So What’s Up with ‘#TheDress’?

The recent #TheDress sensation has created a common thread (and a viral one) among worldwide citizens by posing an intriguing question – How can so many people view the same object in different ways?

Color theorists everywhere debate is it black and blue?…or gold and white? …or brown and blue?!?

TheDressTumblePic

First, the subject of this whole phenomenon is based on a photo, not a video, so there are immediate questions of lighting, overexposure, the device it’s being viewed on, etc. It was originally posted by 21-year-old singer Caitlin McNeill from the tiny Scottish island of Colonsay with the comment “guys please help me – is this dress white and gold, or blue and black? Me and my friends can’t agree and we are freaking the f#%* out.”

TheDressTumblePic-Different

Many people love a fascinating investigation (e.g. Sherlock Holmes, etc.) and I’m sure your encounter will involve several different opinions all over the place this weekend. The big key here is that it’s a shared experience (even if you see different things) that people who have encountered it are weighing in on. Weekend challenge!! – find someone who has not seen this picture yet.

Our family loves the National Geographic television series Brain Games and this one is right up their alley – it’s one of the best explanations I have seen. What are your thoughts?

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