Visual Genealogy of Portraits, Self-Portraits, and Selfies: Same Phenomenon, Different Phase of History
Margaretha Häggström University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Abstract. This book chapter explores how the use of portraits has developed over the years. The purpose is to examine the genealogy of three types of portraits — portraits, self-portraits, and selfies — and to reveal similarities and diversity between these. A sample of portraits and self-portraits by painters, and selfies by amateur photographers, are analyzed through the four resources model by Freebody and Luke (1999). In this study, this model contains four theoretical concepts: visual code- breaking, visual meaning-making, visual use and visual analysis. The result shows that both professional artists, such as painters and photographers, and amateur photographers, are visual literate, but on different levels. Visual literacy ability is needed in all these types of portraits, and is always culturally grounded. The images included in this study, show the creators’ awareness of how to express specific personalities. Although, there are differences between the older paintings and today’s selfies, the similarities are more connected than might be thought.
Keywords: Portrait, self-portrait, Selfie, visual literacy, identity creating, subject positioning