The thesis analyzes how a theoretical framework and method can be formulated to make mental illness visible in photographs posted on social media. The aim is to create a basis for further research. The framework is built on time, conversation, and language. Based on Susan Sontag, Roland Barthes and W J T Mitchells thoughts, a timeline is drawn. On it, both emotions and bodies are constantly present. Jon Kabat-Zinns mindfulness method is used to give an insight into how emotions can be handled with inspiration from eastern meditation techniques. The typical “yoga image” is analyzed. It is characterized by a woman doing a yoga pose, often placed in the middle of the image surface in an exotic place. The body ideal is recognized from other fitness contexts. The material is from @kinoyoga which is run by the yoga profile Kino MacGregor. Examining photographs that communicate perfect health puts this thesis questions at the forefront. The study shows that photographs on social media are not static objects but are parts in an ongoing documentation where meaning is not given. Instead meaning keeps transforming and is contently renegotiated. When the boundaries between the physical and digital realities are blurred, it becomes difficult to distinguish the needs of the image from one’s own. The emotional experiences of shortcomings and desires can occur and start to interact. As Instagram's algorithms exploit these emotions, it becomes difficult to break the vicious circle. Instagram users are forced to abide by the app's rules. The responsibility for the ill health generated should be the owners of for-profit companies and political institutions with the power to legislate.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-476295 |
| Date | January 2022 |
| Creators | Björndotter, Annika |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Konstvetenskapliga institutionen |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | Annika Björndotter |
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