Social Networking and Identity Formation in the Digital Age Will be Topic of Discussion

Ron Tulley, Ph.D., associate professor of English, will devote one year of study to the interdisciplinary exploration of a single topic, The Power of Portrayal — The Social Nature of (Re-)Presenting a “Self”: Role Playing, Social Networking and Identity Formation in the Digital Age. Tulley is the 2012-13 Richard E. Wilkin Chair for the College of Liberal Arts.

Tulley’s kick-off event will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, in the Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion Malcolm Dining Hall. Tulley will discuss his topic and preview events for the year. According to Tulley, his theme is designed to create a discourse community at The University of Findlay that investigates, discusses and debates what it means to construct a self-image in the digital age. “In constructing the self we present to others, we rely on many models of identity formation: work, family, friends, personal achievements, travel, hobbies, cathartic events, etc., and identity formation through digital media is a continuous process,” he said.

For more information, contact Tulley at rtulley@findlay.edu or 419-434-4608, or visit his blog: http://powerofportrayal.blogspot.com/