Rexer: From Self-Portrait to Selfie: Memes Come True

In this chapter of his book, Rexer explores the difference between self-portraits as created by photographers and selfies. In principle, both types of images are the same. They contain photo-taker within the image. This being said, self-portraits and selfies tend to be received differently by an audience because of their varying connotations. Self-portraits as created by photographers are interpreted as art while selfies are images meant to be visually consumed and disposed of on the internet. Rexer explains that "digital social media has exaggerated a basic characteristic of all photographic self-portraiture, no matter how apparently confessional and artless: the self as performer" (70). What was once an innovative photographic practice has now become one so easily accessible due to cameras on cellphones. Another interesting similarity between these two types of photographs is that they both tend to be intentional and staged. Rexer says that "self-staging blurs the distinction between confession and manipulation, and between naivete and artistry" (73). I think this is a really interesting way to think about photography. As an artist creating an image, my hope is to create something that makes people think, but does the image have the same emotional depth once there is so much effort into manipulating what the audience sees? I think this is something really interesting about how we as a society consume images. We have even been taught to expect that images are manipulated and to fight against them. Photography and image consumption has really evolved since first capturing candid photos of everyday life.