Contextual and Theoretical Studies: Lecture 3; Identity

Lecture 3; Identity 04/11/11

Zygmun Bauman- theorist.

How does identity work in the Digital domain?

Theories of Identity

Essentialism (traditional approach)

That our biological make up makes us who we are.
We all have an inner essence that makes us who we are.

Postmodern Theorist disagree; Anti-Essentialism.

Phrenology is to the term to describe the different parts of your brain and how they relate to the different parts of your personality.

Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)

Physiognomy is the idea that you can read intelligence through the face shape and facial features. The idea that white facial features present higher intelligence than black. This is trying to legitimise racism.

'Christ carrying the cross' Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516)

Anti-Semitism, Nazi Germany; Jewish people presented as inferior.

‘Holy Virgin Mary’ 1996 Chris Ofili,

Virgin Mary wearing blue, he paints Mary as a black woman, linking to his own African heritage. This painting was withdrawn from its exhibition.

Douglas Kellner, a Sociologist.

‘Media Cultures; Cultural Studies, Identity and Politics between the Modern and Post Modern’ 1992.

Pre Modern Identity, Personal Identity is stable and defined by standing roles. Institutions determined identity such as the church, marriage, monarchy, the state, government work.

Modern Identity, Modern Societies begin to offer a wider range of roles in the 19^th and early 20^th century.

Charles Baudelaire introduces the concept of the flaneur (gentlemen stroller)

‘Le Pont De L’Europe’ 1876 Gustave Caillebotte

‘Paris Street, Rainy Day’ 1877 Gustave Caillebotte

Post Modern Identity, people begin to choose their roles becoming more selective.

‘Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentlemen of leisure’ Thorstein Veblen

George Simmel; Trick Down Theory. He suggests that being around many people causes them to become more introverted.

Emulation; lower classes aspire to dress similar to the upper class. This creates a fashion cycle, the upper classes stop wanting to wear clothes when lower classes begin to ‘emulate’ them causing fashion to constantly change.
Distinction
The ‘mask’ of fashion; people hides their class and who they are through what they wear.

Post Modern Identity

‘Dis course Analysis’

Identity is constructed out of discourses culturally available to us. Possible discourses; gender, class, age, race, nationality, sexuality.

Class

Pier Bouderv

Humphrey Spender, Mass observation, Worktown Project 1937

Photographic Project observing everyday life and the mundane.

‘New Brighton, Merseyside’ from ‘The Last Resort’ 1983-86 Martin Parr

‘Ascot’ 2003 Martin Parr

‘Sedlescomble’ from ‘Think of England’ 2000-2003

Parr claims not to mock but does he?

‘Society reminds us of one particularly shrewd, cunning and pokerfaced player in the game of life, cheating if given chance, flouting rules whenever possible’ Baumann.