WRITING PROMPT (Due Mon @ 1p)

HW for Wed: Read Arsanios, “April-May-June” and “Narration.”
By 1pm Monday, respond to the prompt below.  By 8pm Monday, reply to a classmate’s response with a specific comment or suggestion for revision (25-50 words).
PROMPT (3 parts):
How does Salz define the genre of the selfie?  How does he make clear what is special or unique about the selfie?

1.  Make two lists.  In one, tally up at least five ways Salz describes what a selfie IS.  In the other list, tally at least five things Salz says the selfie IS NOT (or is different from).  Refer to page #s from the text to locate each description.

 
2.  Using your lists, write a paragraph of prose (full sentences) that expresses Salz’ multiple ways of defining what a selfie is.  Also include any questions you might ask Salz about his essay—as well as any thoughts about the selfie that you  have.
3. Copy Salz’ first two sentences (italicized below) word-for-word.  Then answer the questions about each sentence.
1: (Hook) We live in the age of the selfie.
–What makes this a “hook”?  Why is this the first sentence he uses?
2: A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.
–What do we notice this sentence doing?How does it build off of the first sentence?

42 thoughts on “WRITING PROMPT (Due Mon @ 1p)”

  1. In the article “Art at arm’s length” the author makes a comparison to the style of the self-portrait implying that today’s iteration of self-portrait aka a selfie is nearly parodying it. However, I see it as less of an intentional reinventing of self-portrait and more of an accidental rehash of the ideology itself. Trying to instead breathe a sense of vanity a superiority in the harshest scene, but it also shows a bit of charm as it attempts to show or present the identity of a person in on the photo. However, it seems to be for a more specific type of person because I personally don’t like to engage in this activity due to me finding it “off-putting”. I find it to be more telling of an internal ugliness being vanity and desperation as the actions are often done solely with the intent on sharing it on social media. To me that no appealing but to each their own.

    1. William,

      I find your thought that the selfie is a “parody” of the self-portrait to be quite interesting.  Would you say a bit more about how the selfie is a parody of this older historical form of art?  Also, I’m not quite sure that this is what Salz is saying about the selfie (although maybe I missed that part of his article).  Could you show us where he says something about this in the article?

      Also, be sure to complete all the steps of the Writing Prompt in order to receive full credit.  Take a look at Andy’s post below, for instance.

      Thanks,

      Monroe

  2. In this article called “Art at Arm’s Length” by Jerry Salz. Salz define the word selfie by how smartphone’s camera is a fast self-portrait that gives out to the internet and tells and show people what you are doing and it shows what we are as a person. Salz make it clear that selfies has changed a lot by social interaction , body language, self-awareness, privacy, humor, temporality, irony and public behavior. He also talks about how their is a type of selfie which is called self-portraiture. Self-portraiture is about our own structure of autonomy.

    Five ways Salz describes what is selfie IS:

    1.) Selfie are usually causal.

    2.) Selfies are improvised.

    3.) Selfies are mainly to be seen by other people in social networks.

    4.) Selfies has to be approved by sender before they could be posted on social media.

    5.) Selfies is a folk of art that is a ready making a large language and people in photography.

    Five ways Salz describes what is not selfie:

    1.) Selfies don’t make impress claims.

    2.) Showing off body imagine (Kim Kardashian’s),

    3.) Sociopathology is not a selfie.

    4.) Nelson Mandela’s memorial service.

    5.) selfie prank picture.

    A paragraph about Salz multiple ways of defining what is a selfie:

    Jerry Salz believes that selfie should be casual pictures. Selfie should be a improvised picture because selfie shouldn’t be a prepare picture it should be natural. Selfies should be seen by other people on social networks. Salz also talks about how selfies is a type of art and how it a language and people in photography. Salz also talk about how selfie is being approved by sender before they can post it online.

    Questions I want to ask the author:

    what made you to write this article about selfies?

    First two sentence:

    1.) “We live in the age of the selfie”.

    “What makes this ahook”?

    Answer: This sentence make it a hook because the author is trying to tell the reader that selfies is a big problem in society today.

    Why is this the first sentence he uses?

    Answer: Jerry Salz use this as his first sentence is because he is trying to hook the reader into the article and he is trying to tell us how this generation change a lot towards selfies.

    2.) A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.

    What do we notice this sentence doing?

    Answer: We notice that this sentence is defining what is a self portrait is and how fast it gets out to the public and online.

    How does it build off of the first sentence?

    Answer: This is build off of the first sentence because it’s tell the reader how smartphone could make it much easier for people to post their everyday life style.

     

    1. Thanks, Andy.  Great work on your first list of things Salz says the selfie IS.  A couple ideas for your paragraph about Salz’ definition of the selfie: is Salz really telling us what selfies “should be” (as you’ve written)?  It seems to me he is trying to describe what selfies are; I don’t get the sense reading the article that he is prescribing what selfies should be, or ought to be, like.  But perhaps I’ve missed something: if I have, please show me in the article where you see Salz telling us what selfies “should be.”

      Lastly, in your response to Salz’ hook, you mention that he thinks selfies are a big problem today.  Have another look at the article, I’m not sure he thinks this; in fact, I think he’s celebrating the selfie to some extent, praising it for its uniqueness.

