Supreme manifesto: The selfie generation

MANILA, Philippines - Selfie (Internet slang) — A self-taken picture.

Aren’t we the most self-centered generation ever? We are. We are the most image-conscious, self-important batch of kids ever to walk the planet. Despite worldwide turmoil, we spend hours taking pictures of ourselves and posting them on Instagram. We share little tidbits of our lives as if they were important — what we eat and drink, how we sleep, what we look like with our shirts off. We have become our own icons; royalty; our own paparazzi and stars.

But does this mean we’re also shallow? We don’t think so. Yes, the world has a lot to deal with, and yes, we should care more about what’s happening around us. But the me-ness of today’s generation is at least evidence of a movement towards discovery. While past generations have looked outward — towards the seas, the moon, space, the great abyss — in order to find meaning, this generation is looking inward. Perhaps the answers were inside us all along.

An ideology of “me” isn’t all that bad. In our hazy world, shouldn’t we at least strive for clarity of identity? After all, how can you face your problem if your problem is your face? And how will you know your face unless you take pictures of yourself, choose your best angles, Photoshop them, post them on Tumblr, and create a slideshow to the tune of Gwiyomi?

Supreme offers this issue in celebration of the Selfie Generation. Boys and girls, all together now, say: “I pledge allegiance /  to the United States / of Me.”                        — Pepe Diokno

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Send us your selfies! Tweet us @PhilStarSUPREME. Follow us on Instagram at PhilStarSUPREME. Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/PhilStarSUPREME.

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Adapted from the article, “Me, me, me, me,” also by this author, published in Supreme’s debut issue, on Sept. 15, 2007.