This essay examines how Neil Patrick Harris's Choose Your Own Autobiography constructs a convincing and likeable self-image. Through various perspectives, humor, and the interactive nature of the narrative, Harris effectively portrays a stable and confident identity that readers are led to believe.
This essay aims to prove that in Neil Patrick Harris’s Choose Your Own Autobiography readers are made to believe his self-image because the autobiography captures various perspectives on his identity, who arrive at the same conclusion, humour functions as a tool to convey a likeable image of himself, and last but not least, the genre autobiography, as well as the interactivity of the narrative, restrict his self-presentation to his advantage.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Neil Patrick Harris’s identity: How does it form and how is it displayed?
2.1 Identity formation in general and applied to Neil Patrick Harris
2.2 The role of humour as a means to narrate Neil Patrick Harris’s identity
3. The implications of the genre autobiography and the 2nd-person narration for Neil Patrick Harris’s image
3.1 The implications of the genre autobiography for Neil Patrick Harris’s image
3.2 The implications of the interactivity and 2nd-person narration of the narrative for Neil Patrick Harris’s image
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay examines how Neil Patrick Harris constructs and presents his self-image in his interactive autobiography, Choose Your Own Autobiography. It explores the interplay between identity formation, the use of humour, the specific genre affordances of autobiography, and the impact of second-person narration on reader engagement and perception.
- Identity formation and the internal/external image of the subject.
- The strategic role of humour in self-presentation and reader ingratiation.
- The influence of second-person narration on empathetic connection and reader manipulation.
- The significance of interactive narrative structures in autobiography.
- Critical perspectives on how autobiographers shape their identity and influence reader belief.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Identity formation in general and applied to Neil Patrick Harris
The political scientist Bhiku Parekh ascertained that individuals have “countless attributes and qualities” (252). On the one hand, these are “contingent and transient” and on the other hand, they are “central and tenacious” (252). According to Parekh, identity refers to the latter as their influences are ingrained in our minds deeply (252). Smith and Watson rightly claimed that “the teller of his or her own story becomes in the act of narration, both the observing subject and the object of investigation, remembrance, and contemplation” (1). Thus, Neil Patrick Harris’s identity is reflected so far as he presents it because, writing about himself, he can note down, edit, and aesthetically portray chosen events of his life the way he wants to (Smith and Watson 1). Adding to this, “externalized and internalized points of view” exist (5). The philosopher, sociologist, and psychologist George Herbert Mead named this self-image and external image (qtdn. Aboulafia). He explains that a human being’s identity is dependent on the image oneself has and the image others have, which is constantly balanced through interaction (Aboulafia). This entails that the concept of autobiography contains an issue. Neil Patrick Harris cannot interact while he is writing, so he might barely know what the others think of him. However, at the point where he writes the text, he has got the power to judge those others and shapes his present identity with merely his perspective in mind, which has to be considered carefully.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the subject, Neil Patrick Harris, and his work Choose Your Own Autobiography, outlining the essay's goal to investigate how he constructs and justifies his public self-image.
2. Neil Patrick Harris’s identity: How does it form and how is it displayed?: This chapter explores the theoretical foundations of identity formation, discussing the balance between self-created images and external perceptions, while highlighting how Harris utilizes friends and anecdotes to build his identity throughout the book.
2.1 Identity formation in general and applied to Neil Patrick Harris: The section details the psychological theories of identity, contrasting core self attributes with transient ones, and how Harris uses the act of writing as an autobiographer to curate his own life narrative.
2.2 The role of humour as a means to narrate Neil Patrick Harris’s identity: This part investigates how humour serves as a tactical tool to ingratiate the reader, showcasing Harris’s charm while steering the reader's reactions to his self-presentation.
3. The implications of the genre autobiography and the 2nd-person narration for Neil Patrick Harris’s image: This chapter analyzes how the medium of autobiography and the specific use of second-person narration allow Harris to bridge the gap between himself and his audience.
3.1 The implications of the genre autobiography for Neil Patrick Harris’s image: This section looks at the subjective nature of autobiography, where the author selects and reframes life events to present a unified, coherent, yet deliberately constructed version of the self.
3.2 The implications of the interactivity and 2nd-person narration of the narrative for Neil Patrick Harris’s image: This final section examines how interactive elements and second-person pronouns force the reader into a co-authoring role, enhancing empathy and influencing the reader's belief in the authenticity of Harris’s portrayal.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming that Harris successfully employs humour, interactive narrative, and specific genre techniques to command a favourable reader perception of his self-image.
Keywords
Neil Patrick Harris, Choose Your Own Autobiography, Life writing, Identity formation, Self-presentation, Humour, Interactive narrative, Second-person narration, Reader perception, Autobiography, Literary studies, Self-image, Narrative strategies, Empathy, Heterophenomenology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of the essay?
The essay focuses on how actor Neil Patrick Harris crafts and maintains a consistent self-image in his interactive memoir, analyzing the strategies he uses to persuade readers of his authenticity.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The core themes include the formation of personal identity, the function of humour in public persona management, the influence of the autobiographical genre, and the psychological effects of interactive, second-person narrative structures.
What is the main research question of this study?
The study investigates how the narrative structure and stylistic choices in Choose Your Own Autobiography make readers believe in the self-image Neil Patrick Harris presents.
Which theoretical approaches are applied?
The essay draws upon psychological and philosophical concepts concerning identity (e.g., George Herbert Mead, Bhikhu Parekh) and literary studies theories on autobiography and second-person narration (e.g., Smith and Watson, Arnaud Schmitt, Jarmila Mildorf).
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main part covers the theory of identity formation, the strategic application of humour and "As-If-Behaviours," the constraints and opportunities provided by the autobiographical genre, and the specific impact of interactive second-person engagement on the reader.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include: Neil Patrick Harris, Self-presentation, Interactive narrative, Second-person narration, Identity formation, Humour, and Autobiography.
How does the interactive nature of the book affect the reader?
The interactive narrative, combined with second-person "you" narration, forces the reader to assume Harris’s role in decision-making, which creates a more intensive, empathetic connection and increases the reader's investment in the narrative.
What is the significance of the "hidden page" in the book?
The "hidden page" serves as a meta-commentary where Harris uses humour and direct address to compliment the reader, effectively ingratiating himself and ensuring the reader views him favourably.
Does the author acknowledge the limitations of his autobiography?
Yes, the essay highlights that Harris demonstrates self-critical awareness by including critical commentary and acknowledging his own failures, which, paradoxically, reinforces the likeability of his presented image.
What conclusions does the author draw regarding reader manipulation?
The essay concludes that while Harris uses these narrative techniques to gain reader trust, the methods essentially function as a form of "reader manipulation" that makes the audience more likely to accept his constructed identity.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lisa Thöne (Autor:in), 2020, The Image of Neil Patrick Harris in his "Choose Your Own Autobiography". Self-presentation and Conviction of the Reader, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1476994