      Thanks,

      M

    2. Hey Andy

      I totally agree with you on Salz making it clear that selfies has changed how people interact with each other, and so forth. The sentence after that has confused me a little. You stated “He also talks about how their is a type of selfie which is called self-portraiture.” if you take a look at to pg.2, paragraph 2, you’ll see that Salz describes that a portraiture is a genre, then he goes on to explain what a genre is. Then, if you take a look a paragraph 3 on pg.2 you’ll also notice that he explains why a selfie and a portraiture are different genres. 

      Justin.

  3.      In the article Art at Arm’s Length: A History of the Selfie, the author Jerry Salz defines the genre of the selfie by describing all of the uniqueness about selfies. Informing us how selfies have changed social interactions,humor, self awareness, public behavior and privacy. Being a form of “visual communication”. Stating because of the angles selfies are taken in, it always captures part of the the arm of the person taking the photo, or that the person and/or people in the selfie are never centered properly. Salz also stated “ If both of your hands are in the picture and it’s not a mirror shot, technically, it’s not a selfie, it’s a portrait”. Describing the selfie as only a “fast self portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera” to basically be posted on a network (social media) for the world to see who you (think you) are, what you’re doing, and where you’re at for whomever you think is watching. We

    What IS a Selfie:

    Never Accidental

    Instant Visual Communication

    Casual

    self portrait made with a smartphone

    Spontaneous

     
    What a Selfie IS NOT/ DIFFERENT FROM:

    Traditional Self Portrait

    A clear codified look

    A Genre Created by Artist

    Don’t make pretentious claims

    Kim Kardashian’s Selfie

     
    2.)  Author Jerry Salz defines a Selfie in many ways giving us, the readers in depth descriptions on the proper etiquette of a selfie. A selfie is never accidental. It has to be acceptable to the photographer/subject before being posted on a network because it is an instant visual of communication. Unlike Kim Kardashian’s obviously staged selfie of her butt and side boob, selfies are usually casual, spontaneous self portraits of oneself taken with a smartphone “ in the moment”, but not a traditional self portrait. The genre of selfie does not have a clear codified look as the author stated in his article, as well as not being created by artist, but by the masses of regular people who don’t intend on making pretentious claims of being more than what or who they are. If I set my timer on my iPhone camera to make sure all participants of the selfie are ready, is that not considered a selfie?

    3.)   1: (Hook)  We live in the age of the selfie”

    What makes this a “hook”?

    This is a hook because it is very inviting, making a reader want to read more to find out why the author feels we live in the age of the Selfie.

    Why is this the first sentence he uses?

    This is the first sentence Jerry Salz uses because it introduced the topic of his writing which is selfies, but also made it appealing enough to keep the reader reading.

    2: “ A fast self – portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.”

    What do we notice this sentence doing?

    How does it build off of the first sentence?

    This sentence is continuing to express how we live in the age of the selfie, building off the first sentence by defining what a self is and how it is usually taken, posted and thought of.
     
      

    1. Hi, Syeeda

      I do agree with you when you stated that Salz is informing us on how selfies have changed our social interactions , humor, self awareness,  public behavior  and privacy. You bring up a very interesting question, when asked if you was to set a timer on your IPhone and making sure that all the participants are picture ready would that be considered a selfie?. I feel as though it can be considered a selfie because according to Salz selfies are never accidental and by having a timer you would be giving your participants a better shot at taking a good selfie in the first shot because selfie has to be approved by the sender before being shared social network or any other network at.

       

      1. Hey Syeeda,

        I shared the same thoughts about what Salz described a selfie being. I wrote something similar to that. I agree on selfies being a new way of communication. We are viewing selfies on a daily basis through our phone screens. I find your question very interesting because I think the author of the essay would say that the selfie being timed would still be considered a selfie due to the fact that it’s casual and also not accidental.

        Lizbeth

    2. Syeeda,

      Nice work.  I’m particularly fond of this line from #2: “Unlike Kim Kardashian’s obviously staged selfie of her butt and side boob, selfies are usually casual, spontaneous self portraits.”  Can you unpack it a bit more in another 1-2 sentences, describing the details of Kardashian’s selfie that make it less “casual” than the usual selfie (according to Salz).

      Also, how would you respond to the question you’ve posed at the end?  How do you think Salz would respond?

      Best,

      Monroe

      1. #2 Continued..

        Kim Kardashian’s “revealing yet unrevealing” selfie is not casual a little spontaneous maybe, but according to Salz, “ …how weirdly stage-managed the scene is. Her body is blatantly visible while her décor is carefully blocked off by Japanese screens” Kim’s background is staged so the focus is solely on her enhanced body, and not Kim herself

        I do feel the picture would be considered a selfie even though both of my hands would be in the picture free of my iPhone, because of me using the front facing camera and the use of the timer. Allowing my friends to be “selfie ready”. My question would probably make Jerry Salz rethink or even “expand” the “rules to a selfie”, agreeing that it is indeed a group selfie = Usies.

