The Selfie: Using Photography as a Form of Self Reflection

The selfie is ubiquitous in social media. Propelled by the ever-present camera
phone, most of these digital self-portraits are casual, spontaneous and off the
cuff — literally taken at arm’s length. Some bloggers and the mainstream press
have linked the selfie with narcissism, someone even coined the term “selfie
syndrome.” There are also those, like art critic Jerry Saltz, who see it as a “new
visual genre—a type of self-portraiture formally distinct from all others in history.”

As an expressive arts and drama therapist, I see the selfie as a valuable tool for
self exploration and expression.

I discovered the joys of digital photography, long before I owned a cellphone
camera. Beginning in the late nineties, using Photoshop, I would scan old family
photographs, touch them up, and enhance them to create colorful themed
calendars for family members. As an example, I created fantastical portraits of
three of my sisters: my karaoke-loving sister was superimposed in front of the
judges on American Idol, I painted one sister’s face onto an antique Coca-Cola
tray (she collects such things) and my sister who has survived a long-time illness
became Wonder Woman. I found working with the photographs stimulating and
provocative; transforming ordinary snapshots into something more personal and
meaningful. It was natural then, to turn the lens on myself.

While I was training to become a psychotherapist, I began exploring ways to
integrate this passion for digital photography with therapeutic work and learned of
the techniques created by PhotoTherapist, Judy Weiser, including the use of selfportraiture
(Weiser, 1999). For over ten years now, I have been combining the
PhotoTherapy techniques of Judy Weiser with multi-media collage, expressive
writing, and Drama Therapy.

Increasingly, when I ask a client to check in about their week, rather than launch
into a list of days, they will pull out their cell phone and show me a photo. The
selfie can relate many things: “look what I’ve accomplished,” “look where I am,”
“look who I’m with,” “look how good I look,” “look how ironic I can be,” or even
“look how I’m feeling.” Unlike Narcissist’s constrictive mirror, selfies are relational
by nature, they are meant to be shared with others who’ll understand the context
and the subject’s pose and reaction. Selfies can be public self-promotion, meant
for a broad audience beyond family or friends, or intimate, meant for an audience
of one. As actor James Franco wrote in the New York Times, “the self-portrait is
an easy target for charges of self-involvement, but, in a visual culture, the selfie
quickly and easily shows, not tells, how you’re feeling, where you are, what
you’re doing.”

With intention, the selfie can be even more. It can expand the image of one’s self
by providing a means to explore depictions of identity: a former identity, a
transitional identity, a hoped for identity, even an imaginal or archetypal identity.
The effects can be immediate, according to a study with elders using portrait
photography, “Seeing a photograph of one’s self smiling usually elicits another
smile, and helps instill feelings of happiness.” (Buckner, 1978)

The real power of the selfie can be tapped when one goes beyond the normal
public expressions, to capture what is not being openly expressed. Taking a
candidly emotional portrait or even a non-flattering one can be very liberating!
Capturing and curating a multitude of these images can help to redefine how one
sees his or herself, to go beyond the daily roles one inhabits, by cultivating
creative risk-taking. Jason Grim is an artist who took a series of self-portraits
inspired by horror movies that he grew up with. As the series grew, the photos
took on narratives and became a connected anthology exploring the nature of
monsters.

In my work with clients, I sometimes encourage or assign specific self-portraits.

Below are some ideas for selfie experimentation:

Emotional Selfies – Photograph or videotape yourself in an emotional state:
anxious, sad, frustrated, amorous or lonely. These kinds of images can remind us
that even when deeply felt, emotions are chemical and temporary.

Shadow Selfies – Carl Jung, implored people to know their shadow, “Everyone
carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life,
the blacker and denser it is.” Finding meaningful and contained ways to express
your shadow can prevent it from coming out in more self-destructive or
dangerous ways. And as anyone who has dressed up as a monster for
Halloween knows, it’s fun to express dark impulses. What forms does your
shadow take?

