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I'm sure many users out there have used the term myspace photo in discussions concerning self-portraiture - I would like to know what it might actually represent? Where has it come from, how does it come to represent some self-portraits and not others, and equally where does this leave self-portraiture in its most immediate steps into the 21st Century?

*Please feel free to comment upon this and help create an accurate definition of the term*


MYSPACE PHOTO

This is the term I use because it's the most memorable, however it doesn't mean that the photo itself would just be found on myspace, could even be facebook, twitter, or any other kind of " Personal profile " website, from normal (facebook) to dating/adult (Such as gaydar or match.com as they usually include semi-naked to fully naked photos of a person)This can take on many different categories (Again, I use these as illustrative purposes to explain my theory)

Normal - The person's face
Provocative - Woman in a very small top or bikini.bra, or topless male for example)
Adult - Nude or just in underwear
Erotic - Person is usually nude and either posed or performing a rude, provocative or extreme act of sexual persuasion


NORMAL

It doesn't necessarily have to be of the persons face or just of them self, it can include their friend or even a pet. But is most likely taken by them self without the use of another person to hold the camera. They could either hold it them self or stand it on something. The overall picture can vary on quality, due to the camera itself or the lighting that they have used.The camera itself is 80% always held at an angle, and the person will normally be looking into the camera itself or obviously off in another direction. They do not normally look natural, as it is obviously staged and the person is posing for the camera. Their facial expression could be various but is usually either serious/unemotional or smiling.In itself this is photography, but is not considered Artistic as there has been no professional preparation that has gone into the image itself, such as - Set up professional lighting from specific angle, the photo has been taken by someone else, and the film and camera itself that is used is taken into consideration.

The photo is purely used to show off ones self, a profile picture of sorts. No technical skill, technique or research has been needed to go into the image itself and therefore is very much like an instant camera.
Take out your phone, point it at yourself, maybe check if you're next to a light or window, pull a face and a pose, hold it at an angle and then take a photo, then look at it. Have you done anything else to what I have just said? Was it difficult? Did you need to study or spend months of technique learning to do it?

No - Art in itself is a contradiction, sometimes people take years to finish one piece, and others do it in seconds. A man can paint a solid blue circle one a huge canvas, put it in a gallery and call it a piece of Art, and instantly it is, because he called it so. Yet, why is that? It's because he thought about it. There is a boundary between calling something Art. Taking a photo such as the one I described could very well be put onto an art website and called a piece of art ... but is it?

No - It's a profile photo. Because you could take millions of them from as many angles or from as many lighting types and it would still be the same subject and still a mugshot. It would not change its meaning or its image. However, take another person to hold the camera, set up a proper source of lighting, place the subject in a place where the background is important and will make as much impact on the image as possible, and then take the photo (Could even use the same camera) and voila ... it's no long a myspace photo. It's thought out, takes time. If I was to hold the camera and take a photo of my friend in a pose while they sit at their desk at Uni then it's still not a piece of Art. It's just a photo, because I haven't taken time to light it myself or place it somewhere the light will impact on it, or think of the background. But it's no longer a myspace photo as it's no longer a profile photo. If i was to zoom in on their face, then it's a profile photo.


PROVOCATIVE

SAME AS PREVIOUS ONE

PLUS : The subject will most likely be posing in a suggestive way, pulling what is deemed as a sexual facial expression or an expression of lust, for example. Also, they could be showing off a part of their body, such as their chest.

This doesn't have to just be of their head and shoulders though.

A man can stand in front of the mirror, take a photo of him holding up his shirt, and it's a myspace photo because it's there to show off what they deem as being a sexual part of their body and is attractive. Yet the same applies, there has been no thought in the image other than - "Taking a photo in the mirror of my abs to show them off, but make sure you can see it in the photo so stand next to a light"





ADULT

SAME AS PREVIOUS TWO

PLUS : The person has usually got their top off or is posing for the camera in a provocative way. Again, purely for the insight of looking as best as they can, or maybe not bothered. Could be just in their underwear or not dressed at all. In the case of being nude, it is not tasteful, as is simply a photo of a naked person. Not a photo where the person has been lit and time has gone in to make the person look as good as possible, from their pose to what is behind them. I have seen photos of morbidly obese women completely naked, yet the photos themselves were joyous and beautiful to look at as the poses and lighting and setting of the images had all been put together and thought out to make the image dramatic. Use your camera and take a quick photo of your fat friend standing naked in their bedroom, it's not tasteful.





EROTIC

SAME AS PREVIOUS THREE

PLUS : The person will be in a very provocative pose or a close up of a certain bodily part.





Obviously there are some leeways in each category, as the examples I used were just to explain my theory. For example, a bad example in the Erotic category could be of a girl sitting on her bed, with a closeup of her face and breasts.

Adam Neil Callaby (Graphic Design Degree student at Norwich University College of the Arts, England)