No SELFIE Control | Culture Lens
The Papa of 15 Minutes of Fame, Andy Warhol (1928 –1987), Polaroid self-portrait.
As much as we love [and love to hate] Kim Kardashian’s Performance Art and her over-exposure with her myriad selfies (and now an app?!?) they continually remind us of her domination of Reality TV. Good or bad, selfies have become an important tool in today’s pop culture and Kim, like many others, are not shy when it comes to using (or abusing) them.
It is indisputable that today we are witnessing a global phenomenon with the mainstream appeal of the SELFIE. Ignoring its presence would imply that one is in a popular culture coma. The selfie is the new self-expression responding to the greater social media landscape (thank you Instagram!) It is an answer to want-to-be celebrities, narcissism, self-deprecation and anyone wanting the get their Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes.
Kim Kardashian guide to selfie
The “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood” app
“What’s new Pussy Cat?” Kim Kardashian goes leopard for Halloween.
The “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood” app
It’s a family affair! Kim, her daughter North, and husband Kanye West in Vogue magazine.
Kendall Jenner, Kim’s “little” model sister, has obviously learned from the best.
The selfie – or should we really call it “self portrait” as it has been called for centuries – is really nothing new and actually has a deeply evolved history in the art world. The greatest artists have all produced self-portraits to showcase their artistic skills for clients or used the practice as an excuse to come up with poignant alter egos echoing their psychology.
Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), Self-Portrait at Twenty-Eight Years Old Wearing a Coat with Fur Collar, 1500.
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877), Self-portrait entitled “the desperate man”, 1843-45.
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Self-portrait with bandaged ear, 1889.
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940.
Today’s selfie, for the average folk, may be about having fun being a tourist or feeling like a TV reality “star” for a split second. Once this formula is spun-around by a seasoned artist and utilized as an art project, the dénouement reads humorous and ironic, if not satirical as is the case with New York club feature, Cazwell.
Cazwell”s “No Selfie Control”
The selfie has also become a key tool for bloggers across all subject areas, but nowhere is it more important than among fashion bloggers.
Shea Marie (Peace Love Shea)
Julie Sarinana (Sincerely Jules)
Rumi Neely (Fashion Toast)
Aimee Song (Song Of Style)
Ireland Baldwin
So important in today’s culture, selfies have earned a small exhibition currently on view in Paris at the Galerie Derouillon (formerly Republic Gallery), which is hosting a portrait series of fashionistas, thespians and other luminaries, by Jonas Unger.
Karl Lagerfeld’s “Let’s take a Selfie in Fitting Rooms!”
Riccardo Tisci from Jonas Unger “Autoportraits” series
Karl Lagerfeld from Jonas Unger “Autoportraits” series
Jean Paul Gaultier from Jonas Unger “Autoportraits” series
Elvis Jankus taking a selfie with Lagerfeld and Justus Einsfeld after Dior Homme’s Fall 2013/Winter 2014
Let’s face it, selfies are as much art directed self-portrait as they are actual personal selfies. Regardless of who takes the shot, the end work is pop culture gold. Selfie away…
