manifesta: deuxième partie

September 2005: Impromptu celebrations of International Talk Like A Pirate Day led to this photo being taken. Needless to say, preparations for this current dress-up project have been in the works for years. I hope that (alter)égoïste will be a constructive forum for exploring my many alter egos, as well as those of my partner in crime!

The modern/postmodern/post-postmodern self is built around reflexive explorations of identity. Through taking on a variety of personae, we are able to delve into facets of our personalities that might otherwise go unexamined. We understand ourselves best through our encounters with others; in fact, the self can only be understood as reflected in other selves. Costuming allows us to internalize these encounters by adopting the perspective of another self, and by acknowledging the power of the masks we wear.

Also, all philosophising aside, I simply enjoy dressing up! Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!