Module 4: Self in Selfie
Sociologist Stuart Hall lists reflective approach as one of the three concepts in using language—or in this case, images—to represent context or meaning. Here, nuance can lie in an object, person’s idea or experience, or an event and the language or photos used mirror this already existing meaning. However, my selfies are only two-dimensional and do not reflect who I am as a person, complete with my personality, attitudes, beliefs, and even something concrete as my height. A self-taken photo usually only showcases what one considers their best angle, what makes them subjectively look “good” to oneself and maybe potentially others if they plan to publicly post it and these are techniques I use in taking selfies as well.
If I decide to go barefaced or put on makeup, if I’m wearing something a bit more formal or casual, how the lighting in the place looks, the aesthetic appeal of my background, and which is my “best” side are some of the many factors I take into consideration when taking a selfie. And putting in all this effort all for a still image that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of my whole being seems very superficial. It only serves as a visual of my face from a strategically positioned distance and doesn’t fully describe or depict me.