IDENTITY
WHAT
MAKES
YOU,
YOU?
Nan Goldin.
Self-portrait on the train, Boston - New Haven
1997
IDENTITY
There are two main types of identity these are:
1. INDIVIUAL IDENTITY
2. CULTURAL IDENITY
Individual identity :
Identity in psychological terms relates
to awareness of self, self-image, selfreflection, Self-expression and selfesteem. Charles Taylor* argues that
the modern identity is characterized
by an emphasis on its inner voice and
capacity for authenticity — that is, the
ability to find a way of being that is
somehow true to oneself.
Identity can be seen as the
construction of ’self’, in which people
give direction, meaning, value and
purpose to their life. Through identity
people relate to the world, to other
people and to themselves. Identity is
mediated through language, artifacts,
social institutions and culture.
Nataliya & Misha, Trapeze Artists from the
series Circus by Anderson & Low (detail), 2006
*Charles Taylor is a philosopher, who has made significant contributions to political philosophy, philosophy of social
science, and the history of philosophy
BRAINSTORM:
What makes up personal identity?
creations
Interests
Objects and
possessions
choices
values
Beliefs
Friends, family
and history
appearance
Work and
hobbies
Practices and
habits
ethnicity
Tracey Moffatt
Self Portrait, 1999
Hand-coloured photograph
33.5 × 22cm
Question: does a persons identity
change or is it remain a constant?
Gulpilil
Conversely Moffatt’s portrait is highly
contrived, with Gulpilil acting out a role in the
image itself. This is characteristic of Moffatt’s
style and deliberately constructed images and
as the artist herself observed, ‘I am not
concerned with capturing reality, I’m
concerned with creating it myself.’2 Clothed in
brightly coloured board shorts and holding a
stubbie in one hand, Gulpilil is portrayed in the
guise of the stereotypical Australian surfer,
traditional patterns painted on his face in the
place of sunscreen. In doing so Moffatt forces
the viewer to confront their notion of
Aboriginal identity and as Gael Newton noted
in 1995 in an essay on the artist, ‘ His
[Gulpilil’s] relaxed pose ironically overturns our
history in which sun bronzed Aussie surfers
have displaced the original inhabitants from
our shores.’3 Thus on one level it may be seen
as a portrait of Gulpilil, however as an image
constructed outside reality, it may also be
viewed as a work that simply reflects the
photographer’s own ideals.
Performing identity
Identity can be in flux, it is performing constructed versions of itself in different situations.
This includes your online identities, how many of you have my space pages or face book,
are your identities on these real or have you constructed them?
there is a certain contextual
fluidity to identity .
- we are different people around
different people. That isn't to say
we are all being false, rather that
identity is an intensely complex
construct and we don't have it all
on display all the time. Certain
situations and people bring out
certain aspects of who we are and
that version of you is simply one
facet through which people
perceive the whole.
FLUX: constant change or instability
Cindy Sherman
Cindy Sherman adapts her “look” and her identity to
differing situations. She transforms herself into
characters, then inserts herself into social situations into
which the character would normally suit. Then she
photographs herself. She does not stereotype groups
she studies them and fits herself into them as an
individual, she befriends them, and becomes an entity
within them.
CindyPerforming
Sherman.
identity
Untitled
(Woman
SunitDress),
Identity
is ininflux,
is performing
2003 constructed versions of itself in different
coloursituations.
photograph.
Cindy Sherman shrewdly
examines and challenges
the “image” of the
female and her identity
and the female body in
contemporary culture. It
looks at how society
embraces the cliches.
She tries to decode and
deconstruct the
conventions and visual
codes of gender.
Social/Cultural identity.
Cultural Identity results form a network of independent forces that define roles, reward status,
govern behavior, order power relations for all members of the community.
•Identity results form a network of independent forces.
•Cultural identity is determined by differences & similarities: Belonging to a
•group that shares he same values and moral codes.
•Any culture defines itself in relation, or rather in opposition to other cultures.
•Relations are never relations of equality.
When looking at social and cultural identities ask your self Who am I as a member of a group?
There are three ways that you may have a cultural identity;
1. Categorization: (labelling)
2. Identification (association with groups)
3. Comparison
Social and cultural groups may include: Gender, race, ethnicity, school, home-group,
photography class, sporting, after-school recreations, etc…
Like we saw before when looking at Cindy Sherman, Individuals may identify
with different groups in different situations.
Multi-culturalism:
• Emphasis on and recognition of differences between cultures.
• Identity is formed through social interactions and shared
histories.
• Identity is learned in certain settings.
• Potential for “Alternative collective histories” (Coco Fusco)
Being an individual within a cultural group allows people to;
• Gain an understanding of their distinctiveness
• challenge dominant oppressive stereotypes
• Strive for greater self-determination
• Develop a social identity for group members
MAX
DUPAIN
BEACH
SERIES
For many Australians the beach is a place of
work.
Most of Australia's
population lives
close to the
coastline and the
beach has long
occupied a special
place in the
Australian identity.
Australians make use of the coast as a
destination for relaxation and fun.
Thousands of
trained
volunteer surf
lifesavers keep
Australia's
popular
swimming and
surfing beaches
safe every
summer by
providing
beach patrols
and first aid
services.
Ray Leighton, Boys and the boards, Manly
beach, New South Wales, 1938-46,
photograph: gelatin silver.
The
dream
of
making
a 'sea
change'
WHAT MAKES YOU, YOU?
Activity:
Make a list of things that are connected to / best describe
your sense of identity.
Use nouns, verbs, adjectives, proper names, etc.
You may want to think about the relationship between your
social/cultural identities and you personal identity/s and
mythologies?
This is a good website focuses on two photographers that focus on identity…
http://www.burlingtonartcentre.on.ca/Exhibits/constructedidentity/conid_title.html