Essentialism (traditional approach)
Our biological make up makes us who we are
We all have an inner essence that makes us who we are
Post modern theorists disagree
Post modern theorists are anti essentialist
Phrenology
"Insert image"
The idea that there are certain percentages of character traits/aspects that make up a perfect human, if they are imbalanced it therefore becomes an imperfect mind which could indicate criminal tendencies.
Physiognomy
Cesare Lombroso (1835 - 1909)
Founder of positive criminology - the notion that criminal tendencies are inherited
Physiognomy legitimised racism by suggesting that people with typically 'white' english/german features were intellectually superior, whilst anyone with more pronounced, ethnic features were of minimal intelligence. This idea was furthered by the nazis who wanted to create a super race of people with aryan features (blonde hair, blue eyes, anglo facial features)
This idea has been present in society for centuries, which is evidenced in many historical and religious paintings.
'Hieronymous Bosch / Chris Ofili'
Historical phases of identity
Douglas Kellner
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
Pre Modern Identity
Institutions determine identity such as marriage, the church, monarchy, government, the state, work etc.
All of these institutions provide a secure identity for the individual. These secure identities are related to the institution which has a vested interest in the identities.
Modern identity -
(19th and 20th centuries)
Gives rise to a new working class that becomes increasingly self aware of where they fit into society.
Important writers of the time on this subject -
Charles Baudelaire - introduces the concept of the flaneur (gentleman stroller, has no place to be so simply observes the city, and is observed)
Thorstein Veblen - 'Conspicious consumption of a valuable goods is a means of reputability to the gentleman of leisure'
Georg Simmer - Trickle down theory - The system where the upper classes where expensive clothing and objects that display their wealth, the working classes then aspire to be like them, and begin to emulate the upper classes clothing, attempting to bridging the gap. The upper classes will then seek a new fashion to distinguish themselves, creating a cycle. Simmel suggests that because of the speed of modernity, individuals withdraw themselves to find peace.
Post modern identity -
Discourse analysis
Foucault suggests that identity is structured out of the discourses culturally available to us, such as race, sexual orientation, age, income, gender, nationality - all of which influence who we become, but also give way to stereotypes.
Class, nationality, race/ethnicity, gender/sexuality have become 'the other'
Humphrey Spender / Mass Observation 'Worktown project' 1937
Middle class men photograph the town of Bolton.
Loaded images with their own perceptions of how the working class live.
Fashion - Alexander Mcqueen / Vivienne Westwood
Las Vegas
Race and Ethnicity
Chris Ofili - Black British Artists
Draws attention to his race and ethnicity through his work to represent what is considered 'the other'.
No Woman No Cry
Captain Shit
Gillian Wearing 'signs that say what you want them to say and not signs that say what someone else wants you to say' 1992-3
Subscribing to and perpetuating stereotypes?
Gender and Sexuality
The Postmodern Condition
Identity is constructed through our social experience
You can structure your identity
Goffman saw life as theatre, made up of 'encounters' and 'performances'.
Zygmunt Bauman
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