Perception is reality
Noteworthy: In the past, being determined consciousness. For Kenneth Angst, appearance now takes precedence over being.
Column In the past, being determined consciousness. For Kenneth Angst, appearances take precedence over reality today. Everything used to be clearer and more manageable. Because in the past, you simply were what you were. Or rather, what you had, what you could do, what you said. In old Marxist terms: consciousness was determined not by appearances, but by being. Self-perception and the perception of others were dictated by sheer reality, by bare facts and figures, by the brutal (over)power of the factual. It was difficult to fool oneself and others, to (de)deceive oneself or them. You were what you were. No less, but unfortunately never more, and we have long since said goodbye to clarity. Legions of journalists, advertisers, photographers, filmmakers and PR specialists are waging a concerted war against the dictates of the disdainful reality. Today, reality is no longer simply accepted and depicted, but artfully selected, interpreted and staged. "Communication society" essentially means nothing other than the "emancipation of appearance from reality". What is perceived is increasingly becoming true. Or to put it another way: perception is reality!
This progress has little in common with lies and deception. The sheer diversity, availability and accessibility of information about anything and everything ensures this. Under such conditions, it is no longer possible to manipulate, suppress or deny. The postmodern dictate Perception is reality is also extremely demanding, as it means nothing other than that today all organizations and their representatives are dependent on their respective environment believing and trusting them.
However, this does not happen by itself. If you want people to trust and invest in you today, you have to take care of how you are perceived, interpreted and evaluated in the relevant environment. To do this, you have to expose, position, integrate and engage.
Part of this communicative balancing act is that it raises hopes and aspirations that somewhat exceed one's own possibilities. Today, however, this is not only allowed, but almost expected. After all, the discrepancy between perception and reality is the key characteristic of our communication society. However, one's own reality must never openly contradict the staged perception of others. Anyone who forgets this will inevitably fall, be punished, disenchanted and scandalized. Just as in the past not everything was good, but at best simpler, today some things are better, but everything is also more complicated and riskier.
> Kenneth Angst worked in the editorial offices of NZZ and Weltwoche before taking over the management of Mediapolis Zurich in 2002.
This progress has little in common with lies and deception. The sheer diversity, availability and accessibility of information about anything and everything ensures this. Under such conditions, it is no longer possible to manipulate, suppress or deny. The postmodern dictate Perception is reality is also extremely demanding, as it means nothing other than that today all organizations and their representatives are dependent on their respective environment believing and trusting them.
However, this does not happen by itself. If you want people to trust and invest in you today, you have to take care of how you are perceived, interpreted and evaluated in the relevant environment. To do this, you have to expose, position, integrate and engage.
Part of this communicative balancing act is that it raises hopes and aspirations that somewhat exceed one's own possibilities. Today, however, this is not only allowed, but almost expected. After all, the discrepancy between perception and reality is the key characteristic of our communication society. However, one's own reality must never openly contradict the staged perception of others. Anyone who forgets this will inevitably fall, be punished, disenchanted and scandalized. Just as in the past not everything was good, but at best simpler, today some things are better, but everything is also more complicated and riskier.
> Kenneth Angst worked in the editorial offices of NZZ and Weltwoche before taking over the management of Mediapolis Zurich in 2002.
