Answers


1. Part A

(i) What is Hanlon's Razor?


Simply put, Hanlon’s Razor states: “Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.” It's perceiving every negative response that you get from someone else as an act of malice towards you, rather than that response being the outcome of something totally different and most probably unrelated to you and/or your behaviour.


(ii) In one or two sentences, describe the potential usefulness of applying Hanlon's Razor, especially to online communications and exchanges.


Because online communication is for the largest part non-verbal, applying Hanlon’s Razor is quite useful. For example when someone is rude or reacts curt to your WhatsApp messages, it doesn’t have to be because the recipient doesn’t like you. It could just be that he or she is tired, is having a bad day or just busy with something (or someone) else.


Remember: stop thinking that everything refers to you!


2. Part C


(i) In which institution is this painting housed?


This painting, ‘Portrait of the Journalist Sylvia von Harden’ by German painter Otto Dix, is housed in the Musée National d'Art Moderne at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.


(ii) Post a photograph of the real-life person depicted in the painting. [It may be worth taking a bit of time with this one, and not rushing.]

1. Part A: Please identify the photographer of the image, as well as the model.


The photographer of this image is Helmut Newton. The model depictured is Nadja Auermann.


2. Part D, first video: Professor Gad Saad refers to assortative mating in evolutionary theory (in essence, birds of a feather flock together), which he describes as "very much the mechanism that drives mate choice".

Cite two specific examples mentioned by him of assortative mating cues that people most assort on and, in one or more sentences for each, describe their effect or how they typically work in practice (as if explaining to someone hearing about the subject for the first time).


Gad Saad mentions a few of those assertive mating cues. Two of those mating cues are exhibiting generosity and the way you dress.


1. Exhibiting generosity (or nuptial gift giving as Saad calls it): if you date a rich woman or a woman that is richer than you are and you show signs of cheapness during that date the chances of a second date with that woman are near zero. It is an important signal to a woman to show commitment by gifting her something that is costly. This is an example of a so-called Zahavian signal: for a signal to be honest it has to be costly.


2. The way you dress: the attire of a man has great effect on the likelihood of a woman saying yes to a date. The higher the status you are showing with your clothes, the higher the chance for a rendezvous with a woman.



I will confirm the task of air-drumming beyond the 1:44 mark of July Talk’s Touch tomorrow evening!

Congratulations yet again, kjg . You win Competition 52.



REFERENCE ANSWERS — COMPETITION 52


1.  Part A: Please identify the photographer of the image, as well as the model.

For anyone not entirely au fait with photography and fashion models, a reverse-image search was the most efficient first step to take here.


Photographer: Helmut Newton

Model: Nadja Auermann


This photo was part of the 'High & Mighty' editorial in the February 1995 issue of American Vogue. It would seem comparable in sensibility to the later film by David Cronenberg, Crash — released in Canada in October 1996, and in the USA and UK in Spring 1997.

While Newton himself hopefully requires zero introduction, below is a video initiation to Auermann, noteworthy for her "ice maiden visage and pole vaulter's legs":


Back to the 90's: Supermodel Nadja Auermann [5:33]
- uploaded by Runway Collection




2.  Part D, first video: Professor Gad Saad refers to assortative mating in evolutionary theory (in essence, birds of a feather flock together), which he describes as "very much the mechanism that drives mate choice".

Cite two specific examples mentioned by him of assortative mating cues that people most assort on and, in one or more sentences for each, describe their effect or how they typically work in practice (as if explaining to someone hearing about the subject for the first time).

Three examples:


(i)  Height

Heterosexual women typically seek men who are taller than they are. Saad refers to a study that looked at something like 720 couples, among which there was but one couple where the woman was taller than the man. Given this general mating preference by women, Saad goes on to explain that once a woman gets to be over a certain height, her options dramatically shrink in terms of acceptable potential suitors.


(ii)  Education

According to Saad, the more educated a woman gets, the worse her marriage prospects. Because, the more sophisticated the woman, the more she insists upon a high-status male. In other words, as a woman becomes increasingly educated, the number of men who are equally or more educated than she is decreases accordingly — with fewer and fewer men capable of meeting her expectations of a partner.

In many cases, serious educational ambition by a woman thus comes with a regrettable tradeoff: the greater likelihood of a life of solitude.


(iii)  Status exhibited by attire

Saad refers to a study using images of men and women. Their attire was manipulated and they were then divided into three sartorial categories, based on the status exhibited by the clothes they wore: (a) high status, (b) medium status, and (c) low status (e.g. a t‑shirt or service-industry uniform).

Study subjects were shown the images of members of the opposite sex, and asked six questions along the lines of:

-  Would have coffee with this person?;
-  Would you go out to dinner with them?;
-  Would you have sex with them?; and
-  Would you marry them?

Across all six relationship levels, the status of the attire of a man had a profound effect on the likelihood of female subjects responding to the questions with a "Yes": The higher the status, the more likely the women said yes.

Contrarily, the status of the attire of a woman had zero effect on the likelihood of male subjects responding to the same questions with a "Yes".



________________



Interested in also winning a collectible postcard? Or, alternatively, a collectible sticker?

If so, correctly answer the question and complete the separate task below within the next three days.



BONUS QUESTION AND TASK


1.  Part B

There is an indirect but straightforward connection between one aspect of the song/video featured in Part B of Competition 52 and the hitchhiker street piece that follows, painted circa 2005 in Archway, North London. Please explain the relationship.






2.  Part D, second video

I was surprised by how engaging I found Gabrielle Reece's manner and insights during her 2019 chat on Joe Rogan's podcast. Of particular interest to me was the subject she raises, starting at around 11:32: Well, what is success?

Take a moment and have a proper think. Next, using a marker, pen or pencil and a piece of paper, write down what success is, or would be, for you personally. Afterwards, date this piece of paper. Then do as you please with it.

No sharing required here, only an honour-system confirmation that you've completed the task.



The deadline for answering the question and confirming completion of the task is 23:59 UK time on Sunday 11 September.

Good luck.