Clockwise or counterclockwise?

The Dancing Lady is a fine optical illusion: she moves both clockwise and counterclockwise, depending on how your brain views her.

Blink once or twice, and you can change her direction. However, most people have an innate tendency to see her moving in one or the other.

People's Cube uses this image as the basis for a discussion about the subjectivity of perception.

Unfiltered, unprocessed perception isn't truth, but we already know that.

Posted by Bird Dog in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 07:21 | Comments (28) | Trackbacks (0)

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She's showing her back, heading NNW.

#1 Leag on 2007-11-12 09:13 (Reply)

her lower foot, the foot in contact with the earth, is spinning clockwise, right? Unless you're inside the earth, looking out.

#2 buddy larsen on 2007-11-12 09:33 (Reply)

Yeah, it's obviously clockwise.

#3 Clubbeaux on 2007-11-12 09:58 (Reply)

No she is not - but you are proving the point.

#4 BD on 2007-11-12 10:10 (Reply)

I've tried to blink, do whatever to get her moving counter-clockwise but can't do it.

#5 Clubbeaux on 2007-11-12 10:28 (Reply)

So have I--have returned to it several times. She is always turning to her own right. BD, are you ever seeing her turn toward her left? If so, I'm like, mystified, dude.

#5.1 buddy larsen on 2007-11-12 10:39 (Reply)

I can see it either way, if I blink or turn away.

#5.1.1 BD on 2007-11-12 10:46 (Reply)

Stare at the shadow of her foot for a moment and you can make her change directions pretty easily.

#6 Jephnol on 2007-11-12 10:49 (Reply)

okay, thru all sorts of eyeball gymnastics, i can make her turn to her left for a few revolutions--but only in my periphery--not when i stare directly. Hmmm. Cube is right--this has ramifications for politics, LOL!

#6.1 buddy larsen on 2007-11-12 11:08 (Reply)

I see what you mean, but I can't get her to turn to her left. I even tried using my finger to describe a left-turning circle in accordance with the shadow, but it doesn't work.

I can see those 3-D images in those Magic Eye books even.

#6.2 Clubbeaux on 2007-11-12 11:36 (Reply)

Okay, I got it -- I moved the picture so only her legs below the knees are visible, got them going counterclockwise, then slowly scrolled up to the whole picture and she was going counterclockwise. And then she'd switch. Pretty cool.

#7 Clubbeaux on 2007-11-12 11:47 (Reply)

She's evidently not wearing any clothes, so in my mind's eye she's immediately pictured going up and down. So mark me down for: C

#8 roger de hauteville on 2007-11-12 13:13 (Reply)

for shame!

#8.1 buddy larsen on 2007-11-12 14:19 (Reply)

Try I as might, she only turns right. Has nice breasts for sure.

#9 bob on 2007-11-12 14:40 (Reply)

I did it--but, I don't know how I did it! However, my beloved who is the one who sees in this family can't make it happen yet. He may be distracted of course!

#10 apple pie on 2007-11-12 14:50 (Reply)

Y'all are so poetic:

I can see it either way,
If I blink or turn away.

Try as I might
She only turns right.

Has nice breasts for sure.

So I offer this Lady Dancer haiku:

Lady Dancer twirls
Lovely pixels, winds of change --
When left becomes right.

#11 Clubbeaux on 2007-11-12 15:39 (Reply)

eggggscellent. now we need a limerick!
:-D

#11.1 buddy larsen on 2007-11-12 16:56 (Reply)

For Buddy, anything:

-Her nakedness had the boys awed
-But her visual cues were all flawed
-To some she spun left
-To some she spun right
-Just a run-of-the-mill dizzy nude broad

#12 roger de hauteville on 2007-11-12 17:09 (Reply)

too good! ok, me:

she came this morn an illusion
an optical graphic delusion

what seems a girl in
the act of twirlin'

is in fact a left-right brain collusion.

#12.1 buddy larsen on 2007-11-12 22:59 (Reply)

OT..but this seems to be the watercooler area..congrats to MF..mentioned in today's blog "View from 1776"..the article on collectivization.

http://www.thomasbrewton.com/

great job MF ! !

#13 Habu on 2007-11-12 17:15 (Reply)

When I first looked at the 'ballerina' her spin was counterclockwise. I then read the sidebar and looked again. She was now spinning clockwise and has been for each subsequent look. Will she ever reverse for me??

Garry

#14 Garry on 2007-11-12 20:42 (Reply)

yep--maybe if you blink hard and fast about ten times while focusing on on the down foot, she'll reverse just when the up leg crosses over the down leg.

I've always liked optical illusions and have studied a-many of 'em --but this is the best, the best ever, it plumb takes the cake. It had me grinnin' like a wave on a slop bucket.

#14.1 buddy larsen on 2007-11-12 22:53 (Reply)

Wheewee! I can do this really well:

Lower your eyes to someplace midway between the bottom of her picture and the top of your keyboard. Just so you can barely see her IF you look at her. Then don't look at her--don't focus on anything and swing your head left, and swing your head right-nice smooth medium gait! Wow she turns left, right, left, right--neve does a complete turn!

YEAH!

#15 apple pie on 2007-11-12 23:01 (Reply)

I have seen her change direction, without blinking. Me thinks you play games.

However, when she stopped turning, and faced me and asked if I'd like to come over for dinner, that's when I realized I had started thinking not only with the other side of the brain, but with the other head completely. Shame on me!

#16 alphonso johnson on 2007-11-13 09:08 (Reply)

In my group the right handed person sees her counter-clockwise and can't change it. I'm a lefty (handed only, not politically), initially saw her clockwise, she quickly reversed and reversed again. I must be the edge.

#17 John on 2007-11-13 09:27 (Reply)

My wife and I see her differently at the same time.

Take that as you will.

#18 Clubbeaux on 2007-11-13 10:32 (Reply)

good test --does one of you need to be ''right''? If not, congratulations you lucky (or smart, or hard-working) sonofagun!
:-D

#18.1 buddy larsen on 2007-11-13 12:11 (Reply)

Lucky. Extremely.

#19 Clubbeaux on 2007-11-13 14:47 (Reply)

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Monday, November 12. 2007

Clockwise or counterclockwise?