last month I went to Beyonce’s formation tour and I watched the entire row in
tour and I watched the entire row in
tour and I watched the entire row in front of me pose and take selfies of
front of me pose and take selfies of
front of me pose and take selfies of themselves and their friends look I was
themselves and their friends look I was
themselves and their friends look I was taken with them
taken with them
taken with them I watched them as much as I watch
I watched them as much as I watch
I watched them as much as I watch Beyonce because I knew what they were
Beyonce because I knew what they were
Beyonce because I knew what they were doing and it’s not what most people
doing and it’s not what most people
doing and it’s not what most people think drowned in their own reflection
think drowned in their own reflection
think drowned in their own reflection they were sovereign reigning over time
they were sovereign reigning over time
they were sovereign reigning over time and space with rights over all glory
and space with rights over all glory
and space with rights over all glory fortune and sensual pleasure there they
fortune and sensual pleasure there they
fortune and sensual pleasure there they were marking their place in history with
were marking their place in history with
were marking their place in history with their selfies they declared I am Here I
their selfies they declared I am Here I
their selfies they declared I am Here I am here in this moment in this space
am here in this moment in this space
am here in this moment in this space connected to you where you are the
connected to you where you are the
connected to you where you are the selfie is a vehicle for the intimacy and
selfie is a vehicle for the intimacy and
selfie is a vehicle for the intimacy and immediacy of connection we don’t tend to
immediacy of connection we don’t tend to
immediacy of connection we don’t tend to think about the selfie in this way but
think about the selfie in this way but
think about the selfie in this way but even Kim Kardashian selfies which have
even Kim Kardashian selfies which have
even Kim Kardashian selfies which have notoriously criticized for their
notoriously criticized for their
notoriously criticized for their narcissism speak to the sense of
narcissism speak to the sense of
narcissism speak to the sense of connection intimacy immediacy and power
connection intimacy immediacy and power
connection intimacy immediacy and power in 2014 this selfie posted by a Twitter
in 2014 this selfie posted by a Twitter
in 2014 this selfie posted by a Twitter subscriber Princess Briana from the
subscriber Princess Briana from the
subscriber Princess Briana from the Auschwitz concentration camp created an
Auschwitz concentration camp created an
Auschwitz concentration camp created an outrage over the flippancy and
outrage over the flippancy and
outrage over the flippancy and narcissism of its maker and as and
narcissism of its maker and as and
narcissism of its maker and as and really as the representative of
really as the representative of
really as the representative of millennial culture look that’s probably
millennial culture look that’s probably
millennial culture look that’s probably the most obvious thing one could say
the most obvious thing one could say
the most obvious thing one could say about a generation that everyone seems
about a generation that everyone seems
about a generation that everyone seems to think is obsessed with her that with
to think is obsessed with her that with
to think is obsessed with her that with themselves a generation that is not
themselves a generation that is not
themselves a generation that is not really present not ever
really present not ever
really present not ever here the truth is that princess Briana’s
here the truth is that princess Briana’s
here the truth is that princess Briana’s selfie belongs to a whole genre of
selfie belongs to a whole genre of
selfie belongs to a whole genre of selfies taken at our switch this one was
selfies taken at our switch this one was
selfies taken at our switch this one was criticized for being instagrammed and
criticized for being instagrammed and
criticized for being instagrammed and hashtagged I’ll switch selfie hashtag
hashtagged I’ll switch selfie hashtag
hashtagged I’ll switch selfie hashtag tragic people find the outs with selfies
tragic people find the outs with selfies
tragic people find the outs with selfies as obnoxious and as outrageous as the
as obnoxious and as outrageous as the
as obnoxious and as outrageous as the public found this selfie taken by the
public found this selfie taken by the
public found this selfie taken by the heads of state at Nelson Mandela’s
heads of state at Nelson Mandela’s
heads of state at Nelson Mandela’s memorial they find it as disrespectful
memorial they find it as disrespectful
memorial they find it as disrespectful and as superficial as these hard selfies
and as superficial as these hard selfies
and as superficial as these hard selfies taken by Muslims on pilgrimage in Mecca
