subtext of you

SUBTEXT of YOU

FORMAT In a two-page, typed document, analyze your

subtext. Write this as an essay instead of a list –

paragraphs rather than bullets. Use the prompts to focus your scrutiny. With each item, ask,

What do these say about me? What message/s do they send to others? Also, consider the LACK of any of these traits a

subtext, too.

2 pages typed headers TNR, 12” stapled

YOUR TASK Step outside yourself for a moment.

Turn that critical eye on a different sort of document …the human document.

Analyze yourself as you have an advertisement. Be analytical

(not “critical” as in a masochistic, self-flagellating)

Be objective. Be honest. (with yourself)

PROMPTS: Appearance Clothes

from head to toes hair style hats or no hats contacts, glasses, sunglasses make-up, none piercings, tattoos, studs,…or none jewelry, none clothes brand clothes styles shoes, kicks, flip-flops

PROMPTS: Appearance what’s accentuated or not what’s been augmented or not

straightened, pierced, tattooed posture, bearing, pose, carriage attitude, personality, tone

PROMPTS: Possessions What prized possession/s do you have?

For what object would you run back in to a burning building/rescue in a flood?

car decorations car modifications room decorations

PROMPTS: Possessions Entertainment:

Art, Plays, Literature… Movies & TV shows:

DVDs, posters what you watch, go to the theater

Music the music we listen to often reflects who we are or

wish to be we are what we listen to

PROMPTS: Food, Drink, Smoke we are what we eat (drink, smoke) what do you eat, drink, smoke-- quantity, quality

do you eat/drink healthily? too much, too little? fast food, home-cooked? vegan, omnivore?

alcohol, drugs?

PROMPTS: Others Your FACEBOOK page

What do you have on your Facebook page? Pictures, poses, sayings, movies, … Friends, links, activities, ….

Any social media not just FB but your entire Web presence, e-self

PROMPTS: Others Types of Friends

just as food & music the people we “hang out with” subtextually say

something about us Types of Relationships

boyfriends, girlfriends numbers of, quality of relationships how affectionate, open are you

PROMPTS: Others The way you laugh, smile, cry

do you? often? never? forced or phony?

(our emotional behaviors)

How are your manners have any? often, frequently? at home vs. outside?

PROMPTS: Others Talk

How do you talk: diction, word choice what kind of language do you use? is it rated PG or NC-17 is it college-level or juvenile

How do you talk about yourself How do you talk about the opposite sex How do you talk about the life

optimist, pessimist?

THE STRUCTURE

ESSAY STRUCTURE INTRODUCTION ideas:

A definition of “Subtext” Comment on “appearances”

“can’t judge a book by its cover”

Maybe something about our society

ESSAY STRUCTURE BODY ideas:

Start with you, your “body” Head to Toe or Toe to Head

Then radiate out to your “Subtext Satellites” Those other things about you & around you that emit

your subtext Your possessions Your car, Your room….

NOT everything

BUT those parts of you most “subtexty”

ESSAY STRUCTURE BODY ideas:

Describe an item & then discuss its subtext

What could others see in this? How might this be interpreted or taken by others?

*regardless if this interpretation is right or wrong* your intentions = irrelevant here

ESSAY STRUCTURE CONCLUSION ideas:

Your overall subtext Comment on “appearances”

“can’t judge a book by its cover” maybe something about our society

Anything you were unaware of Your desired VBA match your subtextual VBA? Perhaps changes you’d make

(more “so what?!” ideas below)

OK, so that’s your subtext?!

THE ANALYSIS

YOUR SUBTEXT How do you express your values, beliefs,

attitudes (VBA)? Look to your answers to the prompts. What do they say about you? What messages do they send…subtextually?

You MUST analyze your subtext – not merely describe yourself.

YOUR SUBTEXT What are your values, beliefs, attitudes?

based solely on your Subtext

* This concerns what VBA people could infer from your actions & appearances

• NOT what VBA you think you have. • the mask, not what’s behind it

YOUR SUBTEXT Are there VBA you were unaware of?

that you didn’t realize you were broadcasting (subtextually)

that you were expressing unconsciously

YOUR SUBTEXT Is that who you really are?

Do the messages you emit sync/jive with your intentions? with the image you thought you projected, the image

you want to radiate? with the “real” you?

Is that who you want to be? Do your desired VBA match your subtextual

VBA? If not, what changes do you plan to make?

SO WHAT?!

THE FINAL ANALYSIS So what does this Subtext Assignment

instruct you regarding the following:

SO WHAT?! What’s the real multiculturalism?

each individual = many individuals each of us =

complex, complicated, diverse, multifarious multifaceted, multidimensional, multilayered, multi-

sided…. multicultural

SO WHAT?! How do you treat other people?

If YOU = complex, multifaceted, then what about others?

judging or stereotyping others? getting to know people? the benefit of the doubt taking them with the grain of salt

SO WHAT?! You can’t judge a book by its cover.

the stereotypes out there the stereotyping others do to us the stereotyping we do to ourselves

Empowerment & Personal Safety. awareness of & control over the messages you send to others

SO WHAT?! How free is your will?

How much do we truly have? Who really has control over our lives? Are our choices really our own? What are the forces at work on us, how many are

there, and are we aware of them – all? Do you like what you like because you like it OR

because someone told you to like it?

SO WHAT?! Jobs and Relationships.

job interviews performance evaluations working w/others, dealing w/customers impressions give off to significant others kinds of people we attract/repel

SO WHAT?! Communication:

words gestures images music clothes behaviors manners…