HEADGEARS
2 important things for this power:
Societies Perception
Your Image
As the 25th law of power states: RE-CREATE YOURSELF. Meaning: not to be controlled by society and how it creates your image, create a new identity that garners attention then everything else falls to pieces after.
In my opinion, it simply means:
Image = Power
The standard image given to you means nothing (unless you’re of royal blood though, lucky guys).
Ever heard of a female Pope?
One is Pope Joan, who dressed up as a man to become a Pope. She slowly went up the ranks until she became one. However, she gave birth while trying to mount a horse ending her “mamacy”.
It’s still a mystery but, it shows an important point; how one could seize power by dressing up. People having no power can obtain it by simply changing his image. Like if signet rings were to be worn by non-ruling class people way back when in Egypt, giving them authority, anyone can gain power by creating an image that demands one.
BUT, being able to stand out is not all that is important. Anyone can stand out, in a good way or bad, depending on the people around you.
Take the first monotheist from Egypt, Akhenaten. His idea was good but, it was at the wrong place at the wrong time. For this idea to work you need to be “in” yet “out” at the same time. Have an idea that everyone can relate with not only you.
SO, more than the inner goodness, the outer image projected plays a much more important role. People who don’t know you would judge you from your appearance. For people in power it’s important because they wouldn’t really meet everyone they’re ruling, so the creation of “that” image (along with the skills or maybe even without it) is a must to get respect, in a way, power.
Changing your image can benefit you in so many ways.
I mean, if you were to save a serial killer wearing a coat against say a priest wearing bloody and tattered clothes from a sinking ship… not knowing who they are, who would you save when next to you is someone with a knife impaled deeply in his face?
"If you look like you know what you’re talking about, most of the time people will believe you"
JR Resma
HI 18 - K
21 comments:
I agree with putting importance in images as something that would suggest power. Our human nature is to trust appearances because they're the only thing tangible and not being to do so would be scary to us because that would mean we can't trust anything. To be powerful, you have to make use of this trust- you merely have to market yourself as someone powerful. As not everyone could have signet rings, for example, sometimes merely walking with an air of power is enough to spark a sense of respect from people- it would be slow and gradual but eventually, it will be there.
I agree completely also with your quote towards the end. People do believe you if you appear to know what you're talking about even if you really don't.
- Marion Causing Hi18- K
i agree with both of you. People rely a lot on what they see, our mind's eye is very powerful in its influence over our thoughts, judgments and feelings about what we see.
but with this knowledge, more and more people through the years have learned not to rely on the face value of things or people. The use of arts and tools of deception (in relation with crime and malice), in my opinion, has reached an unprecedented height today with advances in communication & technology, globalization and all.
One of the best created images ever is that of Hitler with his dark toothbrush mustache, very neatly oiled hair, his whole getup and mannerisms and aura. That mustache of his was easily identifiable and seemed to depict his type of personality: strict, bold and authoritarian(?).It's one that's hard to replicate.
monica ang, L
image can only take you so far -- i think that the value of reputation, social identity, i largely distance-based. you need to package yourself in such a way that won't seem threatening or overly complicated so that people will believe you but, once people start digging deeper (and there are those who always will) this facade won't protect you from such scrutiny.
it largely depends on the people, the social climate, how your image is received. i think this law is largely unstable -- you need to have a firm grasp of your audience and how the society works. something more basic -- such as observing what the public needs / wants / will go far needs to be established first, such as catering to the public's needs and how to uncover them.
on it's own, it's incomplete. how do you recreate yourself? how do you create an image for yourself?
kyra ballesteros Hi18 K
it's interesting, because after having read your blog, i remembered my own law. i was somewhat able to make many connections between your law and my law. my law, the 34th law of power, states that you must act like a king in order to be treated like one, while at the same time doing it in your own royal fashion.
you mentioned that one should not limit himself to what society's image of him dictates. one can choose to create his own image of himself based on who he feels he should be and how that image can help him attain power or help him fulfill his goals. i think that in creating your own image, you're not necessarily being someone your not. i don't think you should automatically be thought of as someone who is deceiving others, because one's image can really reflect what you think of yourself. in my law's example, christopher columbus, son of a cheese vendor, did not allow his limitations stop him from fulfilling his goals. he believed he was destined for great things. can you blame him? i don't think so. so when he projected himself to other people, he created an image of himself as that of a confident person. he was very sure of himself and he handled himself really well. in effect, superior people regarded him very highly and were comfortable in his presence. they listened to what he had to say and gave him importance. in effect, columbus was able to make his voyages possible. i guess columbus was able to radiate a kingly image. he was respected by other people. from this example, we can see how a simple person without royal background to begin with achieved success by depicting an image of greatness and confidence.