taken by Muslims on pilgrimage in Mecca
taken by Muslims on pilgrimage in Mecca in my research I found that beyond
in my research I found that beyond
in my research I found that beyond magnifying the hype around the
magnifying the hype around the
magnifying the hype around the narcissism of our era these objections
narcissism of our era these objections
narcissism of our era these objections to the selfie teach us what the selfie
to the selfie teach us what the selfie
to the selfie teach us what the selfie actually is this front-facing camera
actually is this front-facing camera
actually is this front-facing camera captures the intimate details of our
captures the intimate details of our
captures the intimate details of our everyday lives and monumental eise’s
everyday lives and monumental eise’s
everyday lives and monumental eise’s them as the essence of history the
them as the essence of history the
them as the essence of history the selfie as a networked object is a
selfie as a networked object is a
selfie as a networked object is a vehicle for the intimacy and immediacy
vehicle for the intimacy and immediacy
vehicle for the intimacy and immediacy of our connections a networked objects
of our connections a networked objects
of our connections a networked objects is what connects me where I am with you
is what connects me where I am with you
is what connects me where I am with you over where you are so a selfie as a
over where you are so a selfie as a
over where you are so a selfie as a networked object is not just a
networked object is not just a
networked object is not just a photograph no one would seriously object
photograph no one would seriously object
photograph no one would seriously object to Princess Briana having someone else
to Princess Briana having someone else
to Princess Briana having someone else take a photograph of her at our switch a
selfie connects you your touch with your
selfie connects you your touch with your image and because it is meant to be
image and because it is meant to be
image and because it is meant to be shared
shared
shared it is networked in a very moment of its
it is networked in a very moment of its
it is networked in a very moment of its making we don’t tend to think about the
making we don’t tend to think about the
making we don’t tend to think about the selfie in this way we want to insist
selfie in this way we want to insist
selfie in this way we want to insist that the selfie is just a picture just a
that the selfie is just a picture just a
that the selfie is just a picture just a photograph but if it were just a picture
photograph but if it were just a picture
photograph but if it were just a picture who would people be so up in arms about
who would people be so up in arms about
who would people be so up in arms about us
us
us King selfies and serious places the 15th
King selfies and serious places the 15th
King selfies and serious places the 15th century mirror which one could say is
century mirror which one could say is
century mirror which one could say is the selfies ancestor really had the same
the selfies ancestor really had the same
the selfies ancestor really had the same function as the selfie does today it was
function as the selfie does today it was
function as the selfie does today it was such an experience to see our own
such an experience to see our own
such an experience to see our own reflection for the first time in the
reflection for the first time in the
reflection for the first time in the 15th century that we we thought of the
15th century that we we thought of the
15th century that we we thought of the mirror as this magical object we
mirror as this magical object we
mirror as this magical object we integrated it into into our everyday
integrated it into into our everyday
integrated it into into our everyday lives and also in into some very bizarre
lives and also in into some very bizarre
lives and also in into some very bizarre sacred rituals so this is the deal
pilgrims would pack a mirror in and take
pilgrims would pack a mirror in and take them on their on their pilgrimage and
them on their on their pilgrimage and
them on their on their pilgrimage and when they arrived at the sacred site
when they arrived at the sacred site
when they arrived at the sacred site they would position themselves so that
they would position themselves so that
they would position themselves so that they would capture the reflection of the
they would capture the reflection of the
they would capture the reflection of the bones in the mirror and then when they
bones in the mirror and then when they
bones in the mirror and then when they went home they would show the mirror off
went home they would show the mirror off
went home they would show the mirror off to their friends and family as a
to their friends and family as a
to their friends and family as a physical evidence of having been there
physical evidence of having been there
physical evidence of having been there at the sacred site so the selfie like
