AUDREY Lawson Professor Cinthia Guzman TA Sébastien Parker TA Martin Lukk June 15, 2021 SOC201H1FLEC5101-Classical Sociological Theory Double Consciousness within Selfie Culture In contemporary society, selfie culture is the phenomenon of taking, displaying, and sharing pictures of self. There are many reasons why a social actor takes selfies: narcissism, social connection, capturing a memory or mood, body modification journaling, having a good hair day or outfit, sexting, body confidence and acceptance, self-development, a self-esteem boost, image management, as an attraction technique, utilizing and practicing digital manipulation and photography skills, and other reasons. Often, the picture the social actor takes of themselves is not in alignment with how other people view the actor. Can selfies help the social actor fuse the image the actor has of themselves with the image others have of them? In this paper, I will argue that selfies offer a tool for integrating and expressing the authentic self with the social self through W. E. B. Du Bois’ theory of double consciousness. As well, double consciousness can explain why selfie culture exists and how it can help the social actor embody themselves. Also, I will use the double consciousness theory to explain how selfie culture can benefit from this theory. And I will strengthen Du Bois’ argument by adding that double consciousness can bring about intrapersonal and interpersonal self development. W. E. B. Du Bois’ (1897/2021) theory states that through the micro lens of double consciousness - the positive view a social actor holds of themselves is not in alignment with the negative views, judgments, expectations, and appearance others hold of a group, such as a group of Black people. Double consciousness is experienced when the consciousness of self is different from the collective conscience, and this manifests disembodiment. Disenfranchised group members internalize an imagination of viewpoints, attitudes, values, opinions, and feelings (both positive and negative) of self. However, this folding of views into the actor’s self-identity maintains a double consciousness or double life which results in the uneasiness of self – a lack of a legitimate, authentic, self-actualized self, and a sense of fraudulence. Du Bois argues that the way out of double consciousness is to be yourself and educate yourself about your social location and environment. W. E. B. Du Bois, a symbolic interactionist, engaged in pragmatic theories of self, related to social psychology. Du Bois' double consciousness theory can help conceptualize the duality of selfies: as one sees oneself through the selfie, it contrasts with how others see you through taking your photo. Double consciousness explains the deeper significance of selfies. Du Bois (1897/2021) argued that no Black person can possess self-consciousness, because Americans define what it is to be a Black person. The Black person can only see themselves, as it is revealed to the actor, through others. The problem of double consciousness is when the social actor is only able to see themselves through the face of others – others who negatively judge and do not respect or appreciate the actor. This applies to selfie culture in that the social norm is to have a picture taken of you; therefore, it is accepted that other people can define and decide what your image is to be and how you look. But what if the person taking the photo does not like or believe in you? Is it possible the photo of your image will not be as attractive to you? For example, if a journalist wants to illustrate a disliked person, alongside some negative writing about the person, they will likely use an unattractive photo portraying the person unattractively. The person’s image will be displayed as unattractive to support the narrative of the negative writing. Taking a selfie is an opportunity to share positive images of self, or at the very least to have the agency to choose to show how you see yourself. Du Bois (1897/2021) shares that the Black person senses they hold two identities: American and Black. And there is an injustice when these identities are not compatible, no matter how hard an actor strives for it. Yet, the Black person fights to stay alive and find their place with two separate consciousnesses. The Black-American strives to be self-conscious and to merge the double consciousness into an authentic self that aligns with the actor's views. The social actor wishes to be both Black and an American, with dignity, respect, and the freedom to develop the self. When this wish is met, there is no more striving to co-create existence in the social sphere. The social actor has the opportunity, time, and space to fully self-actualize, through using talents that are appreciated by others. However, these others need to include a community of Black people all working towards a common goal of genuine freedom. In a similar vein, the selfie social actor views the lens of their camera, with an immediate awareness that they are about to take and disseminate a photograph that others may say is not a realistic portrayal of themselves. And with that, they might hold a double consciousness of self-portrait versus being the subject of the photographer