you also mentioned that society's perception of your image matters too. in connection to my law, people may act confident and have good intentions but others can interpret this in two ways. people may see this as greatness while others may simply see this as arrogance. people can admire and respect this person while others may despise that person. so it's really important to act the right way in a manner that is not offensive.
in creating one's own image, one must really make it seem believable. even if columbus was once a merchant, he SHOWED people that he was a great and noble man. he was able to sell himself. it paid off because people respected him and helped him. columbus regarded himself as a king and this was what other people saw. columbus was able to be recognized by others.
to prevent other people from getting the wrong idea about your image, one must always be aware of how he presents himself. he must know what style will work best for him while at the same time, keep in mind other people's perceptions. you must create an image that people can believe, trust, and relate to. you must know what's right and what's not.
-Philip Albert T. Verde
Hi18 K
I strongly agree with this particular statement: "Create a new identity that garners attention then everything else falls to pieces after."
It would be easy for a person to play his/her "character" once he/she has established an image of how he/she wants other people to see him/her.
Some people aren't exactly how they appear to be but since they have a vision of what they want to be like, they act as such. It's almost as if they're creating stereotypes of themselves. In the end though, it would all boil down to whether that person is believable or not.
Monica Copuyoc
Hi18-L
I agree with this law. Changing a person's image to gain some form of respect is important. However, we should know how to carry the image correctly, otherwise, people won't fall for the disguise. Remember, Dressing up is not just the key, having the brains and acting up to it is important too.
I agree with Kyra. How can you maximize the use of this law effectively if you don't know the needs and wants of the people around you. They wouldn't want to be ruled/controlled by someone who doesn't attend to their needs.
Clarice Manuel
Hi18 K
This agree holds true for history and more so with modern times. In today's society image is considered more than capability. The field of public relations exist for this reason.
The malleability of one's image in today's times is both an advantage and a disadvantage. In the case of Obama, he "re-created" himself to his advantage--he listened intently to what the people of America wanted, and he patterned his image towards that ideal. In the case of say--Michael Jackson, his re-created image was met with ridicule and criticism.
When the law is applied, one must consider what the reasons are for re-creating oneself are. A different image can either build or destroy you.
Chio Cebrero
Hi 18 L
with this law, i believe that one thing is important: catching people's attention. and most often than not, it is the most difficult thing to achieve.
i believe more in your quote in the last part; You have to look believable. Nowadays, those who look and talk as if they own the idea are very successful in overpowering people. I think a lot of people, even those that we interact with everyday, are using this tactic, and more often than not, it works perfectly.
Kriska Rivadillo
Hi18 K
"What sucks is, like most things, it's all 'bout image" - What Everybody Said, The Out of Body Special
It's undeniable, probably not even debatable, in my opinion. It's easy to see especially in a school like Ateneo - image determines what kind of bakrada you hang out with, who listens to you, etc. Not to downplay the school itself, but the cultures and sub-cultures that move in and out of the woodwork.
Let's make it easier to imagine: for example, you're tasked to report for a group project defense. Don't get me wrong, you and your buddies worked hard, but are deathly afraid of what the panelists might say regardless. So what do you do? You compensate. Through image. Obvious tip would be using cue cards. Even if you don't exactly know what you're talking about, you look neat and prepared with what your holding. Another easy image-modifier would be color-coded wear. This more often than not, helps you feign singularity and pursuit of a common purpose.
The battle cry of real-estate agents:
"Location, location, location."
But for everything else:
"Image, image, image."
Joey Palma
Hi18-K
You should recreate yourself if what you already are is inadequate for the shock and awe tactics the explanation implies. I think this one is inappropriately named. I think what this law is trying to say is that you should create an image which gets you noticed and takes you places. It's not that you should CHANGE your image, it's that you should have one, a good one (am I making sense?). Anyway, my point is that the law put stress on the wrong part of the statement. Whatever.
