Performing the self in a new cultural arena: An escape from turbulent times?

Woodiwiss, Jo (2011) Performing the self in a new cultural arena: An escape from turbulent times? In: The 10th European Sociological Association ESA Conference , 7th-10th September 2012, Geneva, Switzerland. (Unpublished)

Abstract

This paper will look at cultural constructions of the self
and identity. In particular it will explore the virtual worlds of the internet and the opportunities this offers to create new cultural
arenas' and' social' realities'where' the' self' can' be' (re)constructed,'
(re)presented' and'performed.' These'new' ‘virtual'worlds’' can'pro)
vide'a'haven'or'escape'from'turbulent'times,'as'well'as'a'connec)
tion'to'a'world'beyond'the'inner'self.'They'may'also'open'up'new'
possibilities'and'offer'new'ways'to'be'that'enable'an'exploration'or'
expression'of'other'personalities'or' aspects'of' the' self,'where'we'
can' draw' on' new' cultural' constructions' of' selfhood' that' include'
multiple' and' virtual' selves.' These' selves' may' commute' between'
‘real’'and'virtual'worlds,'but'might'also'be'confined'to'the'virtual.'
The'paper'draws'on' two' related' research'projects'which' share'an'
interest' in' the' ways' we' construct,' represent,' communicate' and'
negotiate'our'sense'of'self'(or'selves)')'which'in'the'21st'century'can'
involve' both' the' ‘real’' and' the' virtual.' One' project,' involving' in)
depth,' semi)structured' interviews,'explored'women’s'engagement'
with' narratives' of' childhood' sexual' abuse,' the' self' and' multiple'
personalities.' The' second' project' examined' online' communities'
(including'message'boards,'blogs'and' chat' rooms)' aimed' at' those'
who'believe'they'share'their'lives'with'more'than'one'self'or'per)
sonality.'Drawing'on'the'work'of'Hacking'(1995)'the'paper'will'ex)
amine'the'idea'that'the'virtual'offers'new'arenas'and'new'scripts'in'
which'to'be'(un)happy.'

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