden look for example.
3. Is this a room occupied by people with university-level educational qualifications?
Probably, but not necessarily. If it was Japan, probably not.
4. Could you predict which daily newspapers (if any) are read in this room by looking at what's in these pictures?
The Independent.
5. What kind of political views would you extrapolate from the pictures? Why?
No one who votes right of centre would own a keyboard like that.
6. Are the people who live here, in your view, earning more or less than the minimum wage (as measured in their country of residence)?
They might be earning less, but are probably not living as if that is so.
7. What is the likely age range of the people who live here?
30-something.
8. Can we guess some of these people's life priorities -- their basic values -- by looking at the pictures? How would you describe those values?
City-dwellers, interested in objects and their design, mobile.
9. Did you feel that these pictures gave you as much information about the people living here as, say, meeting them would?
I'd need to have a closer look at the CDs and books/magazines. I do think that CDs and books give a good idea of a person's personality. In fact I think that in some ways the first album a person ever bought gives a better idea of their personality than that person's whole music collection. The first album I every bought was The Sweet's Biggest Hits. The cover just looked so good. I don't think I had ever heard the music.
10. If you lived here, would you immediately make some changes? What would they be?
Tidy up.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 07:24 am (UTC)That's my rabbit, lowering my cultural capital with his sharp little teeth! Curse him!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 07:26 am (UTC)Here's a collection of textures (http://lord-whimsy.livejournal.com/190324.html) I have found in my house this evening. Not sure what conclusions may be conclusively drawn, since I have not yet completely unpacked my clothes, art, music and books, but they may entertain the eye. I suppose one might conclude that I am attracted to microcosms: small, organic, living, worn, decaying, colorful things...specimens that double as aesthetic emblems...
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 07:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 07:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 07:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-02 07:48 am (UTC)I'm also fascinated by something we have in common, I think, as aesthetes. We seem to want to help other people to become us. We could both publish our blogs under the heading "How To Be Me". You more or less have -- and have sold the film rights! But does this attitude make any sense? If a certain kind of self-help book is essentially "How To Be Yourself", what does it mean for us to give people instructions in how to become us? We are self-created, and yet anyone who imitated us wouldn't be. And yet I've been to parties where everyone was a bit like you -- not copies, but people who share your interest in a certain stereotype of the dandy gentleman. I'm not sure I could gather such like-minded people around me. Certainly not at short notice!
Do you know there's a blog called Becoming More Like Momus? -- The campaign against obnoxiousness (http://catscall.livejournal.com/). !!!!!!!