#kingoftheselfie

#mrpimpgoodgame is his name. He’s the self-confessed #kingoftheselfie, Benny Winfield. While we typically address the art of #selfies to the ephemeral female concept being ‘the transition between digital media as self-expression and digital media as communication’ (Herrman 2014), I thought I’d introduce you to a male version fitting this week’s topic of visual communities and social imaging. As you can see I’ve started this blog in a light hearted manner, but it does go deeper as you read on. I mean check this guy out below. He has 112k followers on #Instagram based on his bald head and big inviting smile. No sexual poses here just his shiny, #happy face.

(Instagram)

So what makes personal images like #mrpimpgoodgame so popular on social media? And how is he as well as many others shaping our digital communities via visible public's? To begin, sharing imagery on social media isn’t something new. Most of us upload photos or #selfies of some sort. We do this to engage attention from those liking us or following us. We are trying to impress who we are in hope of creating a public reaction of approval. Lange (2009,p.70) states, “one of the greatest gifts you can give another person is your attention.” But is this attention both futile and a dangerous response that remains ephemeral, especially if the social media user is relying on x amounts of likes to build them up? I think so yes! For why do we need outside attention when if we go inwards and just love who we are, then the outside need for attention and approval is no longer required? Again, but alas, when we don’t share we are invisible, deemed unimportant. What a load of crap! Sure, share away but do it to actually share rather than be ubiquitous.

The art of obsessive image sharing in regards to our cultural and ethical habits is destroying those who have to show us a glimpse into their personal lives. The notion that life is perfect and I too am perfect based around imagery is causing mental health disorders in some. Digital communities may have gone too far in this instance, or is that ones freewill? As always there are two sides of the coin where sentiment and connection to loved ones far away are captured in ‘digital storytelling’ (Vivienne & Burgess 2013,p.3). This makes us feel close and less anxious, being included even though distance is between us. And as we have learnt in this teaching period, balance is the key when it comes to any social media interactions.

The new generation of online content (#selfies and imagery in this instance) is shaping how we interact, providing us affordances of personal attention and expression, yet falls short in regards to privacy. Many people now have more than one account on social media platforms. They have one account for family and co-workers then they create a pseudonym account where they may contribute outlandish or exposing opinions and images. Freedom over what goes online and who then [re]makes it or [re]distributes content may be seen as an invasion of privacy and abuse. In order for evil to thrive it just needs good people to be silent. (Vivienne & Burgess 2013,p.15). The speaking up over images being manipulated and shared as well as personal data being stolen is now no longer being tolerated. Take the recent #Facebook debarkle as a sign of the times changing to provide social media users control over their images.

https://dustn.tv/sharing-images-responsibly/ read this article that got over 1.9k shares. Do you think he’s on the money?

[Media objects] are the fundamental unit of experience for you to click on, comment on, and share. (Herrman 2014). But, shouldn’t we the user decide who owns our content, rather than it be stolen? I guess in our era of digital communities that, to quote #Beyonce #runtheworld, we can create ground breaking technologies to provide privacy or be part of the problem and remain silent; to be seen or not to be seen?!

 (Cafemom)

REFERENCES

‘Beyonce rocks the ‘Vogue’ September issue –All hail Queen Bey! (PHOTO)’ [image], in cafemom 2015, Beauty and Style, viewed 16 May 2018, <https://thestir.cafemom.com/beauty_style/189200/beyonc_rocks_the_vogue_september

Dustn.tv 2018?, Warning: sharing that image could get you banned or blacklisted, viewed 16 May 2018, < https://dustn.tv/sharing-images-responsibly/

Herrman, J 2014, ‘Meet the Man Who Got Inside Snapchat’s Head’, BuzzFeed, 28 January, viewed 16 May 2018, <http://www.buzzfeed.com/jwherrman/meet-the-unlikely-academic-behind-snapchats-new-pitch#3dlvjg2>.

Lange, P 2009, ‘Videos of Affinity on YouTube’, in P, Snickars & P, Vonderau (eds), The YouTube Reader, National Library of Sweden, Stockholm, pp. 70-88.

Vivienne, S & Burgess, J 2013, ‘The Remediation of the Personal Photograph’, Journal of Material Culture, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 279-98.