I’ve never been a big fan of censorship. I believe in the freedom of speech and an individual’s right to say and do pretty much whatever they want. That being said for the most part I don’t have a camera or microphone following me around all the time. And thank god because most of the things that pop out of my mouth are ridiculous. I’m not really a very serious person when it comes to chosen verbiage. You find me more kidding around with people while, personally, I allow my actions and integrity to speak for itself. I don’t really mind my manners when it comes to social media and frankly never really saw the reason to until recently a few things put it into a different perspective.
As an artist it has always seemed vital to my survival to have some kind of platform to explain or express my ideas. And nowadays with social media it really does offer those 15 minutes of fame that Andy Warhol spoke about. At any moment I can parlay an opinion out into the atmosphere and somebody, usually quite a few somebodies will respond or interact in some form. I don’t really think I personally attach a lot of self-importance to this, but there is some satisfaction to the fact that if I have a gripe or an opinion on something I can express it and through instant gratification it is heard. I’m a big fan of social media. I love posting pictures of things I am doing, friends, my cats, work, etc. I consider it in one way or another to be a lazier form of journaling.
Recently I received a Facebook message from a girl explaining that she had been chatting with someone using a fake profile and fake name using my pictures. The idea that someone would do that is on so many forms completely laughable. Most days I don’t even want to be me. And being a huge fan of the TV show Catfish (I love Nev) I immediately posted about it with ironic excitement. I was in the middle of a job so I only had my phone on me. When I got home and viewed the page my reaction was a little different. The profile to me seemed obviously fake and there was something about having my own mug splashed around without my consent unsettling to me. Personal pictures that I deemed ironic and hilarious had been taken out of context and used extremely sexually suggestive. Although the perpetrator found and page removed I was left with a different opinion of how I conduct myself through social media. Maybe not even just social media but in life in general. How much responsibility do I have to my own social integrity?
When it comes down to it, sure, “Fuck what people think!” But you can’t always. At the end of the day everyone is going to feel the way the feel and act the way they act, however I can directly see how adding fuel to the fire is very different to maybe just being a little more aware of the kind of information I was giving people access to. After speaking to this girl I found out this site had been up since sometime in 2011. That was just creepy to me.
Not to mention I don’t really have a professional page. My personal page kind of adopted a lot of business contacts and I just went with it. After all, I’m just a behind the scenes girl, right? So wrong. More and more these days stylists are asked to step in front of the camera and be the face behind the name. So many stylists are offered the opportunity to use their name for branding and lending their creative eye to larger enterprises. Not that shuffling racks of clothing up and down Manhattan isn’t my favorite thing to do…but that’s the real money right there. And I do turn 30 next month, time to start thinking long term. Yikes.
I took some time to take most of the pictures I had up from my past down this last week. Not all of them (who has the time?) but in time I will. And slowly transform my somewhat open book social media attitude to one of maybe a little more awareness. Will I ever truly change? Hopefully not. And to those who truly know me and love me…please expect a drunk text message and an inappropriate picture Friday night. To the rest of you…just kidding!