         

    3. Hey Syeeda

      I also as well wrote something to similar to what you are saying. I agree with the idea that Salz is trying to communicate that a selfie is a genre of communication. I like how you used relevant quotations to support your understanding of the text. Adding on answer your question, yes I believe that is considered a selfie because referring to what Salz was saying you are capturing an extraordinary moment. These selfies allow us to communicate a certain feeling in this particular moment. Just like a selfie is suppose to , in the same way this is telling a story, so yes it is considered a selfie.

       

       

  4. The article “Arts At Arms length ” by Jerry Salz defines selfies as using a smartphones to dedicate a selfie into the internet to portray who we are, where we are, what we are doing and how we want people to have an image of us. Jerry Salz thinks that selfies are unique and special because they are self governed, we could take selfies however we want. He also believes it impacts our lives.

    1.  Five things that describe a selfie

    – taken fast pg5;

    -casual pg5

    -improvised pg5

    -going into a social network pg5

    -taken as something that you expect and results as amusing pg5

    Five things that don’t describe a selfie

    -a mirror shot pg6

    -accidental pg5

    -two arms in the picture  pg5

    -sociopathology pg7

    2.   Jerry Salz describes selfies as pictures that you expect to take whether it be casual, improvised or fast and result as amusing to you. He also describes selfies as pictures that you take that go into the internet. He explains that we are the ones that control what we post we have to approve what we put on the internet. He also says that with selfies we become our biggest fans we become our own private paparazzi.

    Question

    how do you think selfies will be taken 10 years from now ?

    3. ” We live in the age of the selfie”

    This sentence is a hook because it is talking about this era that we are living in which is taking selfies. He uses this as his sentence to be straight forward on what the article is about to be read about.

    ” A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network’s an instant visual communications of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.”

    It explains the first sentence which is what are selfies, it builds up from the first sentence because it describes what selfies do in our lives as well. So everything he is saying ties back to his first sentence.

     

     

    1. Hey Melanie,

      I really love the question you asked, “how do you think selfies will be taken 10 years from now?” It makes you think, to what extent will technology evolve for selfies? If you take a look at the evolution of the cameras, we started from pinhole camera in the 1500’s and now, 518 years later, we’re taking pictures, selfies, to be exact, with a small pocket-sized cellular device called a smartphone.

    2. Melannie,

      Nice work compiling your lists—thanks for including page numbers so that we can see where each description came from in Salz’ text.

      I was wondering if you could add more to #2 regarding what Salz says the selfie is not.  Right now you’ve compiled his descriptions of what a selfie is, but a useful part of his definition of the selfie is what he tells us it is not.

      Thanks,
      Monroe

    3. Hey Melannie,

      “How do you think selfies will be taken in 10 years?” is a question that I think we should be asking seeing how technology evolves in our everyday life, and it’s also questions if they would even be called “selfies” 10 years from now or something else. Very interesting question to think about in terms of the future.

    4. Hey Melannie,

      I like how you talk about casual, improvised or fast and result as amusing to you. I, also, like how you talk about how selfies change over time and how it unique and special to us. I just don’t understand this sentence you wrote down.  He also says that with selfies we become our biggest fans, we become our own private paparazzi.

      Thanks!

       

  5. In the article “Art of Arms Length,” Jerry Salz defines the genre of the selfie by saying “A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.” By defining the genre of selfie, Salz is trying to say that this new trend is a way of life and that we express ourselves by taking a front facing picture showing how we’re dressed, how we look, and where we are. This new visual communication allows people to know what we’re doing and where we are without having to say a word or letting anyone know specifically. The way Salz makes it clear about what is special or unique about the selfie is by saying “selfies have changed aspects of social interaction, body language, self-awareness, privacy, and humor, altering temporality, irony, and public behavior.” What’s unique about the saying said by Salz is that as a trend becomes popular, the public’s behavior changes as well. For example, “picture 7: Kardashian: revealing yet not unrevealing,” the picture exposes her upper and lower body, not caring who is going to see it and where it is going to end up showing that one will do anything for attention even if it means taking a picture of their body.  
     
    Five ways Salz describes what selfie is:
     

    Selfies are casual

    Selfies are improvised

    Selfies are fast

    Selfies are photography of modern life

    The primary purpose is to be seen

     
    Five ways Salz describes what is not selfie:
     

    Kim Kardashian body mirror picture

    Selfies don’t make pretentious claims

    They are never accidental

    Sociopathology

    If hands are in the picture

     
    A paragraph about Salz multiple ways of defining what is a selfie:
     
    According to Jerry Salz, he believes selfies are usually casual, improvised and fast as their primary reason of being taken is to be seen. Salz believes that selfies are just taken and the person gets to be who they want to be, dress how they want to, be unnatural because it is seen by people who they have never met or don’t know, but selfies have become popular that they are photography of modern life.
     
    A question I want to ask the author:
     
    One question that I have for the author is that we’re currently taking selfies with smartphones. To what extent will future innovations go for selfies?  


    1: (Hook) We live in the age of the selfie.
     
    What makes this a “hook”?  Why is this the first sentence he uses?
     
    What makes “we live in the age of the selfie” a hook is by grabbing the reader’s attention. The way that’s done is by using a term that is usually used for a certain time period and combining it with a type of photography. The reason the first sentence is used is to give the reader an idea of how times have changed throughout centuries of picture styles.
     
