My popular culture artefact is the selfie.
The selfie is this generations version of the autograph, a way we communicate feelings- the goings and happenings in our life as well as a practice that feeds our generations increasingly narcissist ways in terms of our image and appearance.
However the selfie was not always an accepted cultural practice. A means of communication or way to indulge our self-obsession.
From extensive research I have found that the first selfie was taken by Robert Cornelius, an American innovator in photography, when he unwittingly snapped a picture of himself in 1839.
Now back to the present- we fast forward almost two centuries and social media has transformed the selfie into an all-out pop-culture phenomenon. Reality TV Star Kim Kardashian West leads this charge via activities declaring her ‘the selfie queen’ intentional or not Kardashian West definitely wins this title. Kardashian West has released a Super Bowl advertisement spoofing her penchant for selfies and has even published a new book titled ‘selfish’ which shares many of her selfies along with memories of the moments.
But let’s be honest here Kim Kardashian isn’t the only one indulging her vanity via the selfie. I myself can admit to taking a selfie a time or two. It is an accepted practice in today’s day and age and we have all embraced it.
Many outlets of social media only encourage the widespread practice. Snap Chat, an app designed to share pictures of yourself with friends, is a leader in the increasing social acceptance of the selfie.
But the selfie and its acceptance didn’t emerge with Snap Chat. The classic mirror selfie that we’re all guilty of taking at least once has led to research which has translated into an opportunity to make money.
Social media and technology outlets have pinned this generations obsession with themselves and encouraged it. Releasing selfie cameras, selfie sticks and as mentioned earlier selfie apps for our phones.
Is the selfie a bad thing? NO I don’t think so. But I do think that with the invention of the selfie and pop culture’s acceptance of it we are encouraging eachother and society to put more stock in our personal appearance. Let’s not become the next Kim Kardashian West. Because let’s face it if you can freely admit to being conceited and title your own book ‘Selfish’ you aren’t being recognised for the right things.
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Vlog the selfie
