Being Seen

Louis XIV felt a great responsibility to make the French royalty the model of grandeur and exactitude. The court rituals were elaborate and, to our removed perspective, quite ridiculous. Hundreds of courtiers lived at Versailles and were required to be present when the King arose and got dressed, when he ate, at mass, at performances, and all other court functions. The main purpose was that the king was to be seen. This was the key of Louis XIV's reign. To be seen was to be great.

Oscar Wilde said that "the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." I've been thinking about this desire, even need, that we all have to be seen and be judged by others. We work hard at presenting ourselves in the right way in order to meet an artificial standard. Our society is based on this idea as in the pressure to publish at universities, political campaigns, mayors cutting ribbons, business suits and the ostentatious display of wealth. I think we feel a need to "play the part" which our culture or surroundings prescribe.
I notice in myself that I always want all the good things that I do to be seen but of course not any of the bad things. I want people to see me playing the piano, doing this kind act, etc. Why? Does the pleasure that I derive from playing Chopin increase if others see it. I understand the value in sharing talents but I am just wondering at motivations for doing things. I'm guessing that the most important thing probably is how we act when we are not seen. This quote by Emerson seems to fit here:
"We pass for what we are. Character teaches above our wills. Men imagine that they communicate their virtue or vice only by overt actions, and do not see that virtue or vice emit a breath every moment." (Self-Reliance)