ME MYSELF ME ME ME.

I am exploring miscommunication and misrepresentation of information in regards to the self self and identity to better understand the difference, if there is any between the self as we perceive ourselves, what we project to others, and how others perceive us.

i think that we have a number of different selves...

1. your perceived self
2. your projected self
3. your fake self? that you project knowing it's not you?
4. yourself as perceived by others
5. your desired self - does that even count?

so what are you? what/who is the real self? is it a combination of these - or do others see only one?

for example, when you put up a picture on an online community, you are conveying certain information about yourself that you want conveyed. but, when a friend, or someone else puts up a picture of you, it's not necessarily what you would put up - it's their perception of you which may not always agree.

continuing with the idea of pictures as representations of ourself, we all want to look our best, and even those who "don't care" and put up intentionally "bad" pictures, what does that mean? that means something too, i think.

people, i think, are obsessed with themselves. we are all narcissists in one way or another. maybe not. but i think so.

and what really is it that makes us who we are? it's of course more than the pictures we put on, say, myspace, it's also the way we talk - intonation and accent, as well as choice of words and language, dress, actions, friends as representation, etc what else? is this accurate?

different mannequin's -- or moulds/casts of (my?) face and body -- to be interacted with by others - dressed, voice adjusted/created... um... noooo........ this is dumb... wont work. how about people that don't know me. huh? cant just be about me. has to be larger than that. i don't even know where i'm going with this..

the main reason i'm interested in a project having to do with identity though is because i've only been "priyanka" for two years. i have these issues with my name - and as a result, who i am? i also used to have sort of cultural identity issues. not as much anymore. this is sort of a more personal project. it's likely to be abandoned.

research/precedents

feingold's The Animal, Vegetable, Mineralness of Everything also relates to issues of communication, and also of the self. (also relevant precedent for the miscommunication idea.)