Blog Post 6: Selfie in Politics

The selfie, which is a self photograph of someone either alone or with others, is a modern trend where everyone is doing it, even politicians.  In a recent article, it mentions broadly about the “politics” of selfies and that it is used not only to share with friends and viewers what one is currently doing, but it shows that by politicians doing it as well, it gives them credibility.  Politicians taking selfies are making themselves relatable to the common people, which is an advantage to them.  By taking selfies, politicians are reminding the people and the world that they are still humans that like to have fun and fool around despite current events.  There are some disadvantages to selfies as well, because some politicians have posted selfies that caused them to be criticized and because of the negative impression of some selfies, some politicians were unable to participate in some events, like having the opportunity to address an audience for some rallies. 

I found this topic related to “Minstrel Politics or “He Speaks Too Well:” Rhetoric, Race, and Resistance in the 2008 Presidential Campaign,” by Anthony Sparks because he mentions that “Television’s role in popular culture is complex, of course, but in addition to building cultural narratives, it also visualizes certain narratives that already exist” (28).  Selfies function in the same way because the pictures that the people take do form cultural narratives and it is up to the viewers to interpret the pictures and define what cultural narratives they see.  Depending on how the viewers see the selfies as, determines if there is going to be a positive or negative connection between the viewer and the one that took the picture.  A picture is worth a thousand words and a selfie is a good example for that saying because a seemingly innocent picture of politicians together can be read in so many ways where the audience might take it the wrong way.  Also another down side to selfies is that since anyone can interpret the pictures to whatever way they want to see them as, the opposing party or competition can turn that against the one they are competing against.