    2: A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.
     
    What do we notice this sentence doing? How does it build off of the first sentence?

    What we notice the sentence is doing is explaining how the selfie process works. It’s showing that a selfie is taken with a cellular device known as a smartphone where its then posted on social media where people from all over can see where you are and what you’re doing. It’s building off the first sentence because it elaborates how were in the age of selfies by showing and telling the reader that life has become so easy that with a smartphone you can just upload it to a network and let people see what you’re doing.

    1. Wahid,

      Great job unpacking what is going on in Salz first two sentences (#3).  I also like your question for Salz:

      One question that I have for the author is that we’re currently taking selfies with smartphones. To what extent will future innovations go for selfies?

      How would you respond to this question?  How do you think Salz would respond to this question?

      Also, my suggestion for #2 is similar to my suggestion for Melannie: can you add more about what a selfie is not (in addition to what it is)?

      Thanks,

      Monroe

    2. Wahid,

      I love the question you’ve posed for the author of the article. As someone who’s fascinated by how technology affects different parts of society (particularly education), it’s interesting to think about how emerging technologies will ultimately affect this “age of the selfie” that Salz mentions. Two aspects of technology I’d like to address: camera technology , and technology that (potentially) affects the self.

      Cameras, like many other tech industries, are always looking for improvements and innovations to make their products better, or for something to become the new trend. 360° camera technology has been around for a couple years now, and they’re coming into the hands of the mainstream consumer. If someone takes a 360° picture, they’ve captured the entire world around them, not just a two-dimensional snapshot. Is this still a selfie? Is this more of what Salz calls a “super selfie?”

      My second point is about virtual reality. If someone is tired of the reality they live in, they could put on some virtual reality headsets, and all of a sudden they’re fighting dragons, Lord of the Rings style. Or they could interact with their own girlfriend. Regardless, a “selfie” in this aspect seems like a picture a person takes in a world that transcends the physical world. This is reminiscent of our discussion on the first day of class, relating whether our real-life and Internet persona are really the same person. I think the argument could be made that virtual reality is just a step up from having an Internet personality, but the physical aspect of it makes it inherently different.

      Thank you,

      Zean

  6. In the article “Art at Arm’s Length: A History of the Selfie”, the author Jerry Salz defines selfies as a fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone camera that shows what we are doing, where we are, etc.  Jerry Salz also defines selfies to be more seen by others people on social networks. For example, now people take selfies showing what they are doing and posts them on social networks such as Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram, FaceBook, etc.  The idea of self-portraiture is described in this article that selfies have this self-portraiture meaning that they have their own structural anatomy  which is distinct from others through the history.

    Five ways Salz describes what a SELFIE is :

    Selfies are usually casual
    The primary purpose of selfie is to be seen here and now
    Selfies are never accidental
    Selfies are mainly seen by other people in social networks
    Selfies are a photography of modern life

    Five ways Salz describes what a SELFIE is not different form

    Kim Kardashian’s Selfie
    Selfies don’t make impress claims
    Sociopathology
    A traditional self- portrait
    A genre created by artist

    The author Jerry Salz defines a selfie in various ways. According to him, a selfie has to be acceptable to whoever is taking it before being posted on a social platform, like with the Kim Kardashian selfie. In the article he stated that selfies come from all of us. In other words, selfies can tell a story because as Salz stated selfies shows information such as “where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are.” A picture is worth a 1.000 words so selfies is a type of art that is spoken through its pictures and not its words. For example, I can take a selfie and in that selfie can tell exactly what I am doing and where I am at.

    Question: Why do you consider selfies as a genre?

    First Two Sentence

    “We live in the age of the selfie”.

    Answer- This is a hook because it introduces the reader to what the article is going to be about as well as the author’s interpretation of what the age of selfie means.

    2. ” A fast self- portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.”

    Answer- In this sentence builds up the first sentence stating that “we live in the age of the selfie”, by describing what exactly a selfie does.

     

    1. 1.

      5 Ways Salz Describes What a Selfie is:

      1.” new visual genre” pg. 2

      2. expanding the language of photography pg.3

      3. “carry surpluses of meaning” pg. 5

      4. capturing an extraordinary moment pg.7

      5. most popular genre ever pg.2

       

       5 Ways Salz Describes What a Selfie is NOT:

      1. not just a self portrait pg.2

      2. composition of selfies are different from self portraitures pg. 2

      3. selfies are never staged pg. 2

      4. “selfies don’t make pretetious claims” pg. 4

      5. more than marks of vanity pg. 4

      2. According to the listed terms in ways Salz describes what a selfie is and is not, you can depict he uses a few literary devices to get his idea across. In order to demonstrate the way in which Salz perceives the idea of selfies is, he explains it through the use of metaphors and similes. For example he constantly goes back and forth comparing the genre of a selfie to different genres of art and expression. For example he compares it to photography and literature. The way he does this is by going back and forth describing how they are different and alike. Salz diffrenciates that yes a selfie is a form of art and expression, just in the same way photography and different forms of literature are. However he explains the terminology of a selfie is different and unique because it communicates a message unintentionally. For instance he describes how self portraitures are taken with a certain intention and cause, but a selfie is taken more spontaneously without no particular intention. Given real life examples in these texts such as the selfies that were viral and well-known, you can identify a story of it’s own. I as well agree with Salz and am able to come to recognization of what makes this genre of a selfie so unique.  A selfie is almost like a genre displaying many other genres in between the deeper lines, they gradually tell a story of an individual in its own way. In other words a selfie is a natural form of art.

