Gestures, Sounds, Smells Pt.1
It is known that conveyed information can be embodied not only in words and numbers.
Posture and gestures can be much more eloquent and precise than words – this is what scientists call nonverbal texts, in which visible bodily actions are used to convey important messages either instead of speech or simultaneously with spoken words.
Gestures can include hand movements, facial expressions (facial gestures), and other parts of the body.
Understanding specific gestures varies across different cultures: the most well-known, almost textbook example is the head nod among Bulgarians. In Russia and most other countries, a nod indicates agreement, while Bulgarians, on the contrary, by nodding, seem to say "no."
Through gestures and their interpretation, on the one hand, much can be understood about a culture, and on the other hand, these differences can be easily exploited for manipulative purposes.
For example, during the era of perestroika, much was written about smiling people from the Western world and the seemingly never-smiling Soviet people.
During those times, the reluctance to smile at everyone was explained by the difficult life in the USSR, where supposedly every stranger was perceived as an enemy, and in general, the unfriendliness of "Russian bears."
Even children in preschools were instructed during group photo sessions back then: "say cheese!" - it was assumed that this simple exercise would naturally stretch the lips into a joyful smile.
The stereotype of non-smiling Russians is still popular in the media, and from time to time, publications with detailed comments on this topic appear. While no one can count the exact number of gestures, it is impossible to deny their significance in propaganda and consciousness manipulation.
To exude the imperial grandeur inherent in an emperor, Napoleon took lessons in theatrical movement from the popular actor Talma of that time. The Minister of Culture of the USSR, Ekaterina Furtseva, learned to "carry herself" from the actress Vera Maretskaya.
"All of life is a gesture," said the Italian dictator and recognized master of propaganda, Benito Mussolini.
In modern times, the ability not only to control one's facial expressions and gestures but also to influence perception of one's message (emphasizing or disavowing spoken words) is a necessary skill not only for every political figure but also for any public figure in general.
Without this skill, embarrassments and awkward situations are inevitable – for example, let's recall the globally circulated 2008 video of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili chewing on his tie.
The importance of voice for politicians and public figures is also difficult to overstate.
The tone of voice, pronunciation, and speech manner of a politician constitute a crucial part of the politician's image and their ability to attract supporters. After all, a written and spoken text have completely different impacts.
In modern management, the voice is considered one of the most important tools for well-established communication: "A professional ailment of a modern manager is a kind of drying up of the personality, manifested through the voice. A person can excellently set tasks, reprimand, dismiss – their voice is heard. But when faced with a simple task, such as congratulating the women in their company on March 8th or simply praising a subordinate, they start to falter. If the boss clearly and confidently assigns a complex report to be done, and then reluctantly and without obvious interest listens to and comments on the results (i.e., cannot carry the entire 'tune' to the end) – this is more traumatizing than unpaid dollars," says a theatrical educator and business consultant, the CEO of the "World of Dialogue" center.
Acoustics – the world of sounds – is, in general, a crucial symbolic system. Its role in influencing the unconscious sphere, and consequently, in manipulating consciousness, is very significant…
To be continued…