WEBCAM (YOUTUBE) [link]

Good evening ladies and gentleman – I hope you are all well and having a good time?

Next week, Wednesday 4th November, I will be doing my Interim Presentation for my University Degree. Just for your information; the presentation ‘comprises a display of current work, in which you refer to theoretical, critical and historical contexts by means of written text’ (student handbook).

As a self-portraitist I have been fascinated by the impact that new technologies have had on the medium and my consequent engagement with the self-portrait in both an offline and online contexts. Since joining dA about a year ago this website quickly became the hub for both my practice and my research. In light of this, I have composed a short written piece for my presentation and uploaded onto dA as of today – a week before I’m due to be presenting this to the course leaders and fellow students.

By pitching the text out in the context of what it is actually questioning, I am hoping to open out my thoughts upon the plight of the digital self-portrait (the deviantID or the profile picture) and its impact on personal relationships and social communication with a pro-active online community, of whom are actively involved with the self-portrait in such a dynamic and excessive way.

It would mean an awful lot to me if some of you could take the time out of your day to engage with the texts and let me know what you think. My view is that the comments (if of course I get any) would prove just as an important as the body of text that I have composed; providing a more democratic outlook on a social activity that we are all engaging with. The things I have uploaded are only the starting point for this discussion - any conclusions that develop in my eyes can only really come from the reaction an online community has with it.

The folder in which this discussion has been formed consists of written texts, photos, posters, diagrams and drawings. The text part of this has been split down into five sections with subheadings relating to its specific content. Each component comes with active hyperlinks at the bottom referring to the sources in which I have used. I don't it has to be read in a linear way either; from a start to a finish, I think one can read it in any order and respond to it in just the same way.

Thanks for taking the time to read this - please consider reading and commenting on my presentation?

Protean Self