Identity

Essentialism – who we are/biology

Relates to racism –

Post-modern theorists disagree

Historical phases of identity

•Pre modern identity – personal identity is stable – defined by long standing roles

•Modern identity – modern societies begin to offer a wider range of social roles. Possibility to start ‘choosing’ your identity, rather than simply being born into it. People start to ‘worry’ about who they are

•Post-modern identity – accepts a ‘fragmented ‘self’. Identity is constructed

Phrenology
Quack science - shape of the head can indicate what you may be like personality wise
Based on European people
Hitler used this as justification -(blonde hair, blue eyes)

Physiognomy - Intelligence - facial features.

Hieronymous Bosch

Chris Ofili – black Virgin Mary depiction

Pre modern identity - defined
Modern identity - choice
postmodern identity – you construct

Douglas Kellner:

Pre-Modern – marriage, church – depicts your identity

Modern -  'flaneur' (gentleman-stroller)

Leisure class - Rich enough to not work – displays of wealth openly to others – to flaunt

Fashion - Upper class use clothing – in turn the lower class follow using like for like items but cheaper

Simmel - being alone in a crowd - Alienation

Post-modern identity discourse

Foucault – identity is formed through age class gender – discourses – ‘otherness’

Humphrey Spender, Worktown project 1937
Martin Parr - The Last Resort 1983-86

Nationality
Alexander McQueen - highland rape – suggestive and about the taking of Scotland or ‘rape’  - Vivienne Westwood - Anglomania

Las Vegas – imitation of the world, in one city. Dream like.
 
Race/ethnicity
Chris Ofili - artists are white Europeans – assumption – uses his ethnicity in artworks - Captain shit - His response to a lack of black superheroes.

 
 Femininity  - Tracy Emin - Everyone I have ever slept with – names of people she had ever slept next to, people judge as sexual

wonderbra – hello boys, objectification of women, sex sells?

Post-modern condition – your Identity formed through social experiences throughout early life and throughout the rest
Geoffman - Life is a 'theatre' we act and put on performances as it where, we can choose who we want to be each day.