      3.

      We live in the age of a Selfie”

      This first sentence is a hook because it is relating right away to the audience, making us more intrigued. As an audience often we like to connect with what we devote our time to. It is more convincing to hold an interest in where you have a connection rather then something you relate to. Salz starts with the word “we”, right away he is picking up a casual tone in where the audience will be able to build a relationship to what they are reading. As an audience once again it is more valuable to adhere to something in relevance to yourself, which is why this can be referred to as a hook.
      ” A fast self- portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.”
      This sentence is defining the word selfie in a descriptive and in depth way. This builds off of the first sentence because it is explaining the relevancy of the topic. It is giving credibility as to why you are about to read about the genre of the selfie.

       

       

       

    2. Shanice,

      Good question for Salz regarding the word “genre.”  Can you begin to answer this question yourself by poking around on Google for definitions of what a genre is?
      Also, my suggestion for #2 is similar to my suggestion for Melannie: can you add more about what a selfie is not (in addition to what it is)?
      Lastly, I was wondering why you put Kim Kardashian’s photo as an example of what a selfie is not.  Can you explain?
      Thanks,
      Monroe

  7. In the article entitled “Art at Arm’s Length” by Jerry Salz he defines the genre of a selfie as being a fast portrait of one’s self taking with a smartphone’s camera which immediately is distributed and inscribed into a network, as well as an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching. Salz makes it very clear the genre of the selfie is unique because is change the aspect of social interaction, body language, self-awareness,  privacy, and humor of people.

    1)Five ways Salz describes what a selfie is: (Pg2)

    1. Selfies are fast.

    2. Selfies are usually casual.

    3. Selfies are improvised.

    4. Selfies are never accidental.

    5. A selfie has to be approved by the sender before being embedded into a network.

    Five things Salz say selfies is not:

    1. Selfies don’t make pretentious claims. (Pg3)

    2. Selfies aren’t for the ages. (Pg3)

    3. Putting your body on display for the world to see.(Kim K. Pg6)

    4. Taking in sanctified spaces ( John Quirks Pg5)

    5. Prank selfie (Pg8)

    2)  Jerry Salz illustrates a selfie as being a portrait of oneself taking with a smartphone camera. This selfie portrait is usually taking in a casual form, it’s taking very fast and is also in an informal improvised way. These selfie or self-portrait are usually and never done accidentally and most important all selfies must be approved by the sender before being embedded into a network.

    3) (1) (Hook) We live in the age of the selfie.

    Salz used this sentence as a hook because he wants the reader to know how the genre of selfie is becoming a new formal way of communication and how its consuming the things we do and how people see us via social network.

    (2) A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.

    What this sentence is doing is that its explaining to the reader what a selfies is. It’s building off the first sentence by explaining how taking a selfie with a smartphone camera is a fast way to distributed and inscribed into a network a image of yourself .

     

    1. Mindy,

      Nice work explaining what the first two sentences are doing in connection with each other (#3).
      My suggestion for #2 is similar to my suggestion for Melannie: can you add more about what a selfie is not (in addition to what it is)?
      Lastly, I was wondering about your last three examples of what a selfie is not.  I’m not sure I thought that Salz was suggesting that those kinds of photos were not selfies.  But maybe I misread.  Can you explain?
      Thanks,
      Monroe

      1. Hello, Professor

        To better explain my last three points as to what a selfie is not with Kim Kardashian selfie is was more so the level she took to stage this selfie but intentionally outlining her butt-crack and the way she positioned the Japanese seen to block off the background. My second points selfies being taking in sanctified spaces with reading the article this really does not fit what a selfie should be more of a poor judgment. What better fits what a selfie is not is according  to Salz is if both your hands are in the picture its no longer a selfie its considered a portrait.  Instead of using prank selfies as an example for what a selfie is not which now I can see that it doesn’t fit that criteria what I should have said was selfies are not sociopathology.

         

        1. As to reiterate as to what my a selfie is according to Salz as being a fast portrait   of one’s self taking with a smartphone’s camera which immediately is distributed and inscribed into a network, as well as an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching. Salz makes it very clear that the genre of a selfie is unique for the reason that it changes the aspect of social interactions, body language, self-awareness,  privacy, and people’s humor, also selfies that are sociopathology are simple just confirming what we all ready knew about the person

          To give a better explanation of my final three points as to what a selfie is not, for instant in looking  at Kim Kardashian selfie it was more so the level she took to stage this selfie to make it look great by intentionally outlining her butt-crack and the way she positioned the Japanese seen to block off the background. My second points is that selfies were being taking in what people may considered to be sanctified spaces, but within reading the article again this in fact does not fit what a selfie should it more of a poor judgment on the person taking this selfie.

