Session 1: The class discussion made me think about how people in general tend to attempt to put forward the best version or the best perception of themselves. I do believe that to be is to be perceived — that you are however people see you and think you to be, regardless of how you are behind closed doors. In our daily lives, we are ‘different people’ when we are with different people. Using myself as an example, when I spend time with a group of friends, I tend to use profanity and make jokes which are ‘in poor taste’ and speak using a lot of slang. But when I am at a function or serious event, I would speak in standard English and make more ‘intellectual’ jokes. At one point in my life, I used to doubt who the real me was. This was because I did not understand the concept of being different once you were with different people. I would find myself saying things I did not think I would or could normally say, yet I would announce these things with certain friend groups. This created an “identity crisis” of sorts as I was not sure about who I was as I found it easy to switch personalities. Then one day I understood that it was all me and that I was just controlling how much of ‘me’ I was letting people see.

I have never thought about having a portrait done of myself, but taking a selfie is close enough. Unfortunately I hate taking selfies or having people take a picture of me. It is not that I dislike my appearance or anything — not that my appearance is anything special, but I dislike how I look for pictures. When someone asks me to look at the camera and smile, I feel awkward and I think it shows through or I look fake as it was a smile I had to put on for the picture. I was thinking about how I would like a portrait of me to be done over the weekend, and it was when I went out with my girlfriend who wanted to take pictures of landscapes and random things in the city, it occurred to me how I would like my portrait taken. We were talking about taking pictures of people, and how we both found that only a skilled photography could bring out the best in a person in a picture. What I expressed was that when it comes to taking pictures, I prefer to take candid shots of people, and to have candid shots of myself taken. The image of a person doing something when they unaware of a camera being trained on them is the most beautiful in my opinion. It captures them in a natural way. The smile is natural. Their feel is natural. It makes you feel as if you really know that person through the picture. Therefore, if I were to have my portrait taken, I would prefer it be through a candid shot. Although I know the picture is being taken and I am manipulating the scene — therefore no longer truly candid — this is the look I am going for. I want to be seen in a working yet sociable setting. I would be dressed in a prestigious manner. The picture would be of me engaged with an audience; all eyes on me. It is to create the image of me being a hard worker, and someone able to engage an audience. Therefore when people see this image, there see my as this person.

Session 2: Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. Cicero is described as a Novus homo which means he was able to gain a high position not through his family name, but rather his own means and skills.