Selfie Is the Modern Version of Memento Mori - Assignment Example

Selfie is the Modern Version of Memento Mori Selfie is the Modern Version of Memento Mori Generally, the concept of Memento Mori is considered as the attempt to view at death from a different angle by providing importance to detachment from the material world and providing importance to afterlife. To be specific, Memento Mori provides importance to the search to find out the secret behind death and to attain immortality. Similarly, the concept of ‘selfie’ or producing graphic images (say, self) and sharing the same with others is interconnected with the concept of Memento Mori. For instance, Memento Mori is the theoretical side of immortalization and selfie is the practical application of the same through graphic images/photos. Thesis statement: It is evident that selfie is the modern version of Memento Mori because the same is an innovative mode of self-expression, immortalization through art, reflects one’s inner self, symbolic of popular culture, self portrait, and can accelerate one’s self-confidence. This section is broadly divided as: self-expression, immortalization, reflection, popular culture, self portrait, and self-confidence. Self-expression One can see that social networking is an important characteristic of technological innovation within the modern world. To be specific, people use websites (say, social networking) as an innovative mode of self-expression. Eric Topol stated that, ““Selfie” was named word of the year for 2013, referring to the remarkably common practice of using one’s smartphone to take a picture of oneself and posting it onto a social networking website such as Facebook or Twitter”.1 For instance, the members of social networking websites like Facebook consider the same as an innovative mode of self-expression. The people in the modern world are in need of instant results and they do not like to ponder upon the philosophical aspect of life because they know that life is short and one must enjoy the same. Those who upload their own snaps in different websites know that others (say, viewers) never assess their potential by viewing a single selfie. Instead, a series of selfies (private domain: eating, singing, reading, public domain: at a party, at the theatre, at a social gathering) can attract the viewers and can sustain their curiosity. So, those who are interested in self-expression through social networking wisely choose different selfies related to the important moments in their life in general. To be specific, ‘netizens’ consider selfie as the cheapest mode of self-expression because it can help them to go beyond the limits of traditional modes of self-expression. Immortalization One can see that human beings try to make use of different ways to gain immortality. Still, it is difficult to escape from the clutches of death and to gain immortality. On the other side, the concept of Memento Mori tires to evaluate human life as a temporary escapade from the world of immortality. Ann Louise Luthi stated that, “With so many reminders of the imminence of death and the hazards of life, it is not surprising that memento mori (meaning ‘Remember that you must die’) jewellery should have appeared in the sixteenth century.”2 For instance, the concept of Memento Mori is based upon human belief in a supernatural world, apart from the real world of materialism. This sort of philosophical investigation of afterlife helped the people to believe that death is not final, but a secret window to a secret world. Besides, almost all the world religions and related Holy books proclaim that human beings will be judged on their own deeds. So, one can see that the concept of Memento Mori and religious ideas on immortalization are interconnected to an extent. On the other side, selfie is an innovative concept that helps human beings to ignore the superstitions related to life and to enjoy life in its fullness. When one produces a selfie with a Smartphone and uploads the same in a social networking website, that person is trying to immortalize his existence. Deborah Lupton stated that, “Some people view their content creation concerning their personal lives on sites such as Facebook as developing a ‘personal brand’.”3 So, it is evident that one among the functions of selfie in the modern world related to the concept of Memento Mori is immortalization of life with the help of photos. Reflection One can easily identify the fact that one’s character is reflected in a selfie. So, human beings show utmost interest to transform memorable moments into digital format. For instance, a less sociable person can go to a social gathering and take a selfie of his/her own and post the same in any social networking website. This reflects the person’s inner urge to get accepted by the society. Some may evaluate this sort of impersonation as fake. On the other side, that person is trying his/her level best to prove that his social circle is not limited within his private domain. Jerry Saltz stated that, “Selfies are usually casual, improvised, fast; their primary purpose is to be seen here, now, by other people, most of them unknown, in social networks.”4 When one goes through selfies posted in social networking websites, one can easily identify ‘netizens’ choose best selfies to prove their worth. Besides, selfies are to be considered as self-portraits, symbolic of one’s personality. If an individual is obsessed with health, he/she will take and post selfies related to physical fitness. If one is so interested in gaining more friends, he/she will post selfies (say, groupies) with friends. Within this scenario, selfies act the role of a mirror that captures and reflects human character and deeds. Besides, the urge to gain acceptance within one’s social circle is the grass-root level reason behind taking selfies. Popular culture The rapid change within the context of information technology, especially within mass communication, resulted in the improvisation of smart phones. Earlier, photography was limited within studios and people depended upon studios to have their photographs taken. In the modern world, studios are less important because a person with a Smartphone can transform into a photographer, but with less experience. Besides, final touch on the photographs can be done with the help of software/application like photo editor or Photoshop. Still, there will be