"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 (Taylor in Gutmann, ed. 1994)."
From Identity Politics in the Stanford Encyclopedia, and Charles Taylor's book, 1989. Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
It has been on my mind lately, Identity. It seems as though it's everywhere. We now can read modern literature focused on identity. Take Margaret Atwood, or Salomon Rushdie; these authors have been shaped and identities were formed by the surroundings in which they grew. This is general, this is common for most people and these days we are focused on it. Identity is everywhere.
Survival of reality TV shows may say more about just how fascinated people are with watching to judge other's identities. Then one begins to become involved in relating to the ones that stand out on these shows. From this definition of identity it's easy to rationalize how we are attracted to watching reality TV.
"Your identity in this sense consists roughly of those properties that make you unique as an individual and different from others. Or it is the way you see or define yourself." E. Olson, ‘Personal Identity’
We are on the lookout for unique people, those who are different and can entertain us. At the time of Julius Caesar, the gladiator was a popular symbol of military strength. Gladiatorial games were for the elite and were about death. People were entertained by two mighty Romans battling to the death.
"If they fought well enough, however, they might, with the crowd's support, win both their lives (crowds could and did urge the editores, the sponsors of the games, to spare a defeated gladiator before the kill) and their social identities (crowds urged emperors to free gladiators who were popular)."
Does this sound like Survivor without the bloodshed? The gladiator spectacles became popular and enthralled Romans because the human conflict portrayed was attractive to audiences. In much the same vein, people are watching reality TV because conflict and identities are attractive.
There are movies and books focused on identity and in a way, our fascination is more than an attraction to human conflict. Ideas, a CBC podcast, tells us about identity in Economics and Social Justice. Pier Luigi Sacco lectures on how we view identity in terms of economics and said," Passing enough times through the media, through the television, you aquire a special essence that in some sense makes you shine just because you pass through it." He said it is a new form of scarcity because it can make you different and it is difficult to achieve.
Andy Wharhol said everyone had fifteen minutes of fame, of passing through the media. Identity is highly competitive. Not everyone has talent; nevertheless, all people have this opportunity to pass through the media. Does Pier Luigi get it right when he said we are suffering because we simply don't have the opportunity to make it big after passing through the lens? Our identities cause us suffering, and suffering as a human source of conflict has attracted attention.
Our identity, our essence, has been given much thought. We constantly reform it, it is transitive and we grow and experience more. How does identity and role playing, virtual worlds and people online interact? Have a look next week to read some ideas.