Anyway, what I'd like to know is why people are so succeptible to visual illusions. Is it because we are drawn to beauty, flash, shiny things, things that imply luxury? Are we attracted to glamour because it connotes wealth, which is what we all really want, biologically? Do we really just believe what we want to believe because it's reassuring?
Du, L
Another example could be Queen Hatshepsut for having been a female pharaoh. Despite being a woman, she ruled Egypt. She did not conform to the norms and decided to escape from the image of women being mere followers and not leaders.
When you want to draw attention and reel in power, a good way to do it is to stand out. If you need to change your image, even by the simple way of altering your aura and improving on your confidence level.. then be it. Do not limit yourself with whatever has been given to you by society or even by nature.
Gliza Marasigan
Hi18-L
I actually believe that this law is true even in everyday life. We normally deny the fact that we are judgmental of people based on how they look, but in truth, we all do have our tendencies to do so.
For example, if you see someone wearing torn clothes with dirty-looking skin, I'm so sure that you'd probably think that he's a beggar or a part of the poverty line. Or, if you see someone wear all black with matching black nail polish, you'd probably think that he's an "emo" person who listen to hardcore rock songs and slits his wrists.
Aren't we all just hypocrites that way?
- Juan Carlos Miguel M. Galvez
Hi18 - L
I like Chio's points because one's image can be readily changed today. However, it's not necessarily good to change your image, as it can lead not to benefits but consequences.
I believe sometimes that it's better to leave one's image at the mercy of the world. Let them decide how they see you. Let yourself decide in how you take action. That's how you can truly recreate yourself.
Alan Ortiz
HI18 K
Lots of psychology studies have proven that image can indeed generate certain amounts of power. But most often than not, if not all, these experiments involved strangers. People who have no basis on how to act around these other strangers except on what's presented to them. Mainly, what they see. If this was their only basis on how to act, definitely image would play a big role. And so i think that this law can only go so far. Once people know who you really are, these techniques won't work anymore because they have more stuff to base their judgements on. But this law is certainly useful, especially in cases wherein you want to make a good first impression.
Ayo Canlas
Hi 18 L
i agree with kyra when she says that re-creating yourself/your image isn't all about you. a lot of it is knowing how the people around you will react to the things you do, wear, say, etc. it's why to use this law, you'd have to be good at reading people or..at least know the group of people you're trying to influence well enough to change your image, get their attention/respect, maybe win them over, and take control.
kristina tan hi18 k
Yes I agree that before you even put an image, you have to know what image your going to assimilate through the different ways people around you act. In every way, be the best "image" that you can be. Cater to their way of thinking and acting.
Rhea Entuna
section L
I think this law would be a tedious one to execute. Simply because it's difficult to sustain an image so far of from your true nature. It is however, very apparent today in certain high figures of society who project the image that they are of wealth and power, distracting the people from the fact that they are buried heavily in debt. Sure, you can hide behind a simulated facade, but how long can you keep up with it? I think a better strategy would be to ENHANCE instead of RE-CREATING one's self.
Elise Noelle Anne Lim
Hi18 Section L
I agree with how this law puts much importance on a leaders public image. especially nowadays, when optical senses play a big role in the relaying of information within nations, the application of this law couldnt possibly be done in a better time. With the different sources of media homing in on the public left and right, getting noticed for your purpose could now be done with much more speed and ease.
-Angelo Mendoza, His18-L
Reinventing one’s self is necessary in keeping the people interested and staying in power. It would indeed be boring if a monotonous leader stayed in power for so long. But one should keep in mind that in reinventing an image and trying to stand out, one must do it in a positive light, that wouldn’t incite revolt or distaste.
Paolo Banaga
Hi 18-L
I agree that image plays a very important role on one's ascent to power but I also think that it is only the initial step.
Say a fresh Atenean graduate walks into a roomful of fresh graduates from all the other top universities in the country. What will gain him respect is the much-acknowledged presence most Ateneans have been used to bringing with them. Sure, he could gain people's respect. But that's just the first step. Whatever that follows afterwards would be up to his wits and wisdom to gain superiority over the others. It's not just how one projects his image but also how he is able to align that to the manifestation of his actions and ideals. First impressions may last, but it could also change.
Chua Rojas, Serica
Hi 18 - L
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