Collective identity: blog task

1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you?'

Who are you- This section talks about constructing our identity through the media i.e. fashion statements etc.

I think therefore I am- our identity use to be pre-determined with class, age, gender and ethnicity however we are able to construct our own identity now.

The rise of the individual- identities became more of an individual factor rather than collective where people were able to form their own identities and uniqueness.

From citizen to consumer- This speaks about how advertising and the media were able to convince people to buy what they wanted not what they needed which played a role in constructing identities.

Branding and lifestyle- This links to the idea that branding and the brands you use and associate with play a role in forming your personality/identity.

Who will be?- A persons identity can be determined through their 'homepage' or their social media profile, this shows how they portray themselves publicly.

2) List five brands you are happy to be associated with and explain how they reflect your sense of identity.

Apple- I am happy to be associated with apple because they bring across the idea of innovation and creativity which can reflect to ones personality as a user of their products.

Nike- Nike is a huge worldwide brand that is extremely successful and this reflects my identity as being sporty or having an active lifestyle.

LG- LG is a huge technology brand with the slogan 'life's good' which can reflect my identity as being happy and satisfied with my lifestyle.

Mercedes- This gives off the idea of luxury and a comfortable lifestyle which I am happy to be associated with.

PlayStation- This is a growing brand that I am happy to be associated with because it gives off the idea of having a 'fun' lifestyle due to their advanced gaming features.

3) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean?

Yes, I agree with this expression to an extent because modern media shows peoples identities through their style and what they choose to shown people in their profile pictures, tweets etc. However, I also believe that substance is important in modern media because following someone will allow you to get to 'know them' or see some of their views through their posts and social media page.

This expression means modern media concentrates strictly on a person outside features and what they choose to show people rather than their personal features and views in terms of popular topics.

4) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in one paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more.

'External superficial value exceeds all that is substantial under the veneer of glitter and pretty garlands of flowers.'

5) Is your presence on social media an accurate reflection of who you are? Have you ever added or removed a picture from a social media site purely because of what it says about the type of person you are?

I think that my social media pages are a reflection of who I am to an extent because my posts/tweets etc are coming from me and how i feel about certain issues. I feel that social media is a good way to share your opinion sometimes because of the wide variety of views. However I also think that I cannot be completely judged or summed up though my social media because it is sometimes used as a sense of escapism.

6) What is your opinion on 'data mining'? Are you happy for companies to sell you products based on your social media presence and online search terms? Is this an invasion of privacy?

I think it isn't an invasion of your privacy because it usually and automated service that offers you these products which means there is no real invasion. Also, many may find this useful because they can get products that they want or are interested in according to their searches.