Conformity is infinite Part 3:
Conformity On the Internet
The third part of the installation is about how conformity works on the internet. As I was researching conformity, I was also looking for the definition of non-conformity. I thought at first that internet is the space where people do not have to conform and can do whatever they want. However, people still have to conform on the internet where their choice are shaped by the options of algorithms.
In some way, dreams and the internet are similar, since they are both areas where the repressed conscious mind vents. But even in seeming worlds of limitless possibilities, we still find ourselves conforming to expectations and norms. We conform to the image of success and happiness that society has painted for us. It promises to break down barriers and bring people closer together, yet still, we find ourselves conforming to online personas and the curated versions of ourselves that we present to the world. We conform to the algorithms that control what we see and what we don't, shaping our thoughts and beliefs.
My installation project, titled "Conformity is Infinite," seeks to delve into the complex and often fraught relationship between conformity and individual agency. At its core, my project is driven by a central question: to what extent do societal pressures and cultural values influence our behavior and choices, and how do we resist or challenge these norms? Every day, we are confronted with a range of expectations and social norms that shape our behavior, from values like kindness and empathy to more concrete concepts such as the protection of private property and respect for human dignity. While these values serve as a powerful form of social glue, they can also be exploited and twisted to justify atrocities. For example, the Holocaust and the rise of Communism were both in part a reflection of the destructive power of conformity, as individuals succumbed to pressure to conform to a particular ideology or belief system.