Hell is other people (Sartre, 1944)
In discussion of the specular economy, Marshall’s (2010, p498) assertion that we are collectively ‘becoming more conscious of how we present ourselves and how others perceive us’ shot me right back to high school where I first encountered Jean Paul Sartre and existentialism in year 12 French. Very basically (because this is a huge and complex topic way beyond me), existentialism is a philosophy of consciousness and being, and one of the main elements concerns the role of others in our own existence, whereby our existence is determined by the way that we are perceived by others.
Sound familiar?
 |
| Image source |
And here we all are, carefully crafting and presenting our mediatised selves to the world on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Instagram, Wordpress and Blogger etc. Why do we do it? To satisfy our desire to participate, create our own identities, socialise and network with each other (Croteau, Hoynes & Milan 2012, p319). We now have the technology to achieve self representation, not someone else’s idea of ourselves. Marshall points out that this is now 'an incredibly complex PRESENTATION of the self through screens of social media via the Internet and mobile communication" (Marshall 2010 p499).
 |
| Image source |
I would consider myself a ‘lite’ social media user. I use Facebook and Twitter, but I also have two blogs, and in each I am trying to construct a different ‘me’. One blog is for ‘arty me’ and I am very aware of and frequently manipulate my presentation: changing backgrounds and images in an effort to communicate the essence of my aesthetic. It’s like a conversation, the more I tweak with the mediated presentation, the more I crystallise the essence of my taste and can ‘imagine a better version’ of myself (Marshall 2010 p499). I’ve had my ‘frisson of fame’ (Marshall 2010, p499): validation in the form of ‘likes’ and comments from strangers who share similar interests.
In this blog I am constructing my studious persona, and I have tied myself in knots reading widely and getting myself more and more bamboozled about how much I don’t know.
 |
| Image source |
Facebook is where I stay connected (and reconnect) with family and friends, that is people I know in real life, but it is also where I do my share of star stalking and my presence there is also highly mediated.
However, issues of a private and intimate nature generally do not make it on to my Facebook page, or any of my blogs. They stay in the real realm of the private – between me and the real people with whom I choose to share.
References:
Croteau, D, Hoynes, W & Milan, S 2012, Media/Society: Industries, Images and Audiences, 4th edn., Sage Publications Inc., Los Angeles
Sartre, J-P 1947, No Exit (Huis Clos) a pay in one act, & The Flies (Les Mouches) a play in three acts, A. A. Knopf, New York
Marshall, P D 2010, ‘The Specular Economy’, Society Nov 2010, Vol. 47 Issue 6, p498-502
Sartre, J-P 1947, No Exit (Huis Clos) a pay in one act, & The Flies (Les Mouches) a play in three acts, A. A. Knopf, New York
Hello, this was a very interesting post! I really enjoyed reading about existentialism and how it ties this in with the overall topic! You provide a very informative blog on how we perceive ourselves and how this is reflected by how others see us. You have also provided valid points in that you have two persona's on each of your blogs. This is a very creative example of specular economy as it demonstrates how easily one can change themselves on a mediated forum! I look forward to future posts! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary-Anne. This was a very captivating post. I particularly liked the connection you made between existentialism and the specular economy. Your use of anecdotes was relevant and clever. I also very much enjoyed the images you used and your succinct, yet very informative language and content. Overall, a great post. Well done!
ReplyDeleteHey Mary- Anne,
ReplyDeleteFirstly this was a really interesting take about David Marshall 'Specular Economy' in that you mentioned existentialism, which, in my opinion suited the description of the specular economy really well.
Secondly, your use of imagery and examples from your own social media use was very effective when discussing representation. It's so true that we tweak our profile to look a certain way and create different personas on different social media platforms, especially in a mediated forum.
I look forward to future post!
Hello there,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the connection you made with the specular economy and existentialism - it was a great way to begin by making me think of what I already knew of the concept in a whole new way as well as attempting to define what the specular economy is. Your use of quotes, personal anecdotes and examples, references and images were all very well balanced, I thought, and the pictures were quite humorous. I also thought it was great that you didn't limit your examples to one social/media platform.
The way you write is very captivating. It is conversational in a way that also indicates you 'know your shit'.
The exposition and body of your post were really great but I think you could have had more of a conclusion just summarising the connection of the concept to your examples. Well done, though. It is a really great post!
Hi Mary-Anne,
ReplyDeleteThis was a fantastic post to read. I felt the link you made between specular economy and existentialism was highly relevant, as both theories are undeniably linked. Your discussion surrounding how we are now able to craft our own self representation courtesy of social media also got me thinking. Do you think it is unhealthy that we are able to manufacture a 'preferred' image of ourselves online? Your own personal experiences with social media also managed to bring overall context to the post. Well done on a well constructed and interesting post.
Hi Mary-Anne, I couldn't agree more with your opinion of Social Media in this blog post! Firstly, I thought your reference "our existence is determined by the way that we are perceived by others" was perfect. So often I find myself getting caught up in a comparative spiral in the world of social media, that I forget that the social media "scene" is in fact a virtual reality that we have created. At times I feel as though our virtual identities are taken too far, verging on an unhealthy existence. This relates back to your comment in regards to "carefully crafting and presenting our mediatised selves to the world." With this I pose the question, are we staying true to ourselves in our online identities, or are we really just creating our most ideal persona?
ReplyDeleteHi Mary- Anne,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post this week, it was a really informative read that flowed really nicely throughout the entire piece. Great use of pie charts over the duration of the piece - a few lighthearted approaches broke up the text. I like how you touched on the point of ensuring that you keep a line between what you choose to publicise and private information as well.. We must always remember that what we post online, is permanent, even if you believe it has been deleted.
Thanks for the great read.
Catherine
Hi Mary-Anne!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post and you’ve handled it really well! Your pictures drew me in and gave me a good laugh. I think that it’s brilliant how you combined this theory with that of existentialism! I found that adding that with specular economy cleared things up and crystalised the theory.
You seem to have divided up your social media platform use, almost as if each one portrays a slightly different you? That’s really interesting and I feel the same; almost as though different platforms portray people in a different way. For example I feel that I need to post professional things on Twitter and keep that and my Facebook account separate.
I have noticed that this is quite different for celebrities, who post something that is then shared across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Overall a really good post! I think you know more than you think you think you know.
Mary-Anne,
ReplyDeleteYour linking of existentialism to the specular economy was really interesting, but it would have been great to read more by expanding on the relating factors you found. Also your analogy of mediating and extending yourself as if in conversation was really well linked in to citing Marshall's article.
I loved the Jean-Paul Satre reference in there as well, he has inspired a somewhat anti-social media app here if it interests you. http://hell.j38.net/
Overall you have formulated a really strong post and this would be really great for your final essay.