          Perhaps what better fits what a selfie is not as claimed by Salz is that if both your hands are in the picture it will no longer be a selfie it will now be considered a self-portrait.  Instead of using prank selfies as an example for what a selfie is not which now I can see that it doesn’t fit that criteria what I should have said was selfies are sociopathology meaning selfies like are only confirming what we all ready know.

           

  8. According to Salz, a selfie is a “fast self portrait” taken by a smartphone camera to be shared with people on the internet.  He explains that the whole idea is for people to see you in that specific moment. A selfie carries a lot of information about a person. The way we pose ,  are dressed , and where we are located. It’s a new form of communication but visually. You don’t necessarily have to know the person taking the picture , either way you’ll know what they’re up to by the content of the image. Selfies are unique because as he stated on page 3, “selfies are a photography of modern life-not that academics or curators are paying much attention to them. They will though: in a hundred years, the mass of selfies will be an incredible record of the fine details of everyday life.” Jerry Salz feels like not many people are conscious of what a selfie holds. Just like how we observe information from people that where here before us , people from the future will also look into selfies to gain knowledge of everyday life before them.

    Five ways Salz views a selfie:

    Photography of modern life

    Usually casual

    Control

    Approval by the sender

    Five ways Salz views what a selfie IS NOT:

    Kim Kardashian’s selfie

    Two arms in the picture

    Sociopathology

    Do not make pretentious claims

    They are never accidental

    Paragraph of describing a selfie:

    Jerry Salz believes that a selfie should be taken by ourselves through a smartphone camera to be shared on the internet. It is a way of expressing yourself. It’s causal , not staged. It’s a new form of communication. He goes on and gives us examples of people engaging in this trend. Salz explains how much information a selfie can carry and how it is folk art and it is expanding the language and lexicon of photography.

    Question to the author:

    What does Jerry Salz believe the next popular trend of taking pictures will become?

    Hook We live in the age of selfie

    This makes it a hook because the author is inviting us to read about selfies. For us to understand how selfies have become a form of communication over the internet.

    Leading sentence of hook

    The sentence starts to give us insight of what selfie is more like. Technology plays a role in selfies due to the fact that it’s taken on a smartphone and shared on to the internet.

     

    1. Lizbeth,

      Nice work here—especially in #3 where you explain how the “hook” and what you call the “leading sentence” are working together.
      My suggestion for #2 is similar to my suggestion for Melannie: can you add more about what a selfie is not (in addition to what it is)?
      Lastly, I was wondering why you (and several others as well) put Kim Kardashian’s photo as an example of what a selfie is not.  Can you explain?
      Thanks,
      Monroe

  9. Jerry Salz in “Art at Arm’s Length” is showing to the reader various aspects of selfies in people live. This new way of expressing ourselves stepped deep in our daily routine. Salz says that selfie is quick, spontaneous, photo taken by people anywhere, at any time. Most of them have bad camera angles, and is off center, but this is selfie property that it hasn’t straight rules.

    I. Five ways Salz describes what a selfie is:
    1.      A new form of instant communication by photos.  Pg1
    2.      A tool to control our presentation, by ourselves in social life. Pg2
    3.      Provider of the news. Pg3
    4.      “New era” diary. Pg3
    5.      Emotion amplifier added to text. Pg5
    II. Five ways Salz describes what a selfie is not:
    1.       Self-portrait Pg2
    2.      Dominated by artists. Pg2
    3.      Having pretentious claims. Pg3
    4.      Evidence of narcissistic age of human kind. Pg3
    5.      Sopped evolving. Pg9

    Selfie is spontaneous photo of ourselves, which have changed many layers of our live, but mostly in social live. It becomes new way of communication. People don’t have to type long text messages to describe something, now they can “snap” a picture and it will speak by itself. Selfies give big advantage for people in presenting themselves. Now everyone can decide when, and where want to be seen by others. Selfies also are providers of news. People can share information about events from all of the world. People take selfies so often that we can call them “new era diary”, after long period of time they will show how our lives had changed. Also, selfies amplified emotions, in communication. They express are more in conversation then just words.
    Question to the author:
    How strong are selfies connected witch psychology state of human?

    1: (Hook) We live in the age of selfie.
                   What makes it a hook? –  This sentence caught reader attention. It is a strong statement in which word “age” is reminiscent of history, that we live in tis “age” and in the same time we create it.
                   Why is this the first sentence he uses? – In my opinion this sentence is a base to develop the rest of passage and explain his point of view.
     2: A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.
                   What do we notice this sentence doing? – This sentence is making a brief description what the selfie is.
    How does it build off of the first sentence? – In my opinion it enforced first sentence, by showing how easy it is to take a selfie, and how many things what we do can describe.

    1. Kamil,

      Good work explaining how the first two sentences work in #3.  I also really like the work you’ve done in your summary in #2, emphasizing how selfies “speak” in place of words.  In #2, I’d suggest using Salz’ name to show that these are, primarily, his ideas about selfies.  Even if you agree with what he is saying, it can be helpful to remind your reader that the ideas are from his essay.  (Then you can more clearly introduce your own ideas that add or respond to Salz’.)
      My other suggestion for #2 is similar to my suggestion for Melannie: can you add more about what a selfie is not (in addition to what it is)?
      Thanks,
      Monroe

    1. Jin,

      Thank you for the first part of #1.  This seems like you are probably still working on it, so I will wait until you’ve completed parts 1-3 to comment more fully.  Please let me know via e-mail if you have questions.

