WHAT CAUSES THE CHANGING IMAGES OF A FACE?
Ayad Gharbawi
January 8, 2010 – Damascus, Syria
I have already discussed in a previous article, the features of a face.
It is now time to go and delve a little deeper on this subject.
I said that there is no such thing as ‘one’ face for any person. Why? Because every person’s face has an unlimited number of expressions and images and expressions and emotions. Every single one of these different images, as seen by an Observer (Ob), with the determined TF (Time Frame), will contrast with any other of the numberless images of the ‘face’ of the Observed Person (Op).
These contradictions ‘forces’ one to state that there is no ‘unified’ one image of the face of the (Op) by the (Ob). Wherein and wherever there exists contradictions between any two entities or values or systems, then there can be no unity or oneness in the perceived entity.
Let us go back to the face.
A face does not have ‘one’ structure.
Unlike a circle, the latter has – relatively speaking, for now – one structure, one image, one vision for what it looks like.
However, when we study the face, we notice that it is composed of an unlimited number of structures, as seen by the (Ob), depending on certain Physical Factors:
the angle from which (Ob) is viewing (Op);
the distance between (Ob) and the (Op);
the speed of the motion of the (Ob) himself, as he is looking at the particular face in question.
So, for simplicity’s sake, let us say that our Observer (Ob) is looking at the face of the Observed Person (Op) without the other complicating factors.
Every moment that the (Ob) views (Op) there will be, as we said, an unlimited number of characteristics and attributes within the image of the face of the (Op), and these in turn, affect the image of the face in question, and finally, that factor, leads to differing images of the image of the observed face.
What are these factors?
Within any TF (Time Frame) a face will express an unlimited number of the following images:
differing and an unlimited number of smiles;
differing frowns and an unlimited number of frowns;
changing shapes of the eyebrows;
differing intensity of the eyeballs in question;
varying the movement and speed and position of the eyeballs;
differing (opening or narrowing) of the eyelids;
changing colours of the facial skin (such as, blushing);
unlimited number of lip shapes/formations/shapes
Please, observe, that the above mentioned facial factors are also part and parcel of the Physical Factors. Why? Because they are all changes in the physical structure (including colour) of the face in question.
All these Changing Facial Physical Factors, (CFPF), in turn, affect the Observer who is watching the person/face in front of him.
Why? For simplicity’s sakes, obviously, when the (Op) frowns for one (TF), and then smiles in the next prescribed Time Frame (TF), then that would affect (to whatever degree) the Observer’s emotions (unless, of course, if he were completely emotionally detached from the Observed Person, which is not our case!)
Now, let us take a prescribed Time Frame for the situation between Observer and the Observed Person. Let us say 30 minutes of (TF).
Within that half an hour, we can say, that the (Op) expresses an unquantifiable number of emotions, that we have called the Changing Facial Physical Factors (CFPF).
These unlimited number of (CPFF) themselves can and contradict each other in terms of the meanings of emotions intended, or unintended. Again, for simplicity’s sake, I’ll use the frown-smile example, as an expression being produced by the (Op) that produce two contradictory emotions on the part of the face being perceived and by the perceiver himself.
Therefore, the unlimited number of the (CFPF), within the 30 minute (TF), produces – again, for simplicity’s sake here, we shall reduce the number of mental interactions between (Ob) and the (Op) to the minimum – an unlimited number of contrasting and related expressions, on the part of the Observed Person (Op), which in turn, create an unlimited number of contrasting and related emotions on the part of the Observer (Ob).
Without wanting to go too deeply into this subject, it must be stated that in every human mental inter-actions, there is the (?+/?-), or the Awareness Factor. Clearly, given the circumstances the Awareness Factor (AF) affects the concentration and how much the (Ob) is reading the images being presented before him. In other words, it must be remembered, that the (?+/?-) is constantly changing on the part of the (Ob) with respect to the Observed Person (Op).
So, now given the (TF) and given the constantly changing (AF) of the Observer (Ob), and given the fact that within the 30-minute TF of the situation we are discussing, that the Observed Person’s (Op) face has, as we have seen, an unlimited number of Changing Facial Physical Factors (CFPF), the net result for the Observer will be a mixed, contrasting, and comparable jumble of images, which in turn, produce differing emotions on the part of the (Ob).
