One of the most common misconceptions is that people mistake cause and effect as interchangeable. A cause is often seen as an effect, or an effect is mistaken for a cause. The most well-known phenomenon demonstrating this is the halo effect — a situation where specific characteristics of an object influence how we judge other traits. For example, you might like that person’s character because you like one of their qualities, not because you like the person as a whole. This misunderstanding is a common causal error. If you like someone, you tend to think everything about them is good; if you don’t like someone, you might overlook or dislike everything about them. It’s not that you dislike the person for one reason and like them for another—it’s simply how the human heart works. Gaining someone’s favor, therefore, can be an arduous and painful process. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
A painting embodies both media and authority. The mural in the medieval cathedral catered to the illiterate, who could not read the Bible. Access to written information was granted solely to priests, representing a form of power. The Reformation diminished this authority. New forms of media transform power dynamics, either generating or redistributing power. This influence shapes our everyday experiences. Writing, photography, and graphics continue to affect power structures. To understand the shifts in power, you must engage in a blend of art and business. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”