Self-Images and Selfies - 1509 Words

Self-Image and Selfies: A Freudian Analysis Chosen as Oxford dictionaries as the 2013 word of the year, the term selfie refers to â€Å"a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website. The term has made a definite mark on popular culture, the frequency usage increased over 17,000% in the 2012-2013 year (BBC News). With the rise in popularity there has also been much discussion on the possible effects of the selfie phenomena. Some articles argue that taking a high number of selfies is a sign of the increasing narcissism and self- objectification of modern culture that may lead to mental health issues such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Others suggest that taking selfies empowers the individual and promotes healthy levels of self-esteem. While viewpoints on the topic tend to be diametrically divided, a Freudian perspective provides support for both views, as the topic is more complex than it first seems. In order to understand the interest in selfies, their ramifications, and to better apply a Freudian perspective, it is important to first discuss the cultural prevalence and significance. Selfies are widespread due to the ease of access of the technology. People everywhere, from the US President and the Pope to astronauts in space to elementary school children have the ability to capture photos of themselves and have been involved in selfies. The popularity of the practice isShow MoreRelatedEssay Selfie and Self Image 1114 Words   |  5 Pagessits in front of this generation allows people to be self-absorbed easily. With the use of applications like Instagram, Snap Chat, and Facetime, twitter, Facebook, and other smart phone applications; these mechanisms allow pop culture to fall into this egotistical state of mind. When these social media sites and technology are being used to create these selfies it causes a blurred line between being self-absorbed and working on the self-imag e of an individual. One of major uses of the word selfieRead MoreSocial Media And Its Impact On Society924 Words   |  4 Pagesmocking it or participating it. As selfies get more popular the beauty standard are impossible to reach for ordinary young women. Every individual have different perspective of what self-portrait present. In fact, based on my own experience and the experience of classmate, I cannot deny the boost in confidence level that selfies bring. People, who were often unexpressive and distrustful of their own positive trait in the real world, often finds their worth through selfies. This is the case of Samuel NgureRead MoreThe Social Aspect Of A Self Image1746 Words   |  7 Pagesbe the modern approach to self-portraiture with â€Å"More then 1 Million Selfie’s taken each day†. The global popularity of this ritual of social networking has even had a song dedicated to this trend, symbolising of an era of youth culture. The ‘bandwagon’ mentality fashioned from this phenomenon of a popular trend, in effect attracts greater popularity as a result of people doing something, not based on its merit, but based on what others do. The concept of a self-image is not a new idea as theRead MoreVisual And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders990 Words   |  4 Pagesof a selfie and the potentially threatening psychology behind a picture that to many seems harmless. Low Self-Esteem Due to the forever evolving growth of social media, and the portrayal of how the world perceives beauty low self-esteem is a common mental health disruption. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not recognize low-self esteem as a diagnosis, yet low self-esteem can be the foundation to depression, anxiety, ADHD, codependence, failed relationships and acceptanceRead MoreThe First American Self Portrait Photo862 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst American self-portrait photo produced in 1839 was of Robert Cornelius using a daguerreotype, who took a photo of himself outside of his family’s store in Philadelphia, PA† (Rashi). Furthermore, the first self-portrait photo that was tagged with #selfie appeared in 2004. The image was posted on Flicker which is a photo-sharing website (Rashi). The term selfie also mentioned by Jim Krause who is a photographer in 2005. In Jim Krause’s book, he defined selfies as, â€Å"one of those images that is takenRead MoreSocial Network Sites and Social Interaction1403 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Literature Review Human beings are social beings and as such, social interaction with others is crucial to one’s definition, and perception of the self. Social interaction happens everyday, and there are many components that work collaboratively in order to make these encounters flow in a smooth manner (Goffman). Everyone engages in what Goffman called impression management (IM) and this is which means that every participant in a social interaction defines the situation with the informationRead MoreAnalysis Of Jacque Lacan s The Mirror Stage1644 Words   |  7 PagesMirror Stage for the second time this semester I started thinking about my own younger brother’s introduction to the mirror a few years ago. As I was trying to remember this interaction, I came to the realization that his first interaction with his â€Å"self† wasn’t with a mirror at all- it was actually with an iPhone’s front facing camera- used as a form of distraction while he sat in his highchair. T his made start thinking about the fact that the recent generations are the first who do not need a mirrorRead MoreWhat Gives People Me Take A Selfie?1488 Words   |  6 PagesBarack Obama, the President of the United States, take selfies. A selfie is basically a picture of yourself, a self-portrait that is usually shared on any social networking site. By just switching to front camera with just a tap, anyone is able to take a selfie. It is a popular trend and is a part of our modern day culture that a lot of us engage without a second thought, as if it is as much as who we are or as the clothes that we wear. Selfies seems to have made its way into the social norms. YoungRead MoreAssociation Among Self Photography And Self Esteem, And Narcissism1218 Words   |  5 PagesAssociation Among Self-Photography and Self-Esteem, and Narcissism The procreation of social media in daily life has caused various questions about how individuals display themselves in these platform. The recent studies explored the association between self-esteem and the posting of self-photographs on a social media networking site such as Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. Social media arenas have become strikingly popular in the past decade serving the varied communicative intentions. DespiteRead MoreHow Does Technology Affect Our Lives?849 Words   |  4 Pages most teenagers just can t seem to put their phones down and I ve even seen them out to dinner or in a class, playing on their phones and not being in the moment. This can cause all types of mental disorders or addiction. We develop of sense of self worth and esteem based on perceptions of those who we interact with on a daily basis. This has all changed since social media has come into play, we are interacting with thousands of people who we don t even physically see or encounter. Their observations