Subjectivity

The term subjectivity refers to experiences, moments, structures, conditions, and processes that are deployed when defining who someone is. The question that poses itself here is “Who am I?” Subjectivity refers to ways of constructing a narrative about the self. Subjectivity has been examined in different disciplines for centuries. In the mass media, the concept is conventionally used to denote content that reflects the personal views of [Page 1685]the creator or outlet, in contrast to news reportage, which must conform to recognized standards of objectivity. Beyond this specific usage, subjectivity is of special relevance as a concept when thinking about how media shape and influence individuals.

The sociologist Anthony Giddens has argued that subjectivity is not only an academic discourse. Ever since modernity, subjects are also ...