Filtering Our Reality Through Instagram

I enjoyed Jill Rettberg’s chapter on “Filtered Reality” where she examines the word “filter” and relates it to our algorithmic culture, studying technological and cultural filters and what it depicts about modern society’s culture today. She explains how filtering in technology has become a way to “remove certain content [and] alter or distort texts, images, and data” (20).

She explains how Instagram represents a type of filter that adds to the image – through color enhancements, blurring, and other effects. She argues that people subconsciously apply filters that they believe will meet the cultural expectations and norms. She quotes Marwick’s idea that social media favors those who are effective neoliberal subjects, the person who “attends to fashion, is focused on self-improvement, and purchases goods and services to achieve ‘self-realization’” (24).

This quote reminded me of a comical buzzfeed article, “A Day in the Life of a Girl on Instagram Vs. Real Life”. Where it shows typical Instagram posts one would see of an “Outfit of the Day” on Instagram vs. real life. They make fun of many of the typical photos we see, morning coffee, breakfast, lazy Sunday, hangover, working out, etc. This buzzfeed article really embodies what Rettberg claims is occurring on social media especially on Instagram.

All the photos from the Buzzfeed article are enhanced photos with color, crop, placement, and they portray a more luxurious exciting and trendy lifestyle than what may be actually happening. Then the actual life photos are portrayed, showing the disparity between the photos. People who are “instafamous” always have images that are edited with different filters and cropped and placed—following the idea that they are in fact “fashionable” and most of the time they are also focused on “self-improving”. I found it amusing how well the chapter related to the Buzzfeed article, supporting Rettberg’s ideas on social media, filtering, and society.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-girl-on-instagram-vs-real-life#.pemkMNj7p

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2 thoughts on “Filtering Our Reality Through Instagram

  1. Skylar_Elis

    I’ve heard before that the past is always remembered to be better than it actually was, and the present less satisfying. This idea goes back long before social media and was portrayed really well in the movie Midnight in Paris (if anyone has seen it). Anyway, I think now Instagram filters create the ultimate ‘highlight reel’ of our lives, and create unrealistic representations of not only our past, but others’. It’s challenging to not compare your best times, to others best times… especially when the lighting seems perfect and the colors are saturated, and everyone looks their best.

    However, our reality is pretty awesome as is. I think it takes an even greater discipline to truly enjoy the present moment now than ever before.

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