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Online Discussion #1: Selfies and Self Portraits

The word “selfie” became official when the Oxford Dictionary named it the word of the year for

2013. Below is the official definition from the Oxford Dictionary:

NOUN (plural selfies) informal A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with

a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media: occasional selfies are acceptable, but

posting a new picture of yourself every day isn’t necessary

Origin

Early 21st century: from self + -ie.

The Oxford Dictionary defines “Self Portrait” as such:

NOUN

A portrait of an artist produced or created by that artist.

There are many types of self-portraits. Some are realistic representation of the artist

herself/himself. Others are created in ways to make a statement. And of course, there are many

self-portraits that try to convey a mental or psychological reflection. Self-portrait has been

around for a long time. We have always view them as “art” regardless of the medium. That is

until Photography comes around. If you recall, from your textbook, there was a time when

mainstream society wonder if photography should be considered “art”. We currently find

ourselves at a similar juncture with the rise of mobile phone.

Below are 3 groups of articles I’d like you to read. Please choose 1 article/link from each group.

You don’t need to memorize anything, just browse/read for knowledge.

There are 2 parts to this discussion exercise:

1. Then I’d like you to respond to my prompt. Please make sure you answer my questions in paragraph format and provide intext citation (APA or MLA). At the end of your

paragraph, paste the 3 articles/links that you chose. After you paste the 3 articles/links,

please add a question/prompt for your classmates. It should be a question that is related to

the topic to help them engage in a dialog with you (14pts).

2. After you have posted your homework, read two other people’s posts and respond to their questions/prompts. If you notice someone’s prompt already had 3 or more responses try

to pick someone else. It is nice to be inclusive (6pts).

So, here is my prompt.

The discourse on whether a selfie is the same as a self-portrait has been raging for several years.

Why do you think there is even a discourse? Is it because of the accessibility? Is it because the

possibility that the artist may not have been formally trained (in the traditional sense of art

school)? What insights did the articles you read provide? How have the articles informed your

response(s) to my questions?

Group A: Essays on Selfies and Self-Portraits

http://www.dw.com/en/the-ego-as-a-work-of-art-from-self-portraits-to-selfies/a-18843991

http://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/discover/exhibitions/dutch-self-portraits-selfies-of-the-golden-age/

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/oct/22/beyond-the-selfie-step-away-from-the-

smartphone-this-is-what-artists-are-for

https://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/the-philosophy-of-ai-weiwei-from-andy-warhol-and-back-

again

http://time.com/4064988/refugee-crisis-selfies/

https://publichouseofart.com/articles/selfie-vs-self-portrait

https://www.diyphotography.net/6-12-year-self-portrait-project-documents-the-photographers-

life-living-a-with-mental-illness/

Group B: Exhibitions relating to selfies

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/arts/international/old-master-selfies-from-the-peak-of-

dutch-painting.html?_r=1

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/russias-lenin-selfie-trend-323547

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pulse-scope-fairs-slam-selfie-culture-hello-kitties-neon-signs-

376154

Group C: Other writings, competitions, exhibitions, and events relating to selfies and self-

portraits

http://selfiecity.net/#

http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/10/04/art-in-the-age-of-instagram/

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-17/richard-prince-instagram-and-authorship-

in-a-digital-world

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ways-of-seeing-instagram-37635

http://blogs.academyart.edu/newspaper/2015/04/selfie_vs_self-port.html

http://proof.nationalgeographic.com/2014/06/09/the-un-selfie-taking-back-the-self-portrait/

http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/stories/self-portrait/

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jan/02/getty-museum-in-focus-exhibition-birth-

middle-class

http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/whats-the-difference-between-a-selfie-and-a-self-portrait/