Consciousness and self-consciousness are used in the sense
of self-awareness - the degree to which one acknowledges to oneself
that s/he projects an image. They also often seem unaware that others perceive both the person and his or her actions, and might hold one accountable for any discrepancy between the two.
The oral characters are generally unselfconscious. They seem unaware of the possibility that others may see their actions, as well as their persons, as they go about taking action.
• Think of the toddler who runs naked from the bath into a dining room full of dinner guests (Ong 30).
• From current events - Jon Stewart's The Daily Show lists some nominees who didn't get to take political office in a segment titled "Big 'Bama's House" which ran on Feb. 3 on Comedy Central.
Stewart: You remember Candidate Obama promised us two things: hope and [clearing his throat] I believe, uh, immortality - I'm sorry, [that should be] change. First on the change front, Obama promised that the revolving lobbyist lawmaker door would be slammed shut! And that ethical accountability would be Job Uno!
[Cut to Fox News Anchor] Daschle under scrutiny for failing to pay nearly $130,000 in back taxes ...
[Cut to Fox News Anchor] Nancy Killefer, whom this president nominated as his chief performance officer ...
[Cut to MSNBC Anchor] Nancy Killefer, she owed about $1,000 in back taxes ...
[Cut to Today Show clip] Tim Geithner came to the Senate Tuesday to explain how he failed to pay more than $34,000 in taxes ...
[Cut back to Stewart] Who is vetting these appointments? How is this poss --
[Background changes to image of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and cast out of office after audiotapes surfaced which quote his intention to appoint the biggest bidder to a vacant Senate seat.]
Stewart: Oh. [Pause.] Oh. Blagojevich! Blagojevich! He actually vets on only one rule: no baldies.
As of now, Geithner is the only one who's been approved. Daschle and Killefer have withdrawn their nominations. So let that be a lesson to the kids out there. Pay your taxes, or you'll never rise any higher than [pause as background image changes to a photo of Tim Geithner before the Department of the U.S. Treasury seal.] Treasury Secretary.
The clip begins the segment and lasts 90 or so seconds.
Aware that one projects an image; self-conscious, sometimes
to the extent that one cultivates, designs, leverages, and manipulates
one's image in others' eyes.