Identity

Identity

Historical conceptions of identity
Foucalt's 'discourse' methodology
Place critique contemporary practice within these frameworks, and to consider validity

Theories
ESSENTIALISM 
Biological makeup
Inner essence

Post-modern theorists disagree
they are anti-essentialist

Physiognomy 

Phrenology

Physiognomy 
More vertical the face is the more intelligent you are, brings around racism and arianism. 
(nazi theory, blonde hair, blue eyes, white is perfect)
Legitimising Racism
Teutonic - German
Iberian- Spain/ Portugal (closer to North Africa, and going upwards to Ireland)

Hieronymous Bosch 1450- 1516
Christ carrying the Cross, Oil on panel

Suggests grotesques, racism e.c.t 

Chris Ofili, Holy Virgin Mary, 1996

Historical Phases of Identity

• Pre-modern- personal identity is stable – defined by long standing roles
• Modern- 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 - accepts a fragmented self, identity is constructed

Pre-Modern Identity

related institutional agency with vested interest

Farm-worker - landed gentry

The Soldier  - The state 

The Factory Worker -  Industrial capitalism

The Housewife -  patriarchy

The Gentleman -  patriarchy

Husband-Wife (family) - Marriage/church

Modern Identity

Charles Baudelaire – The Painter of Modern Life (1863)

Thorstein Veblen – Theory of the Leisure Class (1899)

Georg Simmel – The Metropolis and Mental Life (1903)

Baudelaire – introduces concept of the ‘flaneur’ (gentleman-stroller)

Veblen – ‘Conspicuous consumption of valuable goods is a means of reputability to the

gentleman of leisure’

Georg Simmel

Trickle Down Theory 

Emulation

Distinction

'Mask'

Alienation within society, 

the speed and mutability of modernity, individuals withdraw into themselves

Post- modern Identity

Michael Foucault

'Discourse Analysis' 

A set of recurring statements that define a particular cultural 'object'- Cavallaro 

Possible Discourses

Age 

Class

Gender 

Nationality

Race/ Ethnicity

Sexual Orientation

Education

Income

e.c.t.

'Otherness' - anything separate to the 'norm'

Class

Humphrey Spender, Mass Observation, Worktown Project, 1937

Observing Britain living, in Bolton. 

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

Almost Self- Congratulatory

Mocking

Ascott, 2003

‘ “Society” …reminds one of a particularly shrewd, cunning and pokerfaced player in the

game of life, cheating if given a chance, flouting rules whenever possible’

Nationality

Martin Parr, Sedlescombe, from

Think of England, 2000-2003 

Martin Parr, Think of Germany,

Berlin, 2002