The enshrinement of the selfie: a cultural history

Abstract

The term “selfie” corresponds to a process of late identification of a set of reflexive photographic or video practices related to the emergence of an aesthetics of subjectivity. By exploring the articulation between the autonomy of the record and the actor’s participation in the action, as well as the take-off produced by conversational uses, this article shows that a media controversy unleashed this phenomenon. The allegation in 2013 of the narcissistic character of self-representation or the disrespect for values and norms, presents self-photography as a subculture. This disapproval implied a response of adherence to a gesture now identified as an impertinent and progressive signature, which contributes to its promotion.The controversy enshrined the selfie in the style of a cultural form and imposed it as the most representative photographic practice of contemporary visual expression.