Aliases and avatars all have to do with the representation of oneself. Unlike tattoos, they can be changed, abandoned, and modified at will. They can be found in role-playing games as well as in public professional activities, private circles, or in clandestine activities. Most students have several, which are useful in a digital world that is intrusive and fond of personal data.
Famous authors use pseudonyms: Émile Ajar was Romain Gary's pseudonym that allowed him to win the Goncourt twice, an action that is impossible in principle; Robert Galbraith is the pseudonym of J.K Rowling who freed him from the shackles of Harry Potter; Dr. Ralph the one Voltaire used to escape the royal vindictiveness; Jean-Baptiste Poquelin became Molière, which saved his family from the catholic opprobrium that all theater actors were subjected to, etc. A pseudonym allows one to bypass social obstacles.
We are impressionable beings, so by skillfully using our representations and prejudices to create an avatar, we can generate specific effects: frightening, seducing, surprising, inspiring confidence, distrust, enthusiasm, affinity, etc. Clothing, makeup, symbols, size, posture, tools, everything can help to elicit reactions for social purposes but also educational, religious or therapeutic.
By interposed avatar we can experience relationships that would otherwise be inaccessible to us and that end up shaping us, transforming our own personality. A huge space of creation is open, with its possibilities and risks. Designers even offer their services to create the most sought-after avatars. Some language schools are using them, applications allow to create them and we already see synthetic personalities taking shape... the avatars are among us.
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