1. Have this slide showing as students filter in
Have this slide showing as students filter in. Play an enjoyable piece of music preferably themed to opinions tbc

2. Explain how we often surround ourselves with people who share our views. Is this the easy option? How challenging to ourselves would it be if we opened ourselves up to others challenging us.

3. We all have opinions and they are often all very different.

4. Sometimes they are very strong – this can be good or bad…

5. Cesc Fabregas Barcelona
Are we destined to follow our parents in what they think and do? Is this a kind of brainwashing? Is this a good thing?

6. Perhaps this happened with Brooklyn Beckham

7. How did it end up? Are they carbon copies? Was this nature or nurture?

8. This a father and daughter. Both from same political party in France
This a father and daughter. Both from same political party in France. Both were and are leaders of their party. Coincidence?

9. I was massively influenced by my friendship group
I was massively influenced by my friendship group. Music, fashion culture – we all seemed to like very similar things.

10. My brother was (and is) a huge influence on me – politics; philosophy; music – where were my own independent views?

11. And obviously my parents shaped me hugely

12. I went to the same church as them and believed in the same God

13. Voted for the same party (and still do)

14. Read the same paper (and still do) – where was my independent thought?

15. Follow the things we like so we see the things we like
Follow the things we like so we see the things we like. Do we challenge our opinions or are they confirmed and strengthened by others. Is this lazy? Is this ‘fixed’ mindset? Should we break out of this?

16. Do you open your own eyes? Do you look at the world through Facebook?

17. It’s a bit like a prism. An event happens (light) and the medium we look at it through (different newspapers; parental/ family/ friend influence) affects the way we think about it.

18. Another way of looking at it is that we all have a different type of lens that we look at the world through.

19. US propaganda poster changed US opinion of Hitler – brainwashing?

20. They made Hitler out to be a cannibal. Why
They made Hitler out to be a cannibal. Why? To control people’s opinions.

22. Hitler did the same.

24. They altered the lens through which their people looked at the world.

25. It also happened here recently – pro EU poster.

26. BARRY – SHOULD WE SHOW THIS POSTER AS AN EXAMPLE? TOO CONTENTIOUS?

27. If picked up this paper on June 23rd – would we have voted leave?

28. What about this one?

29. I want you to look at this. What is YOUR opinion on this? Think quietly.

30. And now this – what does this image reveal about modern relationships?

31. Ultimately, we need to work our hardest to avoid being other people
Ultimately, we need to work our hardest to avoid being other people. To be as independent and fiercely aware of when others are trying to control and shape our views. It’s OK to share similar views as others, so long as you have thought long and hard about how you have arrived at that view.

32. And finally, something to think about.