Narrative Identity and the Digital Subject

Rethinking Selfhood in the Age of Algorithmic Storytelling

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of narrative identity within contemporary digital cultures. As social media platforms and algorithmic curation redefine how individuals construct and perform their life stories, traditional literary frameworks of "the self" must be re-examined. Drawing on Ricoeur’s theory of narrative identity and contemporary cultural theory, this study analyzes how digital "micro-narratives" disrupt linear autobiography. The findings suggest that the digital subject is characterized by a fragmented, perpetual present that challenges classical notions of character development. This inaugural article for the Journal of Literary & Cultural Studies (JLCS) establishes a critical dialogue between classical humanities and the emerging realities of the digital post-human condition.