Bipolar Disorder

[unpopular]

But wouldn't his interpretation of the disorder be the think that he is trying to convey? And if his attempt has failed to convey that disorder correctly, then wouldn't his photograph fail?

Not necessarily. We can only convey that which we know. Having not experienced the condition, this one-dimensional take on it seems fitting.

 

[The_Traveler]

But wouldn't his interpretation of the disorder be the think that he is trying to convey? And if his attempt has failed to convey that disorder correctly, then wouldn't his photograph fail?

Not necessarily. We can only convey that which we know. Having not experienced the condition, this one-dimensional take on it seems fitting.

So an actual alcoholic would be offended by an actor playing an alcoholic?

 

[pjaye]

But wouldn't his interpretation of the disorder be the think that he is trying to convey? And if his attempt has failed to convey that disorder correctly, then wouldn't his photograph fail?

No, because it's his interpretation. So the photograph doesn't fail if it conveys what he interprets bipolar to be. It may be conveyed correctly in his mind, just not conveyed the way this bipolar person feels.

If I was doing this photograph, it would have been done different. So to me, his conveyance of the disorder in general fails, but not the photograph.

Does that make any sense?

 

[pjaye]

And to be clear, I wasn't offended when I saw the picture. I just felt that it didn't portray bipolar. But then, I live with it, he doesn't. It's totally different seeing it from the outside in. It's a subject near and dear to me, and I'm still dealing with the diagnosis 2 years later. So it's hard for me when I see people who aren't bipolar portray what they think it is. I'm not offended, I'm just ... touchy? Still not the right word. I'm not upset with the picture, I just don't think it's totally accurate.

But then again, his interpretation.

 

[manicmike]

And to be clear, I wasn't offended when I saw the picture. I just felt that it didn't portray bipolar. But then, I live with it, he doesn't. It's totally different seeing it from the inside in. It's a subject near and dear to me, and I'm still dealing with the diagnosis 2 years later. So it's hard for me when I see people who aren't bipolar portray what they think it is. I'm not offended, I'm just ... touchy? Still not the right word. I'm not upset with the picture, I just don't think it's totally accurate.

But then again, his interpretation.

I completely and 100% agree with everything you said here. I think the image barely touches the surface of what it means to be bipolar. He has every right to try and convey what he thinks it would be like, but until someone actually experiences it, it's just not the same.

 

[pjaye]

As for the photo itself, the eye on the black side of the face just looks wrong to me. It may however be my crappy laptop.

 

[Rick58]

I'm not BP, but I live daily with it's effects. I can say I understand and try to understand, but reality, I can't understand fully what it must be like.

 

[AlanKlein]

People have always expressed their feelings with art. I'd be interested to see an interpretive photograph by someone who is bipolar. Also, one by a painter who's bipolar. I wonder of it's easier to interpret it with a painting rather than with a photograph.

 

[AlanKlein]

The witness's interpretation is just as valid as the people who it happened too. If I witness a car accident, and describe it to anther person who did not see the accident, the second person will have my understanding of what I saw. However, the victim's experience in the car accident will be totally different. Their experience will be described in a totally different way that would be understood by other car accident victims but only tangentially by witnesses to the accident. But in both cases, the experience and the reports are valid from the standpoint of each person - the witness and the victim. Neither interpretation is incorrect unless the witness intends to say that his interpretation is what the victim experienced or the victim says his interpretation is what the witness experienced.

I'm using the word victim to illustrate my point. I'm not saying a bipolar person is a victim.

 

[kundalini]

The delineation between light and shadow of this photo is absurd. The distinction is not that linear.

 

[The_Traveler]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/u...=Full&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article

 

[mmaria]

Just one more thing to say...

Why not take a self portrait about YOUR own feelings when you were interacting or observing those people? About your experience.

How did you feel there? What were you thinking?
Why not to show that?

That's how you will easier portray a true emotion. Were you confused, stunned, touched, indifferent...or else?

I repeat, I like the photo but I just don't think it says what you wanted to say.

 

[lennon33x]

First off, it was interesting to see the response. Especially the interaction between all of you. I appreciate the feedback.

Secondly, my intent was NEVER to sensationalize or demean a mental illness. I also did not mean to stereotype by any means. Bipolar disorder is so complicated and complex, that unless someone has it, they will never understand. I think someone said it above, to have a patient do one conveying their own perspective. The more I learn about this mental process, my feelings will probably change. It's difficult to portray what someone does not experience. First person and third person experiences are two different animals. That being said, I apologize if I offended anyone by my portrayal, as it wasn't my purpose to offend, but to portray what I experienced as a student.

 

[lennon33x]

Just one more thing to say...

Why not take a self portrait about YOUR own feelings when you were interacting or observing those people? About your experience.

How did you feel there? What were you thinking?
Why not to show that?

That's how you will easier portray a true emotion. Were you confused, stunned, touched, indifferent...or else?

I repeat, I like the photo but I just don't think it says what you wanted to say.

Surprisingly, many of the bipolar patients I experienced seemed completely normal on the outside. It was their stories, experiences and clinical data which I drew my artistic expression on. My portrayal of myself in response to observing therapy would be mundane, as my reactions are clinically based - meaning, as a observe or hear a patient's response, I am learning ways to be therapeutic, not necessarily react emotionally. From a clinical perspective, I am opening myself up a little more by trying to think more about "what it would be like" or what bipolar patients "experience." I also know that every patient's manic episodes are drastically different. One patient wanted to rearrange all of the furniture in her house during manic episodes, while others wanted to go on shopping sprees. These episodes are all different for every patient, so to draw on a reaction that I had wouldn't be honest.

I appreciate the advice though.

 

[lennon33x]

Definition aside, what struck me is that the border down the center is irregular and that draws my attention to it.

Had I fixed it to be completely straight, what would your perception be?