BRIEF:

The internet sits in a strange place in our culture: not quite a third space, not quite a sandbox, but something in between. As digital platforms become more and more embedded in everyday life, identity becomes shaped by the internet itself. However, these repeated ideas and gestures of self-image perpetuated by algorithms become the basis of identity, rather than genuine gestures of self-expression. 

This project asks: In what ways does the internet influence the way people construct and understand themselves? Can we still foster creativity and self expression online? 


END RESULT:

Using contemporary internet art and research, this case study proposes ways of representing the self online that encourage experimentation with the medium of the internet and critical engagement in spite of the systemic oppressions in place. 

By examining digital artists and culture throughout history, this project re-frames online identity as something fluid and multifaceted that can not only deepen self-understanding but also encourage community on and off the screen.