Selfies

The Meanings of the Selfie by James Franco

We speak of the celebrity selfie, which is its own special thing. It has value regardless of the photos quality, because it is ostensibly an intimate shot of someone whom the public is curious about. It is the prize shot that the paparazzi would kill for, because they would make good money; it is the shot that the magazines and blogs want, because it will get the readers close to the subject.

 Of course, the self-portrait is an easy target for charges of self-involvement, but, in a visual culture, the selfie quickly and easily shows, not tells, how youre feeling, where you are, what youre doing . . . Selfies are tools of communication more than marks of vanity (but yes, they can be a little vain).

http://selfiesatfunerals.tumblr.com/
Many people interpreted funeral selfies as further evidence of millenials' selfcenteredness. This isn't the nature of kids today; it's just the nature of kids. And anyway, when a teen tweets out a funeral selfie, their friends don't castigate them. They understand that their friend . . . is expressing an emotion they may not have words for.

Selfie of The First Four Women to Pass Marine Infantry Training

 If you write off the endless stream of posts as image-conscious narcissism, youll miss the chance to watch girls practice promoting themselvesa skill that boys are otherwise given more permission to develop, and which serves them later on when they negotiate for raises and promotions.

Aki Hoshide takes a selfie on a spacewalk. Sunita Williams is seen in his helmet.

Famous Photos Reimagined as Selfies

Tamara de Lempicka

Vincent Van Gogh

Cindy Sherman

Frida Kahlo

Jenny Saville

Salvador Dali

Andy Warhol

 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/arts/the-meanings-of-theselfie.html?_r=0 http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jul/14/how-selfiesbecame-a-global-phenomenon http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2013/11/selfies_ on_instagram_and_facebook_are_tiny_bursts_of_girl_pride.html