Cosplay Selfies – Nearly every child plays with embodying superheroes, fairy
tales, or iconic characters. Some adults know the pleasure of taking on an iconic
character via costumes at comic book conventions or Halloween. Give yourself
permission to play with one of your favorite characters. Better yet, reimagine it to
fit your personality – change the character’s gender or combine motifs ala “a
steampunk Batman”.

Archetypal Selfies – How do you relate to the elements – fire, air, earth, water? Is
there an animal you feel a deep affinity for? A Goddess or mythic character that
resonates for you? Find a way to capture the essence of these archetypal
images in a self-portrait.

Ancestor Selfies – Combine genealogy with self exploration, learn about those
who came before you and honor their place in your genes. Wear your
grandfather’s fedora or your great grandmother’s jewelry. Dress in eraappropriate
attire for when they were your age. Find a way to exemplify the
ideals you share with them.

Visioning Selfies – Take a selfie inhabiting a role you want to take on but have yet
to. Want to learn to play guitar? Take a photo of yourself holding one. Want to
write a novel? Take a picture of yourself typing the title page. Want to make
sandwiches to pass out to the needy? Take a photo of yourself making a
sandwich. These can serve as inspirational reminders. Who knows as you strum,
write or make a sandwich it may just segue into the act and move toward
becoming a habit.

Opposite Selfies – What do you consider opposite from yourself? If you are shy,
imagine being outgoing. What would it mean to embody the ”opposite” end of the
political spectrum? An earnest exploration of radical difference can lead to
empathy and understanding.

Passive-Action Selfies – These are candid, taken via a timer, rather than posed.
Snap them while answering emails, napping, talking to a dear friend, walking the
dog, or looking for your keys. Later upon examination, details may emerge about
how you approach the mundane acts of daily life.

Current inexpensive digital tools allow simple adjustments to further transform
these images. You no longer need to learn Photoshop. Now an inexpensive app
can transform that photo of you in your grandmother’s shawl into a tintype, that
photo of you dressed as She-Hulk into a comic book panel, or a shadowy self
portrait can become a wispy watercolor or be imbued with a fractured prismatic
effect.

What can these selfies be used for? You needn’t do anything with them. The
process of creating them may be value enough. If you are sharing, be mindful of
how and with whom. If you are expressing a dark aspect of your personality,
perhaps Facebook, where your mom and seven-year-old nephew will likely see
it, is not the venue for it. If you’ve created a photo to embody an opposite point of
view, it could be misinterpreted and maybe even offensive to those who don’t
know the spirit or context. Practice relational intelligence when sharing deeply
personal work.

Ways to use selfies:

• Time capsule – stash the photos away not to be looked at until a pre-determined date.
• Turn them into trading cards to share with like-minded friends.
• Use them in collage.
• As writing prompts for poetry or journal entries.

Share them with your therapist. As PhotoTherapist Judy Weiser states, “Selfportraits
permit direct nonverbal self-confrontation, they can be not only
validating and empowering, but also the most threatening and risky kinds of
photos to open one’s emotions to — which is precisely the reason they are such
quick and effective activators of deep process work in therapy situations.”
Psychotherapy offers containment, relationship, and deep inquiry, making it an
ideal place to explore every aspect of your self.

Sources:

Selfie Syndrome – How Social Media is Making Us Narcissistic http://www.bestcomputerscienceschools.net/selfies/

Art at Arm’s Length: A History of the Selfie, Jerry Saltz http://www.vulture.com/2014/01/history-of-the-selfie.html

The Meanings of the Selfie, James Franco http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/arts/the-meanings-of-the-selfie.html

The Self Portraits of Jason Grim, Christopher Harrity http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/2014/10/30/self-portraits-jason- grim?page=0,0

Self-Portraits in PhotoTherapy, Judy Weiser http://www.phototherapy-centre.com/self_portraits.htm

Buckner, B. (1978). Therapeutic implications of portrait photography in a nursing home. Concern in Care of the Aging, 4, 31-32.

Weiser, J. (1999, 2nd Edition). PhotoTherapy Techniques: Exploring the Secrets of Personal Snapshots and Family Albums (1st edition: 1993), Vancouver: PhotoTherapy Centre Press