This summer when I had time on my hands to watch daytime TV, I tuned in to BBC Parliament to watch the appearance of James and Rupert Murdoch before the House of Commons Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee to explain the phone hacking crisis.
I observed them at the time listening closely to what they said. This week, I observed portions of the footage without sound in order to focus on the gestures. I want to see how credible they appear. James and Rupert sit next to each other at a desk. Rupert Murdoch's wife sat behind the two of them, ready to pounce. Literally.
James Murdoch:
Throughout, James has fingers crossed lightly on the table in front of him, he looks, quite intently, at whoever is speaking to show, I presume that he is taking the whole affair quite seriously. Shoulders are open and relaxed. He looks at all times engaged in the proceedings, and he talks quite quickly, responding to all questions as they are asked without hesitation. His gestures are used sparingly and are small and deliberate.
Ruper Murdoch:
He began the day claiming it was the most humble day of his career. Yet it didn't take him long to start banging his fists on the table. He probably should have realized that this was not his day to try to look like chairman of the board by power-banging on the table. It doesn't look emotional; it looks like he is a spoilt child who wants to get his way. As he reads out his statement he is slow and deliberate. His head bobs down half an inch each time he wants to make a point. I am sure that this is a natural not a choreographed movement and it is actually quite effective as a mark of sincerity.
Wendi Deng (Rupert's wife):
She sits behind both her husband and his son. The camera age permits only a view of her from knees to neck, but you can see just how tense she is by her twitching, constantly moving hands and crossing and uncrossing knees. Her alertness comes in handy when she spies a protester with a shaving foam pie approaching. At which point she athletically leaps out of her chair and nails the guy with the most convincing gesture of the day: a slap.
I agree that slight head movements or nods can be really effective. I think slight movements are sometimes more effective than exaggerated ones because the listener will perceive them but not necessarily be distracted by them, as they might be by a more elaborate gesture.
ReplyDeleteI watched an oral argument once where the attorney basically had his hands above his head almost the entire time. He was otherwise a talented advocate, but I thought the constant elaborate gesturing was distracting from what he was saying (which was quite good).
Wow I can't believe the wife attacked! How exciting. I wish I had caught some of this coverage. You would assume that Rupert would have received similar coaching in order to appear as controlled as his son.
ReplyDeleteslight movements usually appear more natural and are observed / picked up more by our subconscious than our conscience.
ReplyDeleteloved the attacking wife!
I agree that exaggerated movements tend to be distracting. Head bobbing has the potential, too. I once knew a girl who would bob her had to every beat as she played the piano; she was very sound technically, but I could never watch her play without getting distracted by her head.
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