Life By Tok

Authenticity, a crucial ingredient for any artist. The following is about the significance of authenticity in the world of social media by responding to the following statements:

I. Having an authentic social media presence as a professional in contemporary times.
II. The impact made between audiences and professionals, specifically, how this connection can be shaped and in my opinion, enhanced.

This digital piece I created in Adobe Fresco is for the soul purpose of connecting with my audience. The professional image I intend to communicate to my followers is hopefully captured through my art, despite its imperfections, as it shows the essence of who I am as a person.

Authentic, Loving, Expressive

The late nights I endured creating this piece and the progress I made has given me so much satisfaction. Looking back at the screenshots I have taken of the process makes it all worth while. When it comes to any art form, authenticity is recognised and admired. If I had my time again, I would always choose to create something original and meaningful rather use an AI image with no feeling, story or growth.

Rainer Maria Rilke

I believe in all that has never yet been spoken.
I want to free what waits within me
so that what no one has dared to wish for

If this is arrogant, God, forgive me,
but this is what I need to say.
May what I do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.

Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing you as no one ever has,

The Mindfulness Association

According to Fay Adams, Rilke passionately writes about finding our true selves and “encourages us to weave our own uniqueness back into the path” (Adams, 2025, para.3) we are destined. What we are inclined towards is determined by our true essence and thus, what we are meant to actively integrate into our lives. However, during this journey, many lose themselves and stray away from their destined path.

The poem is about listening to what the soul yearns for as Rilke writes, “I want to free what waits within me”. Relatable, as I have a strong desire for the arts. Despite my lack of talent, I am drawn to the endless possibility when it comes to what people can create, what I can create, and what art represents. It’s personal and unique, an extension of the artist. A part of their soul on display. Adams write that many women in particular, find their unique path when they are older, this is because they are becoming wiser (Adams, 2025.) I can’t say I am a wise person, for anyone who knows me that is not a word used to describe who I am, however, I am growing, and listening to what my body and soul yearn for in this life.

Going back to the topic at hand, I could not write about authenticity in the first place if my content didn’t come from the heart. My poems and art piece are a true extension of myself and representation of my experiences, it is with this trueness and vulnerability that I will connect with my audience. The question is, will it be recognised as authentic and will my art (in the form of poetry) connect with people in the online world?

Online Identity

This takes me to identity. The online identity I intend to establish is centred around three main facets, motherhood, educator and cat enthusiast, with a main focus on motherhood, as represented by my art piece. My profile picture is my “symbolic marker” and as Marwick describes it, is my “digital token” (2013, p.358) as it represents core of my identity, my life source. Nevertheless, despite wanting to be raw, vulnerable and honest, this online version of myself is filtered. The language, tone, content, imagery, has all been edited to offer a polished version of my ideal perceived identity. So how authentic can it be and will this hinder the connection with my intended audience?

Well, Marwick (2013) uses the term impression management to describe how social media users incorporate a combination of authenticity and desirability to determine their content. Despite curating the ideal version of myself, my content remains true and from the heart…but presented in a desirable way for readers. It’s a fine line, to be real and simultaneously desirable – but many successful social media influencers have found that balance. I find that Alex and Jon, who I started following on Tik Tok and now have a podcast called Give It To Me Straight, have successfully mastered being authentic and hella entertaining (TikTok – Make Your Day, 2025). They have been brutally and beautifully honest about their lives in a heartbreaking and comedic way, sometimes both. It is amazing to watch them navigate through life. I hope I can find that balance, and as Marwick (2013) has stated, identity is fluid, it changes as it is an ongoing process – so, hopefully this process will reveal something that is relatable to people.

The Performed Self

I resonate with Goffman’s words, that the performances we give are shaped by the social situations we find ourselves in and (to an extent), governed by social norms.

Goffman using the term “performances” to describe our daily interactions is so accurate. These performances, he states, are influenced by factors such as setting, social norms, and physical appearance of the performer, and we tend to act accordingly to each setting and scenario, almost following some form of script “shaped by cultural norms” (Cole, 2019, para. 3). Everyday we witness people in our personal lives behaving in different ways depending on the scenario, and in many cases it is the expected norm. I intend to use social media to create a balance, to expose my backstage self in a non-confronting way and to suitably perform according to what is expected of me for this assessment and the rules and regulations and expectations of the online world in a hopefully engaging and meaningful way.

To constantly put on a performance on my social media will not, in my opinion, give me tools necessary to connect with my audience. It is the back stage performance that is deemed as a private space, one where I can relax and is less controlled I wish to welcome people to visit, a place that does not feel completely polished or regimented (Goffman, 1959). These imperfections, I believe, are more visible in the backstage self and are what will help create that connection with the online community, with other teachers, mothers, and feline lovers of the sort.

My Art, My Identity

Click on the following images below to view my poems on Instagram. Stay a while, make yourself at home and if you like what you see, give me a follow! Comment on my poetry with feedback or praise, even criticism if it is written in a civilised and genuine manner.

Each poem comes from the heart, that is why I have not yet created many as I only recently started this poetry journey of mine. Motherhood and moments we have shared as a family are the main sources of inspiration for these poems. I have yet to create one that reflects my love for teaching, being a mum (of human and feline species) at the moment is at the forefront of my mind. These poems reflect my love for my babies and the joy I feel in everyday life. My emotions are so intensified, that also means my capacity to love has increased dramatically and I hope I have successfully represented my love for my son and baby cats through these poems in a quirky yet powerful, authentic and relatable way. These photos were carefully chosen to represent each poem, they are part of my identity as they reflect what I love in a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing way. I wanted to use my creation (the digital drawing) for the poem dedicated to my son’s first birthday, a monumental moment we will soon experience. I also do not wish to show my son too due to safety reasons, but enough to show how adorable he is and to connect with my audience (Elgueta, 2026).

Enjoy these poems and know that I have poured my heart and soul into these pieces.

Instagram

References

Adams, F. (2025, August 17). Mindfulness Level 2 – Compassion – Spring Intake. Mindfulness Association. https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/words-of-wonder/i-believe-in-all-that-has-never-yet-been-spoken-rainer-maria-rilke/?srsltid=AfmBOop1QFiSdBORSt_bn0M738on9RUYLB8l1HRlrAgZ0c5bVSc5u85G

Week Three
Cole, N. L. (2019, July 14). Goffman’s Front Stage and Back Stage Behavior. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/goffmans-front-stage-and-back-stage-behavior-4087971

Elgueta, A. (2026). Assignment 1: Building Your Portfolio [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Arts and Education, Deakin University.

Goffman, E. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. In Monoskop. University of Edinburgh. https://monoskop.org/images/1/19/Goffman_Erving_The_Presentation_of_Self_in_Everyday_Life.pdf

Marwick, A. (2013). Online Identity (pp. 355–364). https://tiara.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Marwick_Online_Identity.pdf

TikTok – Make Your Day. (2025). Tiktok.com. https://www.tiktok.com/@alexandramadison_?lang=en