“What if the way we perceive a problem is already part of the problem?” Zizek
Life is a Rorschach Test
Rorschach test- a psychological test in which subjects’ perceptions of inkblots are recorded using psychological interpretation, algorithms or both. It is generally used to determine the emotional functioning of individuals.
Two weeks ago, a surprisingly great amount of public attention dwelled on the Netflix 10-episode “documentary” special, Making a Murderer, which focused upon one person, Steven Avery, of Wisconsin. Mr. Avery as a young man had a poor criminal record, and his reputation appeared to lead to his preemptive and wrongful conviction of a rape in 1985. DNA evidence and advanced forensics methodology ultimately determined his innocence after 18 years of incarceration in 2003. Two years after his release, Mr. Avery was subsequently accused of murdering a young woman who had been last seen at his junkyard. He was ultimately convicted of that crime and is currently is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Members of my family “binge viewed” this compelling presentation on Netflix. This complex and very real situation offered many elements to consider. Wrongful conviction, abusive and deceptive police tactics, a brutal murder, and legal tactics, both skillful and inept, are all part of the documentary.
But the fascinating facets of this series are to be found in what is not absolutely known. Viewers were free to accept and trust scientific evidence or reject it in the belief that such information can be planted, contrived, or simply lied about. Viewers of Making a Murderer were able to believe in conspiracies or find such musings to be laughable fantasies of the gullible. As such, the series was truly a Rorschach test into which a viewer could project his/her own past experiences, biases, and beliefs.
Predictably, different members of my family and circle of friends focused upon different elements of the series. One person was appalled by the abuse and tactics of the local police. Another was impressed by the skill and commitment of Avery’s defense attorney. Someone else commented upon the questionable character of the prosecutor. Sympathy for the victim of 18 years of wrongful imprisonment was the main feature in one viewer’s mind. And a man was convinced that Avery was a murderer and perhaps the public benefitted from his earlier wrongful conviction because it had kept him off the streets and unable to commit other crimes during that 18 year span.
Aside from the case itself, I was most fascinated by how so many people, all viewing the same “picture,” saw totally different images and areas of emphasis. All their opinions and points of view were available and defensible, based upon how the case had been presented. And the series itself reflected the point of view of its producers as well. What images were repeatedly included and emphasized, such as the grieving faces of Avery’s parents. What received far less focus and attention was the victim herself and her family’s loss.
So what are we left with? How is life itself a Rorschach? Simply this. I learned after investing ten hours of relaxed time with my lovely wife as we watched Making a Murderer, that we are all vulnerable to the impact that our life experiences have had upon us. Our opinion about almost everything (and everybody) is colored by those experiences and, perhaps, painful memories.
Near the end of my book, I wrote “Life is all about going against tendencies.” I could re-phrase that slightly to comment, “Life is about pushing against our personal biases.” In other words, we must all seek, despite difficulty, to assess situations and people objectively. We should, if you will, “catch” ourselves in the act of choosing, voting, or opinionating based upon past events or prejudices that cannot stand up to the light of objective evaluation.
This is not easy. But it is fair and just. As Dwayne Dyer said, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
People see what they want to see, and what they want to see never has anything to do with the truth. – Bolano
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