((PKG)) SELFIE MUSEUM
((Banner: Selfie Museum))
((Reporter/Camera: Genia Dulot))
((Adapted by: Mariah Espada))
((Map: United States / California / Los Angeles))
((TOMMY HONTON, CO-FOUNDER, THE SELFIE MUSEUM))
Selfies are not new. People like to say they’re new. Paris Hilton likes to claim she invented them. And while she may have made them more famous, they’re definitely not new. People have been obsessed with self-imagery, and taking their pictures, or drawing themselves, since people began drawing on cave walls. People have been drawing human figures. People have vanity, they have pride, they have excitement they want to share. Why do you get a portrait done? People like to get high school graduation portraits in the U.S. Why not compare that to the Mona Lisa? What’s the difference? If cameras existed back in the Renaissance, you can be sure people would have taken photos, and selfies.
((SARA STANZLER, MUSEUM VISITOR))
To me, I see pictures as capturing memories, and selfies are very convenient, because you can see how the picture is going to look, before, while it’s being taken.
((TOMMY HONTON, CO-FOUNDER, THE SELFIE MUSEUM))
The modern selfie is an image that you can take very easily. I can take a phone out of my pocket right now and capture a selfie in two seconds, whereas I have to sit for a portrait for many hours and days.
((CINTHYA CARMONA, ACTRESS))
And it’s also very fun see you take 70 pictures of yourself to pick that perfect one, because I know we all do it. I definitely do it, and when I find that perfect one, it always makes me really happy.
((FEDORA THE EXPLORER))
I think that through a selfie, you can learn to love your imperfections. It’s looking in a mirror. So, when I take a selfie sometimes, it’s not about the world. It’s about me, it’s about what I want to portray, and how I want to portray myself, and loving myself and my flaws and my imperfections.
((TOMMY HONTON, CO-FOUNDER, THE SELFIE MUSEUM))
You want to capture yourself in a very powerful moment. You’re young, you’re attractive, you want to capture that moment of who you are. But in reality too, you can capture a moment as well. You’re running a marathon, for example. And you cross the finish line. And after running 26 miles, you might feel proud of that accomplishment. You want to capture that exact moment, you run that finish line and cross over it. That’s powerful. You want to capture the joy of being with someone. You want to capture a very spontaneous powerful moment. You can do that now very quickly. And a selfie can represent that too. Yes, there’s pride. Yes, there’s vanity and narcissism. But sometimes you just want to capture a very cool experience and want to share with someone. What’s wrong with that?
((FEDORA THE EXPLORER))
The border is understanding that the people you see on Instagram, which is where the selfie, I guess, became popular. They’re not, it’s not real. It’s an image that you’re portraying. And, I think, we would do well to remind ourselves that that is what’s taking place. I think we know it but we forget it. And, I think, it’s important to draw the line between reality and social media. Because essentially social media is fantasy. People can put on whatever costume, makeup they choose to. Doesn’t make it authentic. It’s about authenticity, so you know, I think, that we have to remind ourselves.
