Title of the article:

PHOTOGRAPHY AS A MEANS OF BUILDING PERSONAL IDENTITY IN THE SPACE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS

Author(s):

Elena A. Blagorodova

Anastasia Yu. Braerskaya

Information about the author/authors

Elena A. Blagorodova — Associate Professor, The Department of Theory of Culture, Ethics and Aesthetics, Institute of Philosophy and Socio-Political Sciences, Southern Federal University, Bolshaya Sadovaya St., 105/42, 344006 Rostov-on-Don, Russia. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1342-5668. E-mail: eablagorodova@sfedu.ru

Anastasia Yu. Braerskaya — Associate Professor, The Department of Theory of Culture, Ethics and Aesthetics, Institute of Philosophy and Socio-Political Sciences, Southern Federal University, Bolshaya Sadovaya St., 105/42, 344006 Rostov-on-Don, Russia. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6236-5070 E-mail: nast-br@yandex.ru

Section

Theory and history of culture

Year

2021

Volume

Vol. 59

Pages

pp. 48–61

Received

January 15, 2020

Date of publication

March 28, 2021

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37816/2073-9567-2021-59-48-61

Index UDK

008

Index BBK

71+76+85.16

Abstract

The paper examines the issue of self-determination in the context of social networks. The works of E. Erickson, I. Hoffman, Z. Bauman serve as its theoretical basis. Kimberly-Young's methods for determining the level of Internet addiction, as well as D. Russell and M. Ferguson's methods for determining the level of loneliness were chosen as its empirical base. In addition, the study involves a qualitative analysis of the profiles on the Instagram network. It showed that photographic content filling is used by modern users as a platform for constructing identities, where everyday life`s reflection is transformed, subject to a certain lifestyle (achieving recognition, success). Thus, we are dealing with a framed switched reality that intensively affects primary frame system of a social subject. Personal page of the account serves as a stage for displaying certain roles, demonstrating to the “Other” their life in terms of both significant events and routine everyday practices. The reality of everyday life embellished through photography becomes a means of gaining recognition which, in turn, is called to protect individual’s personality from feeling subjective loneliness and represent the illusion of achieving happiness and success in everyday activities. Based on theoretical and practical material, the authors came to the conclusion that “photographic reality” allows you to present your life in a favorable light and focus audience's attention on the happy sides of your everyday life, thereby gaining recognition from the “Other”.

Keywords

photography, personal identity, personality, social networks, modern culture, frame, “Other”, loneliness, success, recognition.

References

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