Contrast between Historical and Contemporary Self-Portraits

In her article, Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism, Christine Rosen highlights the contrast between historical self portraits and contemporary self portraits.

Historical self portraits were for the rich, undemocratic, and non-digital. Historical self portraits were mainly for the well-off. It was a way for the rich to highlight their social status, as well as immortalize themselves so that people remembered who they were when they were gone. Rosen also says that historical self-portraits were a way to teach us, whether intentionally or unintentionally, about the culture they lived in.

Contemporary self portraits are everything Historical self portraits are not: they are democratic, digital, and not just for the rich, but for everyone who has access to the internet. Like historical self portraits, digitalized self portraits allow one to show off their social status, as well as their egotism. Unlike historical self portraits, contemporary self portraits are interactive, they allow users to leave comments on your wall, photo or interests. This new self portrait is no longer about showing off your wealth or status, it is about whatever you would like to front or flaunt, be it your looks or status. The message may change constantly due to the fact that changing a social networking site is easy.

The one big similarity that historical and contemporary self portraits share, is "the timeless human desire for attention."


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