at the sacred site so the selfie like
at the sacred site so the selfie like the magical 15th century mirror says I
the magical 15th century mirror says I
the magical 15th century mirror says I am here in this moment and this moment
am here in this moment and this moment
am here in this moment and this moment is sacred in fact that’s the short
is sacred in fact that’s the short
is sacred in fact that’s the short version of Princess Brianna’s story so
version of Princess Brianna’s story so
version of Princess Brianna’s story so before that the whole I’ll switch selfie
before that the whole I’ll switch selfie
before that the whole I’ll switch selfie scandal because she had been studying
scandal because she had been studying
scandal because she had been studying the history of the Holocaust with her
the history of the Holocaust with her
the history of the Holocaust with her dad this had been going on for a while
dad this had been going on for a while
dad this had been going on for a while and then her dad suddenly died so when
and then her dad suddenly died so when
and then her dad suddenly died so when she arrived at our switch she wanted to
she arrived at our switch she wanted to
she arrived at our switch she wanted to have a way to remember him memorialize
have a way to remember him memorialize
have a way to remember him memorialize him and she took and posted the selfie
him and she took and posted the selfie
him and she took and posted the selfie as a way to say look daddy I’m here I
as a way to say look daddy I’m here I
as a way to say look daddy I’m here I wish you were here the I am here of the
wish you were here the I am here of the
wish you were here the I am here of the selfie makes the everyday life of the
selfie makes the everyday life of the
selfie makes the everyday life of the ordinary individual part of the
ordinary individual part of the
ordinary individual part of the unfolding of history histories who were
unfolding of history histories who were
unfolding of history histories who were previously written about the powerful
previously written about the powerful
previously written about the powerful right
right
right and experienced painters were hired to
and experienced painters were hired to
and experienced painters were hired to make portraits of them the aristocracy
make portraits of them the aristocracy
make portraits of them the aristocracy and their objects were painted in these
and their objects were painted in these
and their objects were painted in these portraits and when we look at the
portraits and when we look at the
portraits and when we look at the portraits now we think of the impact
portraits now we think of the impact
portraits now we think of the impact that they had on history selfies make
that they had on history selfies make
that they had on history selfies make the ordinary life of the individual part
the ordinary life of the individual part
the ordinary life of the individual part of history every moment has significance
of history every moment has significance
of history every moment has significance every moment has significance from the
every moment has significance from the
every moment has significance from the perspective of history and the selfie
perspective of history and the selfie
perspective of history and the selfie makes every moment part of history’s
makes every moment part of history’s
makes every moment part of history’s unfolding the selfie makes even the
unfolding the selfie makes even the
unfolding the selfie makes even the grandest things human and intimate and I
grandest things human and intimate and I
grandest things human and intimate and I think quite apart from it being a great
think quite apart from it being a great
think quite apart from it being a great way to leave your autograph that’s why
way to leave your autograph that’s why
way to leave your autograph that’s why all the frontrunners in presidential
all the frontrunners in presidential
all the frontrunners in presidential campaigns and Hillary Clinton to use the
campaigns and Hillary Clinton to use the
campaigns and Hillary Clinton to use the selfie around their fan base right
selfie around their fan base right
selfie around their fan base right the selfie humanizes everything it
the selfie humanizes everything it
the selfie humanizes everything it humanizes Hillary right it says I’m here
humanizes Hillary right it says I’m here
humanizes Hillary right it says I’m here I’m here with you I’m here as you as one
I’m here with you I’m here as you as one
I’m here with you I’m here as you as one of the people I think it’s really
of the people I think it’s really
of the people I think it’s really helpful to think about the selfie in
helpful to think about the selfie in
helpful to think about the selfie in terms of its true ancestor the concept
terms of its true ancestor the concept
terms of its true ancestor the concept of the people in 2009 I came to this
of the people in 2009 I came to this
