Book Review - Framespotting: Changing How You Look At Things Changes How You See

liamobtv (48)in #writing • 8 years ago

NOTE: I know a book review doesn't strictly fit into the tagged categories, however I hope for their too soon be a section devoted to books. In the meantime I hope you enjoy the review.

Laurence and Alison Matthews wish to help us see one of the ways in which we are being taken advantage of by governments and corporations. They are also environmentalists with a brilliant understanding of the problems and solutions regarding our current global warming crisis.

At it's core, Framespotting is about personal power and change. Firstly, the writers look at how language is being used to frame (condition) our perception of reality. Here's a few examples:

Example 1: Ever noticed how we hear about corporations creating jobs but never destroying them? When a corporation makes cuts those jobs are simply lost. But how can a job be lost? It's not a set of car keys.

The truth is that those jobs are terminated. However it is in the interests of the corporation to frame things differently. Who could blame someone for losing something? We all lose things. Accidents happen all the time, right?

Example 2: We often see news reports on high speed collisions. The narrative of the story typically blames the individual who was driving. This limits the frame of the discussion to attacking 'irresponsible drivers'.

As a result real issues are not addressed, such as: Why are cars manufactured to go 3-4x the speed limits? Why is there legislation in place that makes it legal to do so? The burden of responsibility should be put on our legislators and car manufacturers. However that would take a lot of money out of a lot of pockets. Cars are good business. Faster cars are better business.

Example 3: Obesity is a big problem in the United States. For a long time the frame of the discussion blamed individuals. However, much to the dismay of junk food manufacturers, the discussion has begun to expand and real questions are being asked.

Why is junk food available in every store and gas station at such low prices? Why is sugar, an addictive drug, present in all this food at ridiculously high quantities? Why is food labeling designed to manipulate? Who made all this legal? Who is making sure it stays legal?

The first half of the book discusses exactly this - framing and how it is used to manipulate our perceptions. The second half focuses in on the global warming crisis. To conclude, the authors put forward their own ideas as to how we as a global community can avert this very real threat before it overwhelms us.

We live our life's not recognizing most of the frames that are put in place to restrict our vision. Where is your vision being restricted? Like the authors Laurence and Alison Matthews say: A good way to look for the bigger picture is to keep asking “Why?” Repeatedly. Don't be satisfied with symptoms; look for root causes. It's like “looking up stream”.

This planet has the potential to be a literal paradise. However we need to heal our ignorance first. This great little book will help some of our brothers and sisters do that. Thank you Laurence and Alison!