      Thanks,

      Monroe

  10. In “Art at Arm’s Length: A History of the Selfie,” author Jerry Salz makes the case that the selfie is part of a new visual genre, a self-portrait similar to the portraits of long ago, yet distinct in its own way. What makes the selfie unique is that the people who create these portraits are not artists themselves, and these “works of art” are disseminated heavily upon creation. Furthermore, the selfie is distinct in being casual in creation, yet still have the capacity to create social dialogue.

    What a selfie is:
    – silly, typical, boring (page 2)
    – casual, improved, fast (page 2)
    – closeness, shallow depth, and odd cropping (page 4)
    – we’re in these pictures (page 5)
    – shift…[from] memorial function to a communication device (page 9)
    What a selfie is NOT:
    – the portraits of old (page 2)
    – accidental (page 2)
    – a moral pitfall of Western culture (page 3)
    – necessarily marks of vanity (page 3)
    – intended to make pretentious claims (page 3)
     
                The different ways Salz describes selfies are used to show how the physical selfie sometimes differs from the meaning and interpretation of the selfie. They are not the portraits of old, both those done by wealthy elites or the ones introduced in the 1990s when webcams started taking off. These are boring and casual, and never accidental, yet can still provoke conversations about etiquette and body language. Salz mentions that we are in these selfies, and that means that we sometimes forget the purpose of the picture. However, this is just more of an indication that selfies are a shift from taking pictures as a form of memorializing something, to communicating with others through posting these selfies on social media. Furthermore, just because we are taking so many selfies does not mean that we are necessarily a narcissistic generation, but that we are aware of well the selfie does as a means of communication. This is because the selfie was not meant to make any pretentious claims, but to just be fast and typical.
     
    1: (Hook) We live in the age of the selfie.
    –What makes this a “hook”?  Why is this the first sentence he uses?
                 The “hook” is meant to capture the attention of the readers and making such a bold statement is one way to do that. When we think about the different “ages” that the world has gone through, perhaps the Ice Age, the Paleolithic Age, the Age of Enlightenment, we may not necessarily think of the “selfie” as a trend significant enough to define an entire time period.
     
    2: A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.
    –What do we notice this sentence doing? How does it build off of the first sentence?
                 This sentence defines what a selfie is, from the literal function of a selfie to the figurative. First it is just a picture, but it transforms into a form of communication. The first sentence makes a bold claim about the time period we live in being defined by selfies, and this sentence shows us why that statement could be made. If we can take a picture on the fly that contributes to the definition of ourselves, then maybe the selfie is as important as the first sentence implies.

      1. Zean,

        I deleted the top part of the post.  I’m glad you’re drafting in Word, but if you wouldn’t mind deleting the header code in future posts, that’d be greatly appreciated.  Thanks again for the great post.

        M

    1. Zean,

      Great post.  Your lists in #1 are thorough and include page numbers; your summary (#2) includes ample material explaining Salz’ view both of what selfies are and what they aren’t; and your explication of the way the opening sentences work together is nuanced.  I did have a question about a “jump” I noticed between a couple of sentences in your summary.  You write:

      They are not the portraits of old, both those done by wealthy elites or the ones introduced in the 1990s when webcams started taking off. These are boring and casual, and never accidental, yet can still provoke conversations about etiquette and body language. 

      Is there a way of building a transition between these ideas so that the move from your discussion of historical portraits (pre-selfies) to your description of selfies and what they do (in the second sentence) feels more intentional and worked through?  Also, does Salz really seem to think that selfies are “boring”?  I know he mentions the idea of selfies being boring on p. 2 but I’m not sure that’s his own view he’s representing there.  Have another look.

      Thanks,

      Monroe

    2. Hi ZeanK,

      I like your work, what you say it’s very similar to my point of view of this essay. Especially I like part 1 and 2 where you are describing genre of selfie, and what is selfie. You didn’t ask questions to the author, do you think that Salz bring every think in the subject of selfies?

       

    3. Hi Zeank,

      I was intrigued by what you pulled out for the list of what a selfie is: silly, typical, boring. I was reading a lot of the responses and didn’t really see that one. I agree a lot of the selfies I see on my newsfeed are played out ( I’m guilty of it too. )

  11. The article “Art at Arms Length” by Jerry Salz is quite interesting. Jerry Salz describes the selfie as a unique genre due to its many sub categories and structural autonomy. Salz makes it clear that selfies are unique because it is an everlasting insight of modern life. He explains how different our lives would be if people were taking selfies all throughout history. We’d have an insight of what people lives were like if they took selfies like how we take them today. He describes selfies as ” things that take us to a place where we become the author of another story” (Pg. 5)

    FIVE WAYS SALZ DESCRIBE WHAT A SELFIE IS

    1) A selfie is always taken from arms length (PG.2)

    2) It is a photograph of modern life (PG.3)

    3) Its purpose is to be seen (PG.2)

    4) A selfie is a tool of communication (PG.2)

    5)An insight into peoples life (PG.6)

     

    FIVE WAYS SLAZ DESCRIBES WHAT A SELFIE IS NOT OR DIFFERENT FROM

    1) A mirror picture is not a selfie (PG.2)

    2) A selfie does not make pretentious claims (PG.2)

    3) Selfies are not accidental (PG.3)

    4) A selfie has a different structural autonomy than self-portraits (PG.4)

    5) If both hands are in the image, it is not a selfie.

