Does the ever present and overwhelming vastness of the space of the online world ensure identity is lost in the crowd? Is it a case that we have lost the idea of a human settlement where everyone knows everyone elseâs business, and old ladies can threaten to tell your mother to stop you from doing something wrong, like playing knock down ginger, or hacking into someoneâs online banking account? Or does this incredible web of human communication expand the amount of people who could know your mother, or you for that matter?
With the endless selfies, and yes, even the blogs, it is easy to label this era as one of unparalleled narcissism. The idea that we have accomplished all the levels in Maslowâs famous âHierarchy of Needsâ and have now transcended into a strange parody of self-actualisation. Â
This poses two questions; is this behavior narcissism and is it truly some new phenomenon?
I would argue no, not necessarily. The online self, that which is a persona portrayed online, whether actively fictional or not, is complex. Itâs a new vocabulary of human interactions. Reading online voice in a space where you cannot use bodily social cues is a new way of learning to be a community member. Â
Issues of self- affirmation and acceptance based on an interactions online is a extrapolated version of these same principles in âreal lifeâ encounters... a trusted friend doesnât âlikeâ the photo you posted of your new haircut? Just as telling as a frown and a pause if sheâd have seen it for the first time in person. It is not narcissism, quite the contrary, it is a fundamental uncertainty of self, a seeking of reassurance. This reassurance might even be sought from strangers. Teenagers posting âAm I cute or uglyâ videos, or youtube channels set up and running without anyone from their social circle even knowing they exist. Friends are like the audience from a WIP theatre showing; carefully chosen and more often than not kind and affirming. Safe. Online offerings allow, metaphorical, for theatre critics. People you do not know, but in whose hands you place a judgement of your value.
Why should it matter if someone posts a picture of themselves looking great? Or of the awesome looking cake they just whipped up? Or their latest pool-lounging holiday which mainly involved them taking pictures of themselves in swim wear and drinking colourful alcohol? If it makes people feel gratified, excited, engaged, passionate, accomplished, sexy, interesting, connected, collected, intelligent, talented, or important, what is the harm? At least you can ignore their photo albums... you canât walk out of a friends hour long slideshow of their latest holiday when youâre in their living room.
Is it truly about ego, or about seeking a crowd-,a human connection, being part of something and sharing ideas? Online communities are only growing, and there have been such communities since mainstream use of the web began. Nerdfighteria, based around the vlogs of brother John and Hank Green has raised incredible amounts for charity, loaned over $1 million to third world entrepreneurs, engaged in science and the arts, build support networks and created an online space that feels comprised of people that may never have met in the physical world, but who are so likeminded it feels like a crime that there was ever a time when they wouldnât have been able to find each other. And yes, as individuals they still take selfies, write blogs, make videos about their lives, but that isnât some inherently negative, or an inherently narcissistic thing.
Back further than Elizabeth I (whose portrait painters were infamous for being lying liars who lied, by making her look like the Renaissance equivalent of Megan Fox instead of the Susan Boyle that she really was) people have equated status with external appearances and behaviours.Â
Autobiographical theatre might be seen as the ultimate theatrical equivalent; an onstage self-indulgence thatâs inherently inward looking and, letâs be honest, a bit wanky. Yet itâs a hugely popular artform, not just when itâs explicitly dealing with current affairs or controversial issues tied in with that individual story. Itâs hard... itâs giving something of yourself away, itâs trust and itâs reciprocal, or at least it can be. Maybe itâs the liveness of the space- the intimacy and immediacy that that fosters- which makes it âbetterâ than online alternatives. The obvious craft which has gone into the performance, as opposed to the streamlined editing of popular vlogs or blogs. Both have involved a huge amount of preparation, scripting, editing, lighting etc, but with theatre this is a highlighted artifice.