The Individual behind the mask

The visual representation of oneself can have endless meanings. Within taking photos and allowing others to see you in a view you began to let the world in on your life. The selfie is a publicly know act of using a camera and taking a photo of ones self shoulder/waist length up smiling or making a silly face . The visual representation of a selfie can hide the many meanings that can matter the most. Within the visual culture selfies have been used world wide as a way of showing the world the power of self image. The selfie however can give off narrow ending tunnel of meanings about someone within a photo . It can be portrayed as happiness, but in a sense the individual can be into a deep depression without anyone knowing. Making assumptions based on a selfie can give a misinterpretation of a person. On the other hand the self portrait is a portrait designed to reveal or imitate something personal about the individual. The view of a self portrait allows a individual to be more personal within the photo and reveal possible imperfections within. The self portrait allows a person`s inner self to be revealed and exposed to the open world. It can help the outsiders understand a individual as a whole and fully understand them with the information the person reveals about themselves.

Within my selfie I represent my self to be pleasing to the eyes of others. I've always as a person never waned to go anywhere or let anyone see me at my worst because I am a very protective person of my own feelings . Within taking the selfie I allow myself to be more open and I took the picture honestly to get a review or a response from others as to if it was a good or bad picture. Within a selfie to me it gives a one sided view of myself . The image can communicate about myself to others that I am a well rounded and pretty individual. It represents me in a sense that I keep my self well groomed , beauty wise. It shows another a part of me that is correct but isn't totally true . I personally like to sit around the comfort of my home as natural as I can be . This photo allows others to see what I want them to see and how I would like to be represented in there eyes. Related to Sontag(1977) she states " It means putting one self into a relation to the world that feels like knowledge". In reference to this quote the power of a selfie can share a personal connection with the world ,it can give others a understandable situation and connect with people on a deeper level. Within my connection I allow the world to learn knowledge about me based on my decision making and how I represent myself within the photo.

Within the context of my self portrait I feel that it represents me in my fullest form . The photo communicates to me that I like to come outside looking nice. And within the photo I have never been a good full bodied photo taker so I am standing weird so it shows the weakness of mine that can be portrayed to the world that I may not be a good photo taker . I have always been pretty self conscious about my body shape/weight so I don`t tend to take full bodied pictures most of my pictures are selfies. Personally I don`t actually like or feel comfortable taking full bodied photos due to being really self conscious. And with being self conscious and not taking the full bodied photos it affect how I take them therefore looking pretty awkward in them. Within Plato`s Cave the author says "How could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads,"(Sontag , 1977). The connection to my photo is because I never let the outside world (Social Media) see me this way they also have seen my shadows( Selfies) and never see the real and full me. I allowed to what I wanted them to see and it would never be at my worst.

The differences of my self portrait and my selfie is very distinctive ,because the selfie is only a upper bodily view which is how I would prefer to take most of my photos and videos. The more major differences is within the representation of my selfie in the photo I am trying to look pleasing to my viewers in a way that I would want them to notice me. But in difference to the self portrait it is more laid back and comfortable. The image of the selfie in my eyes communicates to me that there a'lot of effort being put into making photos for others to see . Also that the society we live in is based on the image and looks of a person . It also communicates that us as human beings want to look our best no matter what in the eyes of others.

Within the two photos , the comparison of both is that I want to look presentable ,but the shift between the photos are that in one I am more self conscious while the other I would want them to see and be judged. Within other differences inside the photo is the lighting inside the light of the selfie the photo it is well illuminated and you can see every aspect of my surrounding and my facial features. There was also a filter that is put onto the picture to make my skin color pop and glow more . I also put more effect into putting on mascara eyelashes and lip gloss within the photo . I wanted the picture to have a positive response about it which it did. The self portrait doesn't have a very distinctive lighting besides the light from the flash . The photo represents me in the most natural way possible with my natural appearance. In the photo I didn't have to smile a certain way or stand a certain way, but within my mind was thinking that the photo would not come out correctly which is the self conscious aspect of the self portrait.

Within this assignment between the selfie and the self portrait it has shown me that once you have set the standards for others to see you have to maintain those standards . This new glorification is due to the new and improved shaming/ Cancel culture . If you post a bad picture it can possibly go viral within seconds and it can feel like your whole life is ending. The media now is glorified on memes of funny and outrageous things even mean and hurtful things, so once you step off your peddle stool someone will be running to claim your spot. Within this assignment its communicated to me that I do not have to try as hard as I do to please others ,I can be as open and free as I would like to and that I dont have to follow any standards and uphold them. Life is about fun and happiness and Im going to live and rejoice in it.

Works Cited

Sontag, Susan. “In Plato’s Cave.” On Photography, Dell Publishing, 1977, pp. 3-24. Composition Flipped, writing101.net/flip/wp-content/resources/documents/sontag-in-platos-cave.pdf.