Technology of the self
Technology of the self is one of the four major types of technologies studied by Michel Foucault. As stated by Foucault, technologies of the self is when individuals are permitted to effect a certain number of operations on their own bodies and souls, thoughts, conduct and way of being. All this is done so individuals transform themselves to obtain a state of happiness, purity, wisdom, perfection or immortality.
Yasmine Abbas and Fred Dervin describe a resemblance between the ideas on self-technologies by Foucault and various digital practices. Abbas and Dervin state that digital technologies ‘enable the individual’s self to emerge publicly and to be worked upon.’ Adding on to that, they say that there are almost no limits in the transformation and staging of the self. With the introduction of a front camera (also known as a selfie-camera) on mobile phones, the capabilities of remodelling the self are nearly limitless. Selfies, as a direct medium, are known to show the unflattering imperfections of the face and body and triggers an immediate reflection of an individual’s face or body to the norms of health and beauty. In a split second, one is given a reality check from an external perspective on how he/she is perceived by others. Foucault states that in a situation where one is exposed to the possibility of examination (through a selfie), causes the individual to behave according to the norms of society. To this he adds on with a mechanism called ‘disciplinary power’, which means that the individual taking the selfie must make sure to behave in a certain way without subjecting himself to direct forms of power.
‘The selfie can be considered as a modern, visual, and digital equivalent of the exercise of writing on the self.’ According to Foucault, a selfie can serve as a narrative of the self, which is an essential part of the practices of the self. This is done through a digital and visual manner, without the use of words, but still reproducing the self in a direct way. These findings show that selfies may bring up a reflexive and critical relationship with one’s self. One will start to think if it is appropriate to take a selfie in front of other people or while other people can see that this person is taking a picture of himself. This active relationship of questioning who you are and who you want to be is a clear example of Foucault’s ideas on self-techniques and self-care.
