How does one define who (s)he is? How does(s)he represent and convey her/his identity, particularly in digital spaces? These are questions in which my research and teaching is invested and ones I’d like you to reflect on throughout these activities. Consider, for a moment, how you describe yourself. Do you use a “label” or term such as bookworm, jock, rebel, geek, artist, audiophile? What cultural markers, clothing, hairstyle, way of speaking would portray or denote your identity?

When you move out of the physical, face to face environment into a digital one, your identity/(ies) will be represented via images, favorites lists, social connections, and design choices among many others. To how many social network sites do you belong? Which ones? Do they represent the same or different identities? What feature(s) of the social network site do you use most often? What does that feature do?

You can either examine your page on the social network site of your choosing or another’s page to which you have access.

First, choose a social network site to explore. Then decide if you will analyze your page or someone else’s. Once you arrive on the page, what do you see? Make note of images, backgrounds, colors, and profile features, for example. How does the page reflect an identity? If you know the person in real life or if you are reviewing your own page, is the representation accurate, in your opinion?

Posted: February 3rd, 2008 under in-class activity.
Comments: none