Are you
real?
Is this you?
Tumblr is in some way similar to a ‘metaphysical gift’ as it
gives us the ability to transcend the limitations we may have placed on us in
our everyday society (Stanner, 1979). This removal of everyday limitations allows
you to create a virtually fictional persona to the point that you can almost
forget who you are. In this network you
are able to drop any boundaries set by the community you live in, and show your
true self to this virtual network, whether this is a slightly crazier or even a
deeper version of you that you would never show to your friends or family.
This week’s lecture on Networked Narratives opens up the
idea that the internet allows for collaborations, re-edits and mash-ups of
ideas and information (van Luyn, 2013). This also progresses to the idea that
it is possible that you are not the only one creating a new identity, but
others are also influencing the virtual
identity that you are making for yourself.
The ability to map the users of Tumblr is a little hard as
it is mainly anonymous and so the network does not ask for a name or a country.
Instead, all you can see is the flow of people looking at your page and what
they do while browsing your posts. But from the many blogs that can be followed
there is a wide variety on the page from many different cultures, but as that
is not a problem on Tumblr no on really cares where you’re from, just the
content you post.
As Chatwin (1987) suggests “something does not exist until
it is thought up or sung into existence.” This is true with just about any
virtual network, if no one ever thought it up or created/uploaded data that
could go on these networks they would not exist and we would sit on our couches
obsessing over fictional characters and celebrities with out anyone to talk to
about it. Is the only way we can be honest about ourselves in a virtual
identity with no boundaries?
References
Stanner,
W.E.H (1979). The dreaming (1953) in White
man got no dreaming: Essays 1938-1973. (p. 31). Canberra, Australia: Australian National University Press.
Chatwin, B.
(1987). Chapter 3, in Songlines. (pp.
11-15). London, England. Jonathan Cape.
Van Luyn, A.
(2013). Lecture 4: Networked narratives. Our
space: networks, narratives, and the making of place. Retrieved from: http://www.learnjcu.edu.au
Image retrieved from:
Indalecio, T. (2010). Exploring identity in the virtual world –
is that really you. Retreived from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/curious-media/201004/exploring-identity-in-the-virtual-world-is-really-you
Good point Genevieve! (forgive the punt).
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with your argument that others influence your choice of facts or fiction you provide when creating a virtual identity. The ideas of mash-ups, re-edits and cyborgs in this week’s lecture by Dr van Luyn (2013) was quite funny but also eye opening and perhaps even frightening. I’ll certainly think twice before posting anything personal, being in writing or pictures on any virtual network.
I didn’t know what Tumblr is or how it works. Interesting concept of posting anything ‘anonymously’ and the reading the comments by other unidentified aliens.
Reference:
Van Luyn, A. (2013). BA1002: Our Space: Networks, narratives and the making of place, week 4 notes. [PowerPoint slides] Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au