Status Representation in Past and Present: Upper-Class Self-Depiction in 18th-Century Portraiture Compared to Social Media
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2024-06-25
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en
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In this thesis I compare the 18th-century painting "Mr and Mrs Andrews" to an Instagram post of contemporary celebrity Kourtney Kardashian with regards to the differences of upper-class self-depiction observable in each work. By analyzing these two case studies I show how each one exemplifies the unique approaches and potentials of status representation within their respective era, specifically focusing on the way the concept of "relatability" has become an important factor in the analysis of contemporary self-portrayal, especially on social media. This is contrasted with the highly explicit representation of status and distinction from lower classes found in the historical case study. The thesis also delves into the ways the negative reactions to contemporary status representation can actually benefit the depicted through social media and Instagram's indiscriminate algorithm.
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Faculteit der Letteren