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

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.'