Consider that one day you discover a painting you’ve never seen before but which you decide is a masterpiece.

The content of the artwork may have been what initially caught your attention, but the context in which you found it will play a big role in how you respond to it.

If you first discovered the painting online, your first instinct might be to look up the artist, his background, his other paintings, artists he was inspired by, etc.

This will give you more knowledge about the painting.

But if you discovered the painting in a museum on a quiet day, your first reaction might be to stop and examine the painting itself in further detail for what could be quite a long time of concentrated attention.

This will give you a better appreciation of the painting.

Then again, if you discovered the painting in an art class, you may have associated it so much with the community of people who discovered and discussed it with you that you feel like it has become nostalgic and part of your identity in some way.

This will give you a stronger connection to the painting.

The painting is the same in each scenario, but the subsequent reaction, impact, and perceived value gained is quite different.

So, what reaction is encouraged by the environment in which you present your content?