- introduce Foucaults 'discourse' methodology
- consider 'post modern theories of identity
- consider identity today, digital domain
Theories of identity - essentialism
phrenology
- not a real science
- perfect ratio of brain make up with different areas
- balanced identity
- moral, reflective, self perfecting, perspectives, animal, domestic, aspiring
physiognomy
- stereotypes
- grades of intelligence
- legitimising racism
- Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516) 'Christ carrying the Cross' - exaggerates facial stereotypes
- Chris Ofili (1996), 'Holy Virgin Mary' black virgin mary
Historical faces of Identity
Pre-modern identity
- personal identity is stable
- institutions determined identity
- through marriage, monarchy, government
- 'secure' identities
- identity born with will be the one you have for the rest of your life
Modern identity
- 19th and early 20th centuries
- rise of a new working class
- three important writers acknowledge it:
Charles Baudelaire - introduces 'flaneur' (gentlemen stroller)
Thorstein Veblen - 'conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure', an identity of not having to go to work
Georg Simmel - trickle down theory, emulation, distinction, the 'mask' of fashion', hiding behind fashion, aspiring to the upper class the lower class where similar clothes to bridge the gap, the upper class then update their wardrobe
Post-modern identity
- discourse analysis
- identity is constructed out of the discourses culturally available to us
- possible discourses - age, glass, gender, sexual orientation etc
- discourses to be considered - class, nationality, 'race/ethnicity and gender and sexuality' = 'otherness'
- awareness of your own identity
- national identity
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