minute errors/differences between a selfies taken by an experienced photographer and a person with a Smartphone. This scope is exploited by the people who take selfies on their own. One can see that popular culture attract youngsters and artists and singers within popular culture are considered as icons. Lucy Thomas stated that, “What we are actually seeing online is the convergence of technology with some of the most pervasive themes of Western individualistic culture: personal identity, achievement, and recognition.”5 When popular artists take selfies and post in social networking websites, youngsters consider that they must follow the same. Besides, the selfies/groupies taken by famous actors during Oscar Award Program became popular among the ‘netizens’. To be specific, the selfies taken by the icons within popular culture influences the mass because they have millions of fans and followers. Then, youngsters will consider that selfie is most important and they must act like their cultural icons. Still, this is not a negative influence, but a temporary interest in hero worship or the urge to act like one’s hero or heroine. Self portrait Generally, human beings never try to expose their negative side or weaknesses in front of strangers. When this idea is superimposed into the context of the effort to project oneself as person interested in self-portraits, it is evident that human beings choose best photographs as selfies. For instance, a timid youngster may act like a strong person and post related selfie on social networking websites. Similarly, some teen aged girls consider that physical attractiveness is the most important asset. Besides, they show utmost importance in taking selfies projecting their physical attractiveness. Leslie Ludy stated that, “When it comes to social interaction, women seem especially prone to things like flirting, gossip, manipulation, and the rapidly growing “selfie trend.”6 On the other side, some people are totally obsessed with their physical fitness and take a number of selfies projecting their physical fitness. Again, this is not an unusual behavior because human beings like their body. When one is storing selfies within one’s gadget and not sharing the same with others, there are fewer problems. When one is making use of one’s selfies to gain ‘like’ and ‘comment’ on social networking websites, one is gradually transforming into a narcissist. So, it is evident that selfies can be used to project one’s self. When this sort of self projection is transformed into a mania or obsession, the same will lead to further emotional problems in general. Self-confidence To be specific, one’s self-confidence is interconnected with one’s opinion on one’s self. Bent Fausing stated that, “Even the Danish Prime Minister is in on it, and selfies were featured in such broad-appeal television programmes as Aftenshowet [The Evening Show] and TV2 s review of events in 2013.”7 If one considers oneself as a productive and creative person, there is less scope for inferiority complex. If one considers oneself as worthless and weak, one will be forced to be under the influence of inferiority complex. Besides, this idea is with universal appeal because human character and behavior is interconnected with self-impression. Within this scenario, one can see that selfies are symbolic of self-confidence. For instance, a person with inferiority complex and related problems will not show interest in taking selfies, because he/she will consider that selfies will attract criticism from others. If one goes through the photos in a phone /social networking website’s page of a person with self-confidence, one may view a number of selfies, symbolic of self-confidence. Bent Fausing stated that, “Selfies can be seen as an attempt to gain control over how one presents oneself through a self-portrait.”8 A popular individual with self confidence will not hesitate to post selfies because the same is symbolic of his/her confidence. The modern world provides ample importance to spontaneity and self-confidence and the selfies symbolize the same. One can see that selfies tell the stories of brevity, popularity, and acceptance, but it totally ignores the millions who do not have the chance to take a selfie. But the transformation of Memento Mori as selfie in the modern world is amazing because it exposes human character in general. Summing up, modernity does not discard conventionality, but helps conventionality to transform itself into modernity. To be specific, the transformation of the older concept of Memento Mori into selfie is symbolic of the amalgamation of conventionality and modernity. Still, this is not a conscious process because utility is the most important factor behind the survival of conventional ideas within modernity. Besides, people make use of selfie as a mode of self-expression because they believe in the concept of immortalization through art. From a different angle of view, selfie reflects one’s inner self and aspirations. Similarly, selfie/groupie is symbolic of human obsession on the popular icons related to popular culture. On the other side, some people make use of selfies to create self-portraits and to boost up their self-confidence. In short, it is evident that selfie is the modern version of the older concept of Memento Mori because selfie is symbolic of the human urge to gain immortality by amalgamating art with technology. Bibliography Bent Fausing. “See for your Selfie. Selfies and the Search for Recognition.” http://www.scribd.com/doc/167602342/Selfies-and-the-Search-for-Recognition-See-for-your-Selfie [accessed April 4, 2015]. Bent Fausing. “Selfies Shape the World.” http://www.academia.edu/6488189/Selfies_Shape_the_World._Selfies_Healthies_Usies_Felfies_ [accessed April 4, 2015]. Jerry Saltz. “Art at Arm’s Length: A History of the Selfie.” http://www.vulture.com/2014/01/history-of-the-selfie.html [accessed April 4, 2015]. Luthi, Ann Louise. Sentimental Jewellery. Hampshire: Osprey Publishing, 1998. Lupton, Deborah. Digital Sociology. Oxon: Routledge, 2014. Ludy, Leslie. The Set-Apart Woman: Gods Invitation to Sacred Living. U.S.: NavPress, 2015. Lucy Thomas. “The Self Behind the Selfie.” http://www.sheramag.com/girls-fun/girl-fun/the-danger-of-the-selfie/ [accessed April 4, 2015]. Topol, Eric. The Patient Will See You Now: The Future of Medicine is in Your Hands. New York: Basic Books, 2015. Read More