Perhaps it's the way my mind works, but I don't even see particular need to question in this case. What I observed when I watched the clip -- an older man walking in front, talking, followed by an older woman holding her hand to her face. As the older man passes out of the picture the woman pauses, re-orients, and is talking. I therefore concluded that she as (1) talking to the man in front of her because she was clearly focused on him and (2) holding something to her ear. Older person, holding something to ear? Immediate conclusion: the lady has difficulty hearing and is using a device to assist her. From there it's pondering the technology involved -- my first thought was an ear trumpet, but then I recalled that vacuum transistors were certainly in use by this time. Ergo, vacuum hearing aid? One quick Google of historical hearing aids, and what pops up (appropriate to the time period) but a small, flat device rather like a large cigarette case. Mystery solved. *shrugs*
Possibly my fundamental assumptions weren't swayed towards making the scene mysterious by the introductory dialogue. I looked at the film clip for what was in front of me, not for what others thought they saw. (Leaving the logic of causes completely aside. I wasn't basing it on the fundamental impossibility of a cellular phone at the time, or the possibility of a hoax, I was just looking at the scene as though I was seeing it for the first time.)
(Edited to add that I just saw your icon in your previous comment. :D Iä! Cthulhu Fhtagn! That's what I get for just reading the text and ignoring pictures!)
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dancing_serpent
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-29 02:54 am (UTC)Possibly my fundamental assumptions weren't swayed towards making the scene mysterious by the introductory dialogue. I looked at the film clip for what was in front of me, not for what others thought they saw. (Leaving the logic of causes completely aside. I wasn't basing it on the fundamental impossibility of a cellular phone at the time, or the possibility of a hoax, I was just looking at the scene as though I was seeing it for the first time.)
(Edited to add that I just saw your icon in your previous comment. :D Iä! Cthulhu Fhtagn! That's what I get for just reading the text and ignoring pictures!)