Self-Representation: Has it Gone too Far?
Globalization, technology and the growing importance of media have increased our accessibility to other cultures. According to Mazzarella, the representation of one’s own culture through the media increases their awareness of their own culture, this causes people to become more aware of how they are unique in the world. The increase in accessibility of culture has caused a fetishization for “true” or “unique” culture. In an age where self representation is playing an increasingly important role, people can take advantage of the desire of audiences’ wants to see that which is different. One example of this is Snookie, star oft he MTV reality show, The Jersey Shore, who has made a career of overplaying her “guido” persona on television. Self-representation also plays in increasingly important role in an increasingly online world. Anyone anywhere in the world can make a whole new persona of themselves online, bringing mediation to a whole new level.
One key point made by Mazzarella was the fetishization of unique culture. With growing access to different cultures, people have to growing desire to see and learn about the most “real,” the most “local,” the most “unique.” Reality television is one example of how self-representation plays a role in the media today. Shows such as No Reservations, on the Travel Network, highlight the best local foods in cities around the world, but instead of visiting five star restaurants, the host visits hole-in-the-wall restaurants and food stands to get a taste of the “real” local culture. Another famous reality TV show is The Jersey Shore, where eight Italian-American young adults shamelessly illustrate how self-representation makes one aware of one’s own culture. Early on they became aware that they were trashy “guidos” and the show became increasingly popular as their behavior became increasingly ridiculous and stereotypical. Nicole Polizzi, “Snooki” has had the most success making a career out of the role.
Self-representation and increased self-awareness becomes increasingly important as the internet plays an increasingly important role in our perception of reality. Mainstream media such as newspapers, television and radio are diminishing in importance while new media such as blogs are increasing in significance. People can now debate important issues online, and many people become to develop an online identity which is much more bold than who they are in real life. Because the online world is disconnected from reality, people can say and do more than they can in real life because the internet provides a sense of anonymity.
Self-representation is playing an increasingly important role in the process of mediation with the decline of the importance of traditional forms of mediation and the increase of new forms of media such as blogs and reality television. The increased importance of self-representation in society causes people to become increasingly aware of themselves. People can take advantage of this, and begin to represent themselves in a more extreme manner in order to get attention.
