Identity Notes

Identity...

• Historical Conceptions of Identity.
• Foucault's discourse theory.
• Post-modern theories.
• Zygment Bauman.

Theories:

• Essentialism
• Biological make-up (white european/gender/sexuality)
• Inner essence and soul
• Post-modernists are largely anti-essentialists.

Phrenology: Different parts of the brain control different personality traits and characteristics.

 

The Holy Virgin Mary - 1996
(Chris Ofili)

Physiogonomy: Facial features as a reflection of intelligence - angle of the face at side profile (legitimises racism).

The idea that "criminal tendencies come with birth".

Chris Ofili's "Holy Virgin Mary" is a commentary on white perceptions of black culture and the misunderstanding divide involving unfamiliarity.

 

Douglas Kellner - "Media Culture..."

 

Pre-modern - different institutions determined forms of identity.

 

Secure identities:

• Farm worker - member of the landed gentry
• Soldier - member of the state
• The gentleman - member of the patriarchy

Discourses:

• Age
• Education
• Income
• Class
• Nationality
• Race
• Gender
• Sexality
   

These all commonly constitute to an individual's physical identity and background.

Fashion:

•  Emily Bates - "Dress"
•  Highland Ropes / Anglomania
•  Gillian Wearing
•  "Liquid modernity ad liquid love" - Bauman
•  Andy Hargreaves
•  Tele-mediation - being engrossed in technology and cultural media.
•  "You are who you pretend to be".