of the people in 2009 I came to this conclusion that the people was the
conclusion that the people was the
conclusion that the people was the ancestor that were formed the ancient
ancestor that were formed the ancient
ancestor that were formed the ancient ancestor of the selfie now selfies
ancestor of the selfie now selfies
ancestor of the selfie now selfies didn’t exist at the time but I mean I’m
didn’t exist at the time but I mean I’m
didn’t exist at the time but I mean I’m sorry the term selfie didn’t exist at
sorry the term selfie didn’t exist at
sorry the term selfie didn’t exist at the time but what selfies did exist that
the time but what selfies did exist that
the time but what selfies did exist that summer millions of people took to the
summer millions of people took to the
summer millions of people took to the streets to protest what they believed
streets to protest what they believed
streets to protest what they believed was a rigged presidential election in
was a rigged presidential election in
was a rigged presidential election in Iran millions of people around the world
Iran millions of people around the world
Iran millions of people around the world joined them they did so online now they
joined them they did so online now they
joined them they did so online now they didn’t know anything about Iran or the
didn’t know anything about Iran or the
didn’t know anything about Iran or the presidential election but what they did
presidential election but what they did
presidential election but what they did know was that they were inspired by a
know was that they were inspired by a
know was that they were inspired by a fools uprising and they joined them on
fools uprising and they joined them on
fools uprising and they joined them on Twitter and Facebook and YouTube
Twitter and Facebook and YouTube
Twitter and Facebook and YouTube to ensure that their voices were heard
to ensure that their voices were heard
to ensure that their voices were heard that summer I noticed this recognition
that summer I noticed this recognition
that summer I noticed this recognition among thousands of people everywhere
among thousands of people everywhere
among thousands of people everywhere that we could be each other’s eyes and
that we could be each other’s eyes and
that we could be each other’s eyes and ears there was a sense of immediacy and
ears there was a sense of immediacy and
ears there was a sense of immediacy and connection they posted and we saw it
connection they posted and we saw it
connection they posted and we saw it they heard and we heard it they felt and
they heard and we heard it they felt and
they heard and we heard it they felt and we felt it too and within minutes we
we felt it too and within minutes we
we felt it too and within minutes we could log on to YouTube and watch a
could log on to YouTube and watch a
could log on to YouTube and watch a video of what was going on thousands of
video of what was going on thousands of
video of what was going on thousands of miles away in the first week of the
miles away in the first week of the
miles away in the first week of the protests the government started
protests the government started
protests the government started retaliating against the protesters
retaliating against the protesters
retaliating against the protesters people were being killed and they were
people were being killed and they were
people were being killed and they were afraid the virality of the image felt
afraid the virality of the image felt
afraid the virality of the image felt very much like a way to protect the
very much like a way to protect the
very much like a way to protect the people so that summer when someone
people so that summer when someone
people so that summer when someone posted a picture on Twitter it went
posted a picture on Twitter it went
posted a picture on Twitter it went immediately viral the virality of the
immediately viral the virality of the
immediately viral the virality of the image literally it’s spreadability felt
image literally it’s spreadability felt
image literally it’s spreadability felt like a real way to protect the
like a real way to protect the
like a real way to protect the protesters from the lawlessness of those
protesters from the lawlessness of those
protesters from the lawlessness of those who were in power in a practical sense
who were in power in a practical sense
who were in power in a practical sense what people realized was that an image
what people realized was that an image
what people realized was that an image posted on social media wasn’t just a
posted on social media wasn’t just a
posted on social media wasn’t just a photograph it was a networked object
photograph it was a networked object
photograph it was a networked object part flesh part data connecting one
part flesh part data connecting one
part flesh part data connecting one person’s eyes up close with the eyes of
person’s eyes up close with the eyes of
person’s eyes up close with the eyes of millions elsewhere there was a very
millions elsewhere there was a very
