Witness Me: Hip, Here, and Hating It
The Vanishing Aura of the Selfie Phenomenon
A selfie is an exhibited face without aura. It lacks ‘melancholic’ beauty. It is characterized by digital cheerfulness. — Byung-Chul Han
In an age where everyone has a high-quality camera in their pocket, the selfie has emerged as a cliché of self-expression. Since the iPhone hit the market, causing a smartphone tsunami, the photographic self-portrait has become something more than just a photograph. It’s a cultural phenomenon that reveals the essence of our shifting concept of identity in our digital era. But what exactly does the rise of the selfie as a cultural trope say about us, and how does it affect our perception of time, memory, and identity?
Philosopher Byung-Chul Han offers a refreshing critique of this mundane modern ritual practiced by billions of smartphone owners worldwide. He suggests that the ubiquity of smartphones with cameras has ushered in a new kind of photography — one that is instantaneous and devoid of temporal depth. “There is no time like now” is the mantra of selfie-takers. “Witness me right here, right now” is what the billions of images taken at arm’s length pointing back at the photographer seem to be saying.