For this project, I chose a persona that was the very opposite of myself. Claudius is sociable, materialistic, and popular, especially on social media. I didn't really like the idea of a more serious "alter-ego" so I chose a cartoon tomato to add humor and emphasize the fictional aspect of the character. The symbols like the selfie stick, iPhone, and keg stand were intended to connect with teens in the 21st century, and be instantly recognizable. I looked at people like David Dobrik and James Charles to draw some inspiration on what influencers post. I wanted to capture the allure of social media and the trends that have come along with it, as well as those who have taken those trends and used them for social gain. As with most social media posts, my depictions of Claudius only showed the good aspects of his life, especially with his leisurely floats and expensive trendy items like the Lamborghini and iPhone. In the public eye, people's worth tends to be determined by the things they own. Because the public views you this way, we tend to start to view ourselves the same, getting sucked into capitalism and greed. We try to do and get bigger and better things in order to be equal to those we see online. The more we use social media, the more and more we feel a want to "keep up with the Joneses", and that makes us more and more unhappy. Claudius is an example of one of those who have mastered the art of showing off his great enviable moments to the world. But is that all that there is to him?
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