The photo’s black and white nature have the viewer under the assumption that it’s from another generation. It is. Photo courtesy of freshmen Lucas Reinhart.
Looking through San Luis Obispo High School yearbooks of years past, most can’t help but to notice how much older the students look from today. Most appear older to current students. Expressions decided to ask students why they believe that they appear older; as well as displaying the factors that change student’s perception.
“I think they [look older] because of the style and look of people from that time is now considered vintage, which makes them look older, although that is just my philosophy,” said freshman Winslow Liggett.
What was once seen as normalcy is now perceived as formal or vintage, which might shape one’s view of age as the passage of time creates rifts in the way people view each other.
“Probably because back then they worked younger than we do,” said freshman Avinalynn Martinez.
That kind of responsibility could easily change the way in which someone carries themselves, or even how they dress or appear. American work culture as well as what could be higher responsibility. Definitely a compelling theory as to why students from that era appeared that way.
“It might be the way the photos were taken too; everyone looks more serious, and there’s no color, so it feels like they’ve lived through more,” said freshman Aden Kincaid.
The black and white colors seriously seem to add years to the yearbook. Photography definitely acts as a way to help people perceive time.
Whether it’s the style of clothing worn, the photography, or the working culture of a working 1950s America, something about the 1950s makes students look like they’ve might’ve already finished college.
Today’s Tigers might be more expressive or relaxed, while the students in those yearbooks absolutely appear to have somewhere important to be. In the end, Tigers are still Tigers.
Perhaps growing up just looked different back then.
Source: mcgill.ca