The SELFIE. Word of the year. Well last year, anyways. And a social media rite of passage.
Most of you have done it. At least once.
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By now, everyone and their mother have taken a selfie.
And everybody's got an opinion about them.
"The use of the diminutive -ie suffix is notable, as it helps to turn an
essentially narcissistic enterprise into something rather more
endearing." -Judy Pearsall, Oxford Dictionary editor
Including you.
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| Citizen SELFIE: Bella and the beast. |
And while I am trying to steer away of the meta-micro-world of the me-me-me, and the narcististic focus represented by the ubiquitous selfie, I am a big proponent of the empowerment of taking a self-portrait. Seriously.
It's because I've become proficient at taking a flattering "selfie" that I feel expressive and confident in my +40 year old self. I like to feel beautiful, and see it reflected back at me, when I search for the perfect window lighting for that signature head + shoulder mug shot. To date, no one else has shown the patience or the eye to take a decent picture of this middle aged edition of myself.
So I embrace the selfie. And those who choose to take them.
But this one by far, is my favorite:
Because, you + me = WE. And WE are part of a bigger singular self than our meat-prop bodies and juicy mugs. As far as stellar celebrity selfies go, Ellen and the gang doesn't hold a candle to Mama Earth.
Linking up for Visible Monday over at Not Dead Yet Style
I think a selfie has nothing to do with narcissism at all! It depends on your attitude and the reason why you like takinf pics of yourself. For me (and you), it's self-expression, creativity and about having fun with yourself and enjoying yourself. as long as you don't fall in love with your own picture (this is what narccissis does) and as long as you keep to be authentic, who cares what you do with your cam?
ReplyDeleteSerena!! I miss her! I wanna take selfies with you Bella. xoxoxoxooxoxox
ReplyDeleteBella! I did a double take and thought, "wait....that's me!!" :). You do an amazing selfie and I Irish you'd do a how to post on them.... Mine don't go so well! Love your gorgeous self! Hugs!! Serene
ReplyDeleteYou do take a lovely selfie!!! I am useless at them! (well the ones where I hold the camera!!!) I always seem to catch myself in the most unflattering light!x
ReplyDeleteYou do take a beautiful selfie. But of course, you are beautiful. I'm feel embarrassed to take them, but keep doing it, because one day, I'll get a really great one.
ReplyDeleteLove a good selfie!
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful, you and our gorgeous Mother Earth.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to master the selfie and not certain that I will. You, however have done a fabulous job.
You take wonderful selfies ;-) I can't seem to take a decent selfie .. hence I'm wondering why I bothered to sign up for instagram .. lol.
ReplyDeleteMonica, www.pear-shaped-gal.com
I saw the most hideous pair of quilted pink, sweatshop produced, made in China leggings in town the other day with # selfie in gold lettering down the side! I promise to take a photo of them if they're still in the shop next week! xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm getting over the *word* "selfie" but I still love the results : > Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, you are fab.
ReplyDeleteThey had to call it a selfie because it wouldn't work to say me-ie.
ReplyDeleteLong live the selfie says I. Funny, I've never associated taking a photo of oneself with vanity. I take photos to capture moments, and sometimes those moments include me! Love the ultimate selfie!
ReplyDeleteI love how you embrace the selfie - you are in charge, you know what works and what doesn't work. You feel good about the results. And yeah, you DO take a mighty fine selfie, covergirl worthy. Then the earth selfie at the end, good one. Gives us something to chew on.
ReplyDeleteYou do take a good selfie, very impressive. Mine very ordinary, much room for improvement..
ReplyDeleteLove you a lot for this post, Bella. Not all selfies are created equal, and this new tool is a telling one. If ever I get to thinking that I'm all that and a bag of chips, one selfie tells me otherwise. So there's that too.
ReplyDeleteYou, however, define the all that and a bag of chips meme. Roll on, lovely lady.
Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThat is all.
bisous
Suzanne
Good post Bella! Although the word itself annoys me, I have been taking some selfies the last year for my blog when there is no one else around to capture my latest hat/hair/jewellery find. Like you, I want to feel good about how I look and to have that reflected in photos and taking selfies have helped me accept that yes, that is the face I have, and I'm ok with it.
ReplyDeleteHELLO BEAUTIFUL!! I'm glad you took this one on. I was introduced to this word, "selfie" by a very beautiful, but tortured, ex-boyfriend-artist-as-muse- person who was looking over (cough-cough-STALKING) my facebook, and commented how my then 5yr old profile had a lot of "SELFIES". I thought, self portraits? This guy is one of the mega-beasts who has equal parts inspired me, and irritated me to almost no end. Always worried about being RELEVANT, always the first to use the new slang, and a heart-breakingly talented guy(Why?! Why to be such a dumb jerk?!)he's the only person EVER to tell me, "You should worry about getting old." God bless him, and I hope he gets well someday. THAT is how I feel about the word SELFIE. <3
ReplyDelete