Private becoming Public
I find it interesting that some of us have not created a profile for blogger (myself included). Manovich discusses the modern desire to “externalize the mind” on p.60-61. He writes that “What before had been a mental process, a uniquely individual state, now became part of the public sphere” (60). Perhaps this concept explains our decisions whether or not to publish personal information on the web. In a way, publishing a profile on the web allows us to become the center of attention for a short bit. It’s a small claim to fame. I recently noted on Yahoo, that people can create up to 5 different profiles. My question then becomes one of the trustworthiness of such profiles (not uncommon I’m sure). Can reality be accurately portrayed? Or, perhaps creating different personas is merely an escape from reality for some people. Is this a way we can create an ideal definition of who we are in a highly public sphere?
4 Comments:
Is this a way we can create an ideal definition of who we are in a highly public sphere? Is it possible to do that at all, in an online or offline environment, both of which are highly public? To shine up an old chestnut, each of us are a colection of different people; you are a different person in class than you are, say, with your significant other or your boss, or when you are haggling with a used van salesman. No identity is "trustworthy" in the sense of being genuinely representative of "you," I would argue. "You" are a fluid synthesis. Different online identities may attempt to crystalize these personas, but they are as divergent and pourous as those we establish in routine personal contact. They are, however, constructed differently, it would seem.
1:10 PM
The sense of a "small claim to fame" is intriguing, particularly in considering it across the sense of frames and enframing that we discussed in class...
Each selph, each frame, each laying a claim to fame...
And yet, there is a sense, even in the creation of these different personas, that some of the personas would stay out of the spotlight... would prefer not to portrayed by the questions of a Blog or Yahoo account.
And yet, there are many people that enjoy such profiles. There is one that circulates with all types of questions concerning favorite movies to favorite vacation destinations, and I remember for a time my wife's youngest sister would send a new profile each week... slight variations, particularly with regards to music...
The word "profile" is one that has gained particularly currency, has it not?
There are sorts of ethical questions concerning profiling.
Profile... there is the sense, too, of silhouettes...
Here's a playful question:
If one were to compose a 'Silhouette', rather than a 'Profile', how could they be said to differ? . . .
8:19 PM
I'll jump in on the statement ... "perhaps creating different personas is merely an escape from reality for some people." The opportunity to create different personas on YAHOO is for me an opportunity to stretch reality - to make more realit(ies). Escaping doesn't occur to me as much as exploring. Though I understand the thinking that would see this as deceptive, I tend for myself to see it more as in harmony with the play of multiplicities.
9:03 PM
One more thought ... this in regard to the matter of trustworthiness. It seems this issue underwrites a recent/current "blog spat" picked up as a story by the BBC. At question is the authenticity of a blog published by three Iraqi brothers (in Iraq) to report the US occupation with a more positive spin, contending that the "media" were not telling the whole story. Apparently allegations that the CIA were behind the blog have been flooding the site, allegations that gained some currency when it was discovered that two of the brothers showed up at a conference on blogging that was recently held at Harvard. It's a quick read if you're interested in following this kind of thing.
9:38 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home