Looking vs. Seeing

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Images fill our sight daily with diverse meanings within them. How we perceive these scenes vary depending on the way they are seen by the viewer. Simply seeing the imageries is passively observing the world for what it is; whereas, actually looking is being actively engaged in them. These two main perspectives differentiate greatly and express to us how we are interpreting the pictures surrounding us in our daily lives. As the day advances, being bombarded by images throughout the environment attempting to portray a specific importance to the viewer is not uncommon. When only seen but not looked at, the image is only what it is and holds no further meaning beyond the surface. These sights are inactively observed and their content attempting to be conveyed are only seen and no further thought of in depth. There arise moments when images are truly looked at by the spectator. Actively engaging the mind to what is being looked at begins the process of discovering what greater significance the icon may hold. Communicating a specific message or influencing the observer is the main objective of most images. As persuasive and pleasurable the message may seem, it can only be understood when truly looked at and analyzed by the viewer. Although the words used to describe these two perspectives appear to be similar in context, they each contain their own valuable meaning. Once the two are distinguishable, it becomes simpler to realize when you are only seeing an image compared to when you are really looking at it. Keeping these in mind, changing your thoughts while going through life and looking at the sights we usually only see can conquer up an interesting new perspective on

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