PARALLEL IDENTITIES

Michele Pace

Social media has provided us with the opportunity to gather new acquaintances, including people who know nothing of you. We may astonish people by depicting an ideal persona online. Michele Pace's video Parallel Identities illustrates the limitations of false representation through social media. It also provides a glimpse on a portrayal of self can be customized—even using false claims or ideals—for intended receivers. What drives us to hide who we really are? Is it curiosity? Being able to masquerade as another to gather responses or imagine a road not taken? Is it entertainment? Is it possible that we find glee in disguising ourselves as another? Or perhaps it is out of necessity? We are all riddled with mistakes, filled with vices and virtues. Yet, the allure of perfection pushes us to hide the flaws that define us, and social media makes that easy.

Email : michele[dot]pace[at]baruchmail[dot]cuny[dot]edu