Furthermore, and here we come to the discussion of the vision of the face in question: the Observer will also see/view/experience an unlimited number of mutually contrasting and comparable images and visions of the one face in question, within the 30 minute Time Frame.
This, in turn, results, in no sense of a united, one, clear cut image of the face of the Observed Person in question.
Therefore, we say:
Mt1) Ob { (Op {gav1 + gav2 + gav3 + … ?} ) ) ?
Mt2) (Ob { (Op { ? gav + … + ?}) } ) TF 30 minutes.
The above states the following in proper language:
And, with respect to the above mental transactions, MT 1-2:
In (MT1), we see that the Observer (Ob) who is observing the Observed Person (Op) (his face), he sees, within the Time Frame (TF) of 30 minutes, he sees an unlimited number of contradictory and comparable images of that face. Thus, the sum total (?), or (MT2), of the visions of the face (gav) being observed eventually adds up to whatever the (Ob) may feel, or react or experience from the summation of this multitude of images.
Next, we go on to the mental transactions, (MT3-4).
Mt3) (Ob { ( Op { Em1 + Em2 + Em3 + … + ?} ) ) ?
Mt4) (Ob ( { ( Op { ? Em + … + ? } ) } ) TF 30 minutes.
The Observer also experiences and reacts to the changing and contrasting physical images he sees in the face of the Observed Person. Thus, the (Ob) experiences an endless number of Emotions (Em) from the changing expressions of the face of the (Op), which is (Mt3). Next, all these changing expressions, add up to a totality, (?) that eventually produce in the (Ob) a certain reaction, and vision of the face in question.
Therefore;
Mt5) (Ob { ( Op { ? Em + ? gav} ) } ) TF 30 minutes ?
Mt6) ( Ob { Op { ( Em + gav) }?+/-?^) } ) TF 30 minutes.
What does the above mean?
In (Mt5) we see that our (Ob) sees a multitude (?) of Emotions (Em) and a multitude of images (gav) of the face in question. Remember, that the each of the Emotions and the images (gav) are conflicting, contrasting, and comparable in their attributes.
In (Mt6), we see the final mental sum equation of what impression + image + emotion that our Observer sees and experiences when experiencing the Time Frame of the 30 minutes that he had with him.
What is, then, the sum total of the mental sum equations that are so fluidly formed in the mind of the Observer?
In (Mt6) that (Ob) finally, within the 30 minutes (TF) sees, and experiences a TOTALITY of the:
Mt7) (? ( Em + gav ) ).
But what does that tell us? Actually, it does not tell us enough.
We need more precision here and that is why, we add that our Observer (Ob) felt, or experienced that the face that he had been facing for half an hour could have been: both positive (+) or (-), and/or a multitude of mixtures of both (+) and (-) together.
That is why, I left the mental equation open to be, either (+) and/or (-).
Now what that ‘totality’ of the impressions and images and emotions and feelings that the (Ob) had during his 30 minute (TF) can be, as have said emotionally and visually anything – precisely because, our simplistic example, has been a generic one.
So, where does all this leave us with our question: what is the ‘reality’ of the precise image of the face of a particular person?
It tells us, that within any time frame, the image and picture and vision that we perceive a face to be plus the emotions we feel from the face we are looking at, due to the (CFPF) creates such an unlimited number of images and emotions, such that there cannot possibly be a ‘one’, ‘unified’ clear-cut face before us.
Notice, I have here deliberately specified only two affecting factors that affect the mind and vision of the Observer (Ob) who is viewing the Observed Person (Op). Only the image (gav) and emotions (Em).
It is precisely the Summation (?) of this intricate, contradictory and comparable mixture of the Summation of the Images (?gav) + the Summation of the Emotions (?Em) that eventually create the final ‘Temporary Reality’ of what the perceived face is seen as.
It is fundamentally important to understand the final, perceived vision of the face in question (within the 30 minute TF) will and can and may change within the next specified time frame.
The next question, will have to be, this: given all these conflicting and ever changing images and emotions and changing Awareness Factors, then how come we humans can actually ‘recognise’ any particular face?
Isn’t there a contradiction there?
Ayad Gharbawi
