Merriam-Webster defines "normal" as "usual or ordinary: not strange." Most of us just want to fit in, adhering to social norms and expecting others to do the same. But what makes someone or something normal, and why is different often seen as wrong?

This photo film explores how we react to someone—Matthew Silver—who steps outside those norms. Notice how children and animals are the first to interact with him. Without preconceived judgments, they embrace the unfamiliar. Gradually, some adults also lower their defenses, joining him in a moment of lighthearted acceptance.