The Power of the Gaze

I wanted to touch on the theme of eye contact we covered in class.  I’ve noticed that eye contact is everywhere.  People always seem to be talking about eye contact: making it, having it, avoiding it, being angry when it is avoided…etc.  Are the eyes the window to the soul? I suppose we’d first have to decide whether or not we have souls.  But let’s say we do, let’s say that there really is an inherent power in that ability to look someone in the eye and recognize them and have them recognize you and to have both of you realize this is a mutual recognition.  O.K. it’s powerful, but why?

Often times in movies there is that moment when two characters’ eyes meet across a crowded room and instantly are drawn to each other.  This is so cliche and yet we play right into it.  This seems to be what we are looking for in life.  We want that feeling when the moment of recognition makes everything else seem to fade away.  When someone denies us the eye contact we want we get mad.  Have you ever heard a girl lament and say, “he wouldn’t even look me in the eye”? I think this is a key to understanding the power of the gaze.  You can make someone from across a room turn and look at you if you stare long enough.  People can feel your eyes on them.  Eye contact can be uncomfortable.  Are we leaving our souls open and vulnerable when we look someone in the eye? Are our thoughts more visible on our faces? Is it harder to lie? I think the answer is “Yes.”  So the more interesting question to me is: why do we allow that vulnerability to happen?