Constructing an Identity relies on multiple factors affecting an individual. Nor is an identity ever truly finalized as more factors are bound to be experienced by an individual as they advance through their lifetime. When describing one’s own identity, an individual may often define themselves by their gender, age, occupation, and ethnicity. These are referred to as group schemas. Tajfel (1981) said , “They (group schemas) allow us to summarize and reduce information to key elements; thus, they also entail losing potentially valuable information. And,categorizations are almost always accompanied by systems of evaluation of some categories as better or worse. Schemas are not just perceptual phenomenona; they can serve as explanatory devices and justifications of social relationships”. Therefor Group schemas take major points in the description of my identity and simplify for the sake of classification. For example in Rutgers Student database I may be documented as a “26 year old latino male graphic design student”, and while this does successfully identify me in a logistical sense, it is barely even scratching the surface when it comes to constructing my whole identity. However, my identity is constructed of more than just my group schema. This summary of my identification allows me to describe myself easier to others and offers a quicker understanding of who they may perceive me to be based on those attributes.
This may affect an individual both negatively and/ or positively being that because the identification is constructed with the intent to categorize, it also works as a form of evaluation. This can work toward or against social status and self esteem depending on the environment and the standard set by the majority.
Aside from evaluation, schemas also work as a form of symbolizing the constructs of our identification for a simpler interpretation regarding the interacting individuals. Judith A Howard states in her article Social Psychology of Identities that,” The basic premise of symbolic interaction is that people attach symbolