In class we have been discussing argument and the representation of “self” in new media contexts. Specifically, we talked about the creation of personas on social network sites (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, etc.). Persona can be defined as one or more versions of “self” that all individuals possess. Each persona you enact varies according to a given social environment and the impression you wish to make on people that belong to the subculture at hand. So, you may encompass one persona while with your friends and others while at work or with your family.
The objective of this assignment is to reflect on the persona you have created of yourself on Facebook. Look at all the elements of your fb page that are visible to your audience: your profile, your status updates, any text written, links shared, videos posted, and (perhaps) most important, your pictures. Ask yourself: what have I represented about myself and my life?
Questions to consider during your reflection:
(1) Reflect on the people that make up your “friend” group. How fb “friends” do you have? How many subcultures do they represent (e.g. high school friends, relatives, people from work or class, teachers, bosses, friends of your parents)? When composing content on your page, do you consider how your persona might be interpreted differently by members of these different subcultures?
(2) Which aspects of your fb page are composed for a large audience? Who is your audience? What social borders do you collapse by “friending” people from different subcultures to which you belong? Is the collapsing of social borders problematic according to the content you choose to display about yourself? (see. p.159)
(3) How do small details within individual photographs or images reveal things about a subculture to which you belong? (see p. 155)
(4) When reflecting on the persona you have created on fb (as a whole), which details about your life have you chosen to exclude? How does the exclusion of certain details affect possible interpretations of your persona? (see p. 166)
(5) How does your persona (or, maybe, just an image or detail) reveal your larger beliefs about what an ideal student, son or daughter, friend, --fill-in-the-blank) should be? (see p. 167)
(6) Thinking about the notion of the “photo-op” (e.g., birthday parties, vacation spots, achievements, events, etc.), chose an image that represents a photo-op that is specific to our culture or to one subculture to which you belong. How does the photo’s composition reveal your values and/or beliefs about what constitutes an “ideal world”? (see p. 168, 422)
(7) How is this context (Facebook) different from more traditional forms of personal representation (e.g., photo albums, home videos, diaries, etc.)?
Requirements: 1 argument and 2 paragraphs (1 claim each) written in the following format:
Argument (one sentence): _________________________________
Claim 1 (one sentence): ___________________________________
Support (develop your claim with explanations, examples, quotes from outside sources, photos or screenshots, etc.):________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Claim 2 (one sentence): __________________________________
Support (develop your claim with explanations, examples, quotes from outside sources, photos or screenshots, etc.):__________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
300 words minimum, at least one image to support each claim you make regarding your reflection/analysis of your persona (that means 2 images minimum).
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