millions elsewhere there was a very significant difference between the
significant difference between the
significant difference between the photos that were coming out from the
photos that were coming out from the
photos that were coming out from the Iran election protests and images that
Iran election protests and images that
Iran election protests and images that we’d seen from the Iranian Revolution in
we’d seen from the Iranian Revolution in
we’d seen from the Iranian Revolution in 1978 the camera in the Iran election
1978 the camera in the Iran election
1978 the camera in the Iran election protests wasn’t distant detached or
protests wasn’t distant detached or
protests wasn’t distant detached or objective it was part of the uprising it
objective it was part of the uprising it
objective it was part of the uprising it was it was implicated in the protests it
was it was implicated in the protests it
was it was implicated in the protests it looked through the eyes of the people it
looked through the eyes of the people it
looked through the eyes of the people it was connected to the body of the people
was connected to the body of the people
was connected to the body of the people Iran election selfies became
Iran election selfies became
Iran election selfies became a tool in a new kind of journalism
a tool in a new kind of journalism
a tool in a new kind of journalism citizen journalism where the
citizen journalism where the
citizen journalism where the documentation of violence and injustice
documentation of violence and injustice
documentation of violence and injustice and the celebration and solidarity of
and the celebration and solidarity of
and the celebration and solidarity of the people was linked to the vulnerable
the people was linked to the vulnerable
the people was linked to the vulnerable bodies of the protesters literally
bodies of the protesters literally
bodies of the protesters literally people wielded they’re vulnerable bodies
people wielded they’re vulnerable bodies
people wielded they’re vulnerable bodies in these selfies and reclaimed a right
in these selfies and reclaimed a right
in these selfies and reclaimed a right that was denied them now this isn’t just
that was denied them now this isn’t just
that was denied them now this isn’t just true about the Iran election selfies the
true about the Iran election selfies the
true about the Iran election selfies the hundreds of protests that follow from
hundreds of protests that follow from
hundreds of protests that follow from Egypt in 2011 to the we are not this
Egypt in 2011 to the we are not this
Egypt in 2011 to the we are not this campaign for transgender rights here in
campaign for transgender rights here in
campaign for transgender rights here in North Carolina selfies are used in a
North Carolina selfies are used in a
North Carolina selfies are used in a similar way in the intimate space of the
similar way in the intimate space of the
similar way in the intimate space of the bathroom this body speaks to the
bathroom this body speaks to the
bathroom this body speaks to the vulnerability of the transgendered body
vulnerability of the transgendered body
vulnerability of the transgendered body the hashtag that accompany that
the hashtag that accompany that
the hashtag that accompany that we just need to pee speaks to the
we just need to pee speaks to the
we just need to pee speaks to the vulnerabilities the needs and the rights
vulnerabilities the needs and the rights
vulnerabilities the needs and the rights of the people of the human body the
of the people of the human body the
of the people of the human body the sacrificial nature of this selfie speaks
sacrificial nature of this selfie speaks
sacrificial nature of this selfie speaks to the rights and the needs of the
to the rights and the needs of the
to the rights and the needs of the people generally it reminds me of the
people generally it reminds me of the
people generally it reminds me of the way that that about six months into the
way that that about six months into the
way that that about six months into the Iran election protests Iranian men
Iran election protests Iranian men
Iran election protests Iranian men unveiled their their faces they expose
unveiled their their faces they expose
unveiled their their faces they expose their faces to state surveillance in the
their faces to state surveillance in the
their faces to state surveillance in the early days of of the protests government
early days of of the protests government
early days of of the protests government forces were using photographs to
forces were using photographs to
forces were using photographs to identify protesters and so people hid
identify protesters and so people hid
identify protesters and so people hid their faces but when a student at Tehran
their faces but when a student at Tehran
their faces but when a student at Tehran University was arrested and put into
University was arrested and put into
University was arrested and put into women’s clothes as a way to humiliate