    2)THE PARAGRAPH

    Salz’ defines selfies as close up self induced images that captures the moment of modern day life. Selfies are interesting because they give us an insight of someones personal life. The different subcategories make selfies different from traditional self- portraits. Salz states” the selfie subline: An extra ordinary moment” on page 7.  That statement ricochets off of his statement in paragraph 1 ” selfies have changed aspects of social interaction”.  We live in an era where we don’t even have to explain our story or situation, the selfie speaks for itself.

    QUESTION: How do you think selfies will impact the generations to come? Can this article be used in schools where the younger generation is taking advantage of selfies without even knowing the history behind it or the impact it has on our modern life? I think its important for others to read this article.

    1) We live in the age of the selfie.

    The first sentence is a hook because it allows the reader to get a glimpse of what will be discussed throughout the text. This sentence gives us the topic of the whole text.

    2) A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.

    I noticed this sentence is listing what Salz believes a selfie is. The sentence sequentially describes the process of a typical selfie. The sentence ricochets off of the first sentence by defining the modern-day selfie and how a selfie is used to communicate with the intended audience.

     

    1.  

      Hey Justin,

      I agree, if selfie’s were a “thing” back in the day like they are now, how would history differ? What would be different about what we’re taught in school and what a selfie from that time shows or depicts. Though we might get caught up in a “what it could have been” or what scenery was like moment becoming the author, how would we interpret what we see in a selfie from history without knowing any background information

  12. According to Salz, a selfie is a “fast self portrait” taken by a smartphone camera to be shared with people on the internet.  He explains that the whole idea is for people to see you in that specific moment. A selfie carries a lot of information about a person in a specific time.  From the way they posititon themselves, are dressed , and where they are located. It’s a new form of visual communication in a way. Salz makes it clear that selfies are unique because it is an lasting image of modern life and that the people who create these selfies are not recognized as artists.
    1)Five ways Salz describes what a selfie is:
    Selfies are fast.
    Selfies are never accidental.
    Selfies are improvised.
    Selfies are usually casual.
    A tool to control our presentation, of ourselves in social life
    -Five ways Salz describes what a selfie is not:
    Traditional Self Portrait
    A clear codified look
    A Genre Created by Artist
    Don’t make pretentious claims
    Kim Kardashian’s Selfie
    2)  Jerry Salz illustrates a selfie as being a portrait of oneself taking with a smartphone camera. This selfie portrait is usually taking in a casual form usually with one hand not being shown in the camera view, it’s taking very fast and also in an improvised way. These selfie or self-portrait are never done accidentally and can also be considered useful in order to control how we are portrayed on social media or in our social life.
    1: (Hook) We live in the age of the selfie.
    –What makes this a “hook”?  Why is this the first sentence he uses?
      The “hook” is meant to capture the attention of the readers and making a statement that allows you to question why he said it makes you want to read more to find out. The reason the first sentence is used is to give the reader an idea of what you may consider our generation to be revoloved around and how picture styles have changed throughout history.

    2) : A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.                                                This sentence is listing what Salz believes a selfie is and the process of how it is shared. The sentence directly correlates off of the first which makes the claim about the time period we live in being defined by selfies, and this sentence shows us why that statement could be made by defining the modern-day selfie and how a selfie is used to communicate in our everyday lives.

  13. The article “Arts At Arm’s length ” by Jerry Salz. Jerry Salz defines selfies as using smartphones to show a selfie into the internet to depict who we are, post it in a way so the people can think the way we the consumers want them to think. Jerry Salz believes that selfies are a unique way to present yourself and believes that it can impact our life.

    1.  Five things that describe a selfie

    Taking fast

    Never accidental

    Casual

    They are  improvised

    Seen by other people on social media

     
    Five ways that do not describe what selfie is

    Kim Kardashian body mirror picture

    They are never accidental

    Hands cannot be shown

    Sociopathology

    Selfies don’t make impress claims

     
    Jerry Salz believes that selfie should be casual pictures without showing your hand and it should be improvised because selfies should be natural and not a thing where you should set up yourself. It is a form of art and should not be prepared.

    1. “We live in the age of the selfie”.
     
    What makes this a “hook”?

    This makes it the hook because it shows how selfies are now taking over in this generation.

    Why is this the first sentence he uses?

    Jerry Salz uses this as his first sentence because he is trying to give the idea to the reader right away so the reader can be hooked on to it and get them interested.

     
    2.) A fast self-portrait, made with a smartphone’s camera and immediately distributed and inscribed into a network, is an instant visual communication of where we are, what we’re doing, who we think we are, and who we think is watching.
    What do we notice this sentence doing?
     

    We can see that this sentence is defining what is a self-portrait is.

    How does it build off of the first sentence?
     

    This sentence builds by telling the reader how smartphones can make life so different and make everything easy to post.

     

     

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