It was while watching the sixth or seventh rendition of awkward suburban teens performing the Soulja Boy dance on CollegeHumor that I truly came to understand the meaning of the term "attention whore."
It is really surprising how many people out there long for the world to watch them "crank that." Talk about vanity. In performing their own unique versions of the Soulja Boy two-step, they were basically screaming, "Look at me! Notice my sweet moves and obvious sex appeal!" These dancers and the YouTube video phenomenon that surrounds the dance demonstrate the convergence of human conceit and internet technology that has produced a generation of narcissists.
A recent New York Times article contributed to the debate over whether or not our generation deserves the name "Generation Me." Social scientists claim that in light of our culture's obsession with celebrity -- not to mention the proliferation of ego trip-inducing technologies like blogs, YouTube and Facebook -- ours is a self-obsessed generation.
The very fact that we are more connected to each other than ever before, whether physically or virtually, encourages a tendency towards conceit and self-promotion. It is not that we are more narcissistic than in the past; it is that now there are more opportunities for our narcissism to manifest itself. It is no surprise that a small, close-knit, competitive college community like Dartmouth is a breeding ground for self-importance. Can you say "facetime?"
That we are a bit self-absorbed is not too hard to accept. The Dartmouth Mirror devoted a two page spread last week to the concept of the "campus icon." The article's themes of self-promotion and self-obsession may be a reflection of our celebrity-crazed culture. It is clear that not even Hanover is immune from navel-gazing. We even like to poke fun at our own self-regard; the terms "facetime" and "self-call" are our inventions, after all. (Self-call?)
Dartmouth does seem to lend itself to an atmosphere of self-conscious scrutiny. A friend recently remarked that the center aisle in Food Court is practically a runway: "Every time I walk down it I can almost feel the eyes of everyone watching me pass by." It is rude to stare at people while they're eating, but apparently, the opposite isn't the case. If Dartmouth has anything resembling a catwalk, Food Court would be it. Attention, campus icons: Go forth and strut your stuff.
Surprisingly, it is possible that Dartmouth's greatest asset -- our tight-knit community -- may be the very thing that feeds our self-consciousness and, in turn, stokes our insecurities. Sociobiologists explain this phenomenon in terms of reputation. People who see each other all the time have reputations (read: social capital) to protect. Thus, they smile more, they are nicer and they are aware of how they present themselves to their peers. People in larger, fragmented communities do not worry about these things as much because they are surrounded by people with whom they have no relationship and whom they will probably never see again. City-dwellers can afford to be distant and callous.
Not so for Hanover residents. We bump into the same people several times a day -- on the Green, in DDS establishments and in frat basements. Because of our constant proximity to one other, we are naturally more self-aware. (Dude, how's my spin serve looking? OMG, I must de-tag that picture!) This self-consciousness fuels our need to present ourselves in the best possible light, creating more self-awareness. And around and around we go.
It is debatable whether or not increased narcissism is ultimately damaging. Egotism definitely goes too far when self-obsession devolves into a rat race over who has the most flattering Facebook pictures; however, it does serve a purpose. None of us would be here at Dartmouth if it were not for a healthy dose of self-regard mixed with plenty of self-advertisement. Maybe all those YouTube dancers pursue their quest for self-promotion and validation through the perfection of the "crank." And if it makes them feel better about themselves, tell them I think Soulja Boy would approve.