women’s clothes as a way to humiliate
women’s clothes as a way to humiliate him Iranian
him Iranian
him Iranian dawn the veil in solidarity took selfies
dawn the veil in solidarity took selfies
dawn the veil in solidarity took selfies of themselves and posted these on social
of themselves and posted these on social
of themselves and posted these on social media as their social media avatars
media as their social media avatars
media as their social media avatars right and in this way they expose
right and in this way they expose
right and in this way they expose themselves to state surveillance the
themselves to state surveillance the
themselves to state surveillance the sacrificial bodies of these vulnerable
sacrificial bodies of these vulnerable
sacrificial bodies of these vulnerable heroes stand alongside these selfies for
heroes stand alongside these selfies for
heroes stand alongside these selfies for the rights of the people every selfie
the rights of the people every selfie
the rights of the people every selfie has a story and the ordinary individual
has a story and the ordinary individual
has a story and the ordinary individual is the hero of that story that ordinary
is the hero of that story that ordinary
is the hero of that story that ordinary in everyday life of the individual is
in everyday life of the individual is
in everyday life of the individual is woven into the narrative of history
woven into the narrative of history
woven into the narrative of history through the selfie and that’s what the
through the selfie and that’s what the
through the selfie and that’s what the row of selfie takers at Beyonce’s
row of selfie takers at Beyonce’s
row of selfie takers at Beyonce’s concert taught me yes they had pay to
concert taught me yes they had pay to
concert taught me yes they had pay to come and see the queen bee herself but
come and see the queen bee herself but
come and see the queen bee herself but they own the narrative of that momentous
they own the narrative of that momentous
they own the narrative of that momentous occasion they documented everything and
occasion they documented everything and
occasion they documented everything and shared themselves the shared of
shared themselves the shared of
shared themselves the shared of themselves as part of a record of a
themselves as part of a record of a
themselves as part of a record of a history in which a ticket to the Beyonce
history in which a ticket to the Beyonce
history in which a ticket to the Beyonce concert formed a mere backdrop
Millennials are criticized for their
Millennials are criticized for their disconnection in their self a self
disconnection in their self a self
disconnection in their self a self obsession for their lack of presence but
obsession for their lack of presence but
obsession for their lack of presence but in their in the I am here which is the
in their in the I am here which is the
in their in the I am here which is the message of the selfie Millennials invite
message of the selfie Millennials invite
message of the selfie Millennials invite us to rethink presence and to see
us to rethink presence and to see
us to rethink presence and to see ourselves as part digital beings
ourselves as part digital beings
ourselves as part digital beings recognizing that presence in real space
recognizing that presence in real space
recognizing that presence in real space is as much a geotag on a social media
is as much a geotag on a social media
is as much a geotag on a social media platform as a geotag is is a real space
platform as a geotag is is a real space
platform as a geotag is is a real space think of the power of
think of the power of
think of the power of geotag jay-z or Tahrir Google that and
geotag jay-z or Tahrir Google that and
geotag jay-z or Tahrir Google that and what you will retrieve is a history of a
what you will retrieve is a history of a
what you will retrieve is a history of a people’s uprising against despotic power
people’s uprising against despotic power
people’s uprising against despotic power and the virtual and the actual spaces in
and the virtual and the actual spaces in
and the virtual and the actual spaces in which those revolts took place the
which those revolts took place the
which those revolts took place the selfie heralds a new age of digital
selfie heralds a new age of digital
selfie heralds a new age of digital connection it is the currency of
connection it is the currency of
connection it is the currency of intimacy and presence but to see it as
intimacy and presence but to see it as
intimacy and presence but to see it as the imprint of the people we need to
the imprint of the people we need to
the imprint of the people we need to choose to see with other eyes so you
choose to see with other eyes so you
choose to see with other eyes so you guys let’s get the light and let us take
guys let’s get the light and let us take
guys let’s get the light and let us take a selfie
”
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