PODCAST · society
Self(ie) Reflections
by Usha Raman
The podcast series Self(ie) Reflections serves as an intellectual companion to the research project Digital Expressions of the Self(ie): The Social Life of Selfies in India. Over four episodes, the series deconstructs the selfie as an iterative, performative practice that reshapes the relationship between identity, space, and power.From the "insta-worthy" cafes of Kolkata to the TikTok hotspots of Delhi's ruins, the podcast highlights how digital performance allows individuals to reclaim physical space and negotiate visibility. It contrasts the hyper-visible "attitude" videos of Delhi’s working-class youth with the curated "performing objects" of Bookstagram and Inktober, where personal identity is expressed through the curation of tea, books, and art rather than the face.The series also confronts the darker side of digital culture: datafication
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5
The Afterlife of the Selfie: AI, Datafication, and the Future of Identity
In the finale of Self(ie) Reflections, Chhavi Sachdev joins Sai Amulya Komarraju, Avishek Ray, Neha Gupta, and Usha Raman to discuss the "afterlife" of the selfie. They examine how selfies have evolved into digital infrastructure and tools for governance plus and the tension between using selfies to subvert norms and feeding a "network capitalism" that harvests data for surveillance. As our faces become data, who truly owns our digital existence?
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4
Beyond the Selfie: Identity and the Performing Object on Instagram
In Episode 3, researchers Usha Raman and Anuja Premika examine digital self-presentation beyond the "selfie." Through the stories of #Bookstagrammer Kajree Gautam and illustrator Delwyn, the duo explores the "performing object." From curated book aesthetics to illustrations of parenting, they show how objects and art function as powerful tools for identity performance and personal branding within social media subcultures. If our objects speak for us, who are we really projecting?
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3
The Digital Double: Performance, Technology, and the Selfie Subtitle:
In Episode 2, Ethiraj Gabriel Dattatreyan and Pravanesh Subramanian explore the "digital double"—the algorithmic persona shaped by our online life. Using Goffman’s "staged performativity," they analyze how platform architecture dictates our self-presentation to both humans and AI. Selfies are now data points in an "image ecology" used for machine learning & surveillance. As generative AI untethers the self from reality, who truly controls our identities in this automated age?
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2
The Malleable Self: Molding Identity in Digital Spaces
In this episode Neha Gupta, Mom Mitra, and Ankita Das discuss the nature of online personas and the deliberate labor of digital self-fashioning. They trace the evolution of self-presentation from the era of formal, film-based documentation to the age of the instant selfie and the transition of the photograph from a private family memory to a public performative act - but at what cost?
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1
Introducing Self(ie) Reflections
Self(ie) Reflections is a four-part podcast series produced as a companion to the book Digital Expressions of the Self(ie): The Social Life of Selfies in India. How did the selfie transform from a simple self-portrait into a complex, performative digital practice deeply embedded in India's social, spatial, and infrastructural landscapes?
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The podcast series Self(ie) Reflections serves as an intellectual companion to the research project Digital Expressions of the Self(ie): The Social Life of Selfies in India. Over four episodes, the series deconstructs the selfie as an iterative, performative practice that reshapes the relationship between identity, space, and power.From the "insta-worthy" cafes of Kolkata to the TikTok hotspots of Delhi's ruins, the podcast highlights how digital performance allows individuals to reclaim physical space and negotiate visibility. It contrasts the hyper-visible "attitude" videos of Delhi’s working-class youth with the curated "performing objects" of Bookstagram and Inktober, where personal identity is expressed through the curation of tea, books, and art rather than the face.The series also confronts the darker side of digital culture: datafication
HOSTED BY
Usha Raman
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Self(ie) Reflections have?
Self(ie) Reflections currently has 5 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Self(ie) Reflections about?
The podcast series Self(ie) Reflections serves as an intellectual companion to the research project Digital Expressions of the Self(ie): The Social Life of Selfies in India. Over four episodes, the series deconstructs the selfie as an iterative, performative practice that reshapes the relationship...
How often does Self(ie) Reflections release new episodes?
Self(ie) Reflections has 5 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Self(ie) Reflections?
You can listen to Self(ie) Reflections on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Self(ie) Reflections?
Self(ie) Reflections is created and hosted by Usha Raman.
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