of their portrait. Selfie-takers can be accused of image fraudulence when the selfie-taker is in fact sharing an intimate and authentic picture of their most private and truest self that the other may never see in any other way. The selfie culture strives for authenticity, even if that authenticity is a visual representation of the inner creative self. The selfie social actor in double consciousness struggles in knowing that others can oppose their selfie because they think it is a false representation of the social actor. Because when the selfie social actor looks at themselves, through pictures taken of themselves by others – they can see or they have been told that there is a image difference; therefore, a twoness emerges. This is like the Black American experience of a double life. In the case of the selfie-taker, an opposite act might occur where they hope to recreate the selfie look when someone else takes their photo; however, no matter how much they might work for it by changing their angle or facial expression – it is not the same as how the selfie social actor views themselves. Is it possible to merge the twoness of selfie and portrait subject? Social media provides a community for selfie social actors to help improve each other’s selfie images with filter options and even provide approval and encouragement to post selfies as freedom of expression. Du Bois (1897/2021) learned that knowledge and education were the promises to genuine freedom and emancipation for Black people. In the thick weight of striving, the social actor finally saw their soul, and what they could achieve. As time went on, the previously enslaved children, who were promised equality in America, gave up on the idea of passively waiting for this ‘gift’. Instead, the reflexive youth gained a burgeoning self-consciousness, self-realization, and self-respect. No longer estranged from themselves - with a subtle knowing, these youth believed that to achieve what they wished, they must be themselves, and not another. But to possess this one self of self-consciousness, they needed to understand the double consciousness. And they needed to face the horror of their history, know, and educate themselves to the social laws of America. Similarly, selfie-takers want to find genuine freedom from shame or oppression regarding what they believe to be their truest or idealized and realized selves. The selfie helps the social actor realize who they are, and whom they can aim to be. For example, a CIS male who sees themselves as a woman, can take a selfie with a feminized appearance. While Du Bois focuses on external knowledge of self, such as being knowledgeable about social laws of American, compared to the selfie taker who focuses on knowledge of their internal image of self, he does hint at the development of active reflexivity of intrapersonal skills, which are emotional maturity, self-awareness, self-talk consciousness, openness, self-respect, independence, assertiveness, self-actualization, and so on. Intrapersonal skills can be developed through selfie culture. Therefore, double consciousness can be beneficial to social. Double consciousness provides an opportunity to merge the intrapersonal self, with the interpersonal other. Interpersonal skills such as interdependence, empathy, social awareness, relationship building, communication, influence, teamwork, and so on are what I believe to be important parts of symbolic interactionism and playing healthy parts as social actors. It is important to combine the intrapersonal and interpersonal to help harmonize the two selves of the private and the public, the personal and the social, the selfie and the subject. Be yourself, yes! However, I differ from Du Bois in that the goal should not be to fuse the self or just “be yourself,” but rather build a solid core self-identity, where other viewpoints (positive or negative) can exist and where the social actor can reject what does not fit into their believe system of self. Double consciousness is a reminder that you possess the freedom to decide and define exactly who you are, and to work toward manifesting your own opportunities based on this self-understanding. Selfies offer a tool for integrating and expressing the authentic personal self with the perceived social self. W. E. B. Du Bois’ theory of double consciousness can explain why selfie culture exists and why it is important for helping embody a whole self – even when a part of that self is rejected by the actor. If my argument is valid, then sociologically, selfie culture should be encouraged to not only help social actors understand and relate to themselves better, but to build a stronger self-identity within the structure of society, and for society to challenge themselves to make stronger connections to the social actor. Instead of viewing selfies as a superficial and trivial activity, the selfie can be seen as a method for understanding the deeper consciousness of the selfie social actor. And in turn, the selfie social actor can also experience a deeper connection with themselves. References DuBois, W. E. B. 1897/2021. “18. Of Our Spiritual Strivings.” Pp. 112–15 in Social Theory: Roots and Branches, edited by P. J. Kivisto. New York, New York: Oxford University Press.