Non-Verbal Cues

Everyone has been talking about this new show Orange is the New Black. I decided that I would watch this show and see what I could interpret from the nonverbal cues and also see what all the hype was about. When I watched the show I was confused by who the main character’s relationship was actually with. There was a woman and a man who had relationships with her. In both relationships she seemed to be happy. The hard part was that the show would go back into the past experiences and this confused things a bit with no sound. I figured out in the end that it was obvious that the man and the main character had a stronger relationship and that the woman and the main character ended their relationship on bad terms.

The relationship that I had assumed was a good relationship was that of the cook in the prison and the main character. Without sound it looks as though they are smiling and getting along well. The cook even gives her a present. The verbal cues indicated to me that there was a friendship. I assumed that the main character had gone on a hunger strike of some sort. When I then watched with sound I found out that the main character had in fact insulted the cook and she was withholding food from her. She was showing her strength to the main character and in front of the other prisoners. All of the nonverbal cues that I watched indicated to me that there was not a bad relationship.

I think that when you are involved in a television show and know the characters well you know the story line and can make better assumptions that will be correct. However, even when you think that you know someone or a situation if you are not fully informed and communicate with one another bad assumptions can be made. This project validated my feelings that communication is vital to prevent conflict and assumptions usually do not stand much ground with correct information.