LECTURE NOTES - IDENTITY

• Historical concepts
• Foucault's 'discourse' methodology
• Post-modern theories of identity as 'fluid' and 'constructed'

Theories of identity:

ESENTIALISM (traditional approach)

Physiognomy

1.

a. The art of judging human character from facial features.

b. Divination based on facial features.

 

2.

a. Facial features, especially when regarded as revealing character.

b. Aspect and character of an inanimate or abstract entity: the physiognomy of New England

Phrenology

Physiognomy legitimising racism

Nothing new - Seen in paintings throughout history.

Christ carrying the cross - Hieronymus Bosch - 1515

Holy Virgin Mary - Chris Ofili - 1995

HISTORICAL PHASES OF IDENTITY

Pre modern identity

- personal identity is stable
- defined by long standing roles
- Institutions determined by identity
- 'Secure' identities
- Farm-worker to landed gentry
- Soldier to the state
- Factory worker to industrial capitalism

Modern Identity

- Wider range of social roles
- Charles Baudelaire - 'Flaneur' (gentleman-stroller//gentleman of leisure)
- 'Conspicuous consumption' 
- Fashion - indication of class
- Simmel
          - Trickle down theory
          - Emulation
          - Distinction
          - The 'mask' of fashion
          - Isolation - May be physically surrounded but internally alone

 Post-modern Identity

- Foucault
- Discourse analysis
- Cavallaro
- Age//class//gender//nationality//race//ethnicity//sexuality//education//etc.
- 'Otherness'

Class

- Humphrey Spender//Mass Observation - Worktown project - 1937

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


- Act 

Nationality

- Martin Parr - Think of England/Germany - 2000-2003

- Alexander McQueen - Highland Rape collection - A/W 1995-6

- Vivienne Westwood - Use of tartan

Race//Ethnicity

- Chris Ofili - uses elephant dung - voice to black society
- Gillian Wearing - playing on stereotypes?
- Alexander McQueen - It's A Jungle Out There 
- Emily Bates - Dress - Scottish//Red haired - victimised 

Gender & Sexuality

- 'The fashion industry is the work not of women but of men'
- 'A gigantic unconscious hoax'
- Masquerade and the mask of femininity
- Cindy Sherman - Untitled Film Stills - 1977-80
- Women in professional minority
- Tracey Emin - Everyone I have ever slept with 1963-95 - 1995

Wonderbra - I can't cook. Who cares?

Post-modern theory

- Identity constructed through our social experience
- Bauman
- Make up identity to satisfy you needs//wants
- Levitt - Use everything to shield ourselves from 'stark and plain reality' - Consummerism
- 'I think therefore I am'
- Barbara Kruger - I shop therefore I am 

 



















- Darley 'world at a distance'
- Internet
- Hodgkinson discussion with friend about  Facebook - 'I like Facebook' 'I got a shag out of it'