REPRESENTATION

Representation Definition:

• In visual culture, representation is the act of portraying, depicting, symbolizing, or presenting the likeness of something. Language, the visual arts (painting/sculpture), and media (TV, photography, film) are all systems of representation that function to symbolize the real world.

How social media relates to representation?

• Social media apps are a way to represent yourself as anything you want to be. One may use a media platform to post an image depicting how their life is (for example a picture of them smiling on the beach). Nobody really knows what their life is like, but since the image represents happiness, we assume they are happy. Social media is representing a way to share how people want to be portrayed by others. Media influencers represent themselves a certain way, most times this representation is being rich, being happy, having no problems in life...(etc) which can convince youth to think that these are realistic lifestyle expectations. 

• The Media influencers or Icons (attractive people, famous artists, anyone who has a big follower base) represent themselves a certain way on social media which affects how their followers see them, and how their followers want to see themselves as. If they follow you, they most likely look up to you, so however you present yourself is how the following base is going to want to be presented as well. 

How does our society's expectations represent the United States?

• Our societies expectations lead the United States to represent aspects such as being wealthy. It shows most people here have the money to go on vacations and buy nice assets. Other counties may look at the USA as trashy or dirty because of how some of our famous (specifically hip hop artists) express themselves (lots of ladies, expensive grills, and guns...).

• "The first word that comes to mind when I hear the word America is 'Arrogance.' They are big and loud and they are in charge of everything." (CBS news, 2016). 

- This image may represent "a perfect life" for adolescents because the musicians that they look up to post images of nice cars, girls by their side, and nice jewelry. This gives off the idea that you can be happy and famous too if you have all of these aspects in the images (which is unrealistic).