“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” ~ Mark Twain
So here’s the bad news.
We’re a prejudiced, bigoted, narrow-minded lot. During controlled, scientific testing, even the fairest minded among us show subtle evidence of unconscious biases toward people who are different–those from outgroups. It gets worse. Earlier this year scientists from Yale found that rhesus monkeys displayed the same biases against any monkeys from outgroups, preferring instead simians from the ingroup. Given that it’s been 25 million years since we shared an ancestor with the lovable but flawed rhesus monkey, it looks like prejudice has been around for a very long time. Clearly the benefits of learning to live in little cooperative groups had a downside for sentient beings trying to get along in the much smaller world of 2011.
So here’s the good news.
Studies clearly show that when human beings are made aware of automatic prejudices they can change their behavior and become more fair-minded. Additionally, it turns out…we can be taught! Individuals who undertook trainings designed to make participants aware of previously unconsidered biases, became much less subconsciously prejudiced toward those different from them. Scientists have also found that taking Mark Twain’s advice to travel the open road can help a lot too. It is after all, difficult to stay prejudiced, bigoted and narrow-minded after spending some time figuring out that strangers aren’t actually strange. Twain perhaps better than most, understood the unmeasurable value of traveling away from all that is comfortable sameness; we’re much better human-beings when we spend a little time finding different.
24 Comments
awesome this b/w, i appreciate your sense of space and your choise in monochrome, ita dramaticity is perfect, good work Chris
Love the clouds in this one Chris!
Great depth and nicely done in monochrome.
Magnificent shot !
I suppose there is some relief in knowing that we can be taught new tricks..and ways of thinking and being. But – how sad to think of how we ‘truly are’. Wonderful thoughts…and what a gorgeous images!!!
endless view and the posts and lines draw the eyes thought the pic!
I always enjoy your words and images.
Great lines. And amen.
the Cloud movement and the powerlines really add
great depth to the image + great processing, great capture Chris.
Expressive landscape with good composition
Great BW
i personally feel we have to train ourselves to not be prejudice. i also feel like prejudice extends beyond the norm of being directed at people. we’re really a narrow minded creature on every level. btw, you had me with the power lines on this one and you gotta love that mark twain guy:-)
Excellent shot. Nice writeup.
It is always good to get away once in a while and learn about others on the road. We learn more when we are out there than from all the sameness that is our life.
This open road picture is awesome. It a breath of fresh air.
i always love your mono shots Chris
gotta love this shot, it has a classic road movie mood
Well thought post, Christopher, a very thought provoking post. Perfect B&W image and statement. Travel reveals new cultures and how we are the same despite our differences…if that makes sense. I also feel that our photo-blogging community is similar to travel. We view images from around the world sharing our art, location and culture. We learn from and about each other. Perhaps this too is a small way of thwarting prejudice.
Indeed, an open-minded traveler can absorb much about the varieties of life. Traveling is my favorite activity, even if it is just driving around Charleston, going from neighborhood to neighborhood, or visiting unexplored parts of my house. Your photography is exquisite. If you haven’t already, you should exhibit your work in a gallery as a fine artist, along with your fine captions.
Nice composition and b&w ! I love roadviews almost as much as roadtrips !
Nice use of perspective and well suited to mono, I would be proud of this photo.
Ah, the wonders of travel; it is so good on many, many levels.
long way home .. my first thought .. well captured Christopher and it works so well in monochrom.
I liked to think that my only prejudice was towards prejudiced folk! I would like to think that we’ve evolved a little more than our ancestral apes, but I guess I could be wrong?
One things for sure – you shoot better photographs than them – and I love the ambience in this post.
What a wonderful shot! The open road and that powerline give this such a romantic feel. Love this so much,
that is one lonely stretch of road!
Ces lignes sont magnifiques. Une belle perspective et une vision lointaine…