Identity and the Personal Homepage

Les devoirs du jour is an exercise in identity construction based on an article by Charles Cheung. Cheung argues that the web allows us to obviate the traditional difficulties of social encounters and more carefully control the image we present to others. In some cases, this has had a powerfully transformative effect; formerly marginalized individuals suddenly have an avenue for self-expression and meaningful interaction. In many more cases, though, it’s basically self-indulgent folderol. At its best, Cheung describes the personal homepage as “emancipatory.” Under less optimal conditions, we may assign another name to certain homepages.

All of this is pretty much besides the point, but I like to think that I have good reasons for dodging the issue thus far (the issue being how I would construct myself on a homepage). Generally speaking, I have mixed feelings on the topic. On the one hand, haven’t I done this before over and over again? And in a very real sense, haven’t I been constructing a self with these posts? (Isn’t the very act of writing a fairly major form of self-projection?)

And then there’s the other side of the matter, which is to say I’m pretty convinced that people are violently disinterested in me, which renders self-presentation moot. So if I build yet another homepage, I’m essentially giving myself another way to be ignored and alienated, which is like, you know, great.

I suppose the final way to look at it is that being evasive doesn’t get the assignment finished. At this point, the post is sort of looking like, well, self-indulgent folderol. See above.

So, belatedly, how would I present myself on a new homepage? Well, just a few points for starters…

A creative person. This is the most obvious route, given that I’m technically an art major. I say “technically” because, like any art student these days, I routinely criticize my own work and (as a matter of policy) detest anything I’ve made more than five minutes ago. Even so, there’s no way around it – art is a very large part of my life, and any website I make should reflect that.

With that said, I don’t think it’s necessary to beat the viewer over the head to get the point across. It’s extremely easy to appear conceited when presenting yourself as a creative person. I can probably sidestep this difficulty by keeping things subtle and understated – quietly evocative rather than overwhelmingly dramatic. (This is one of those times when it’s actually handy to have a self-effacing personality.)

Content-wise, I’d expect a very large part of the site to be devoted to creative endeavors: sketches, paintings, writings, and so on. Optimally, I wish to appear thoughtful and imaginative as well as disciplined enough to see a project through to completion.

A person who sort of has a sense of humor. I think people can be “professional” while still being themselves – the two need not be mutually exclusive. I also think that most people use the Internet to be entertained (and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing). And like Erik Wolpaw, I generally think that most things that aren’t funny, should be.

Essentially, I’m just giving myself an excuse to vent my own warped and highly cynical sense of humor. Why shouldn’t I have some fun with my own homepage?

A sincere person. Actually, I don’t think there’s too much to say about this one. It’s just been the general pattern for the events of my life.

And with that more or less roughed in, now comes the part where I toss in a few obligatory links. Evidently, the best way to gauge someone’s identity is to correlate it to something external.

Without a doubt, one of my biggest artistic influences is the Concept Art community, whose top tier represents the vanguard of professional illustration, video game design, and figurative expression. That’s basically a numbered list of my wildest dreams. While I’m on the subject, I might as well mention my fierce admiration for contemporary artists like Andrew Jones, Shelly Wan, Marko Djurdjevic, and Jason Chan, to name a few. Oh, and here’s the link for Massive Black, the mad consortium behind CA.

I frequent these art sites less often, but I’m always impressed with the stuff at CGTalk and Imaginary Friends. Also, when Ren and Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi isn’t busy spouting vitriol about how everything sucks these days, he posts some incredibly instructive lessons on character design, form, and the history of cartoons on his blog. Also, have you seen what Kazu Kibuishi is up to? Because he’s bloody brilliant.

To say that Penny Arcade is my webcomic of choice might not be doing it justice. If the entire Internet were to suddenly rupture, sparing only PA from the fiery cataclysm, I honestly think I’d be perfectly content. Not only is it something of an authority for my favorite pastime, but it has also significantly influenced my sense of humor.

Speaking of video games, which are as important to my identity as stripes are to a zebra, I should probably link N’gai Croal’s excellent 1up blog and the Escapist (which incidentally also hosts the ridiculously hilarious, incredibly vulgar Zero Punctuation). I’ve also been newly initiated in the Platformers community - we’ll see where that goes. And lastly, I would be remiss if I did not drop a link to my friend Brian Belida’s site.

Did I mention that Gene Wolfe is the world’s greatest living writer? To chorus Michael Swanwick, allow me to repeat myself: Gene Wolfe is the world’s greatest living writer. I occasionally visit the Urth boards when I’m feeling literary.

Am I forgetting anything? Probably.

~ by pbonaduce on February 10, 2008.