Self Portrait vs the Selfie

A selfie is a photo you take of yourself, usually with a smartphone, and often share to the public. They have their own history, and are a unique medium. Selfies are typically taken from arm's length or in a mirror. They have the ability of being instantly sent around the world through social media. While they are similar to self-portraits, they have distinct differences and should be treated as their own art form.

Self-portraits are images of oneself that are created from an outside perspective. By this I mean that either an outside photographer or painter creates the image, or you step back and do it of yourself. There is much discussion whether or not selfies and self-portraits are similar or different, and which one is more vain. What I have drawn from the articles is that the two mediums are their own distinct styles, and that they can both be used to enhance ones image.

One difference is the fact that self-portraits are more permanent and require more thought than selfies. If I take a bad selfie, I can immediately delete it and take another one whereas if I was painting myself there would be no room for error. Another difference is the angle. Selfies are taken either from arms length or through a mirror while self-portraits are taken from an outside perspective. I don't have a preference between the two, because both forms of art and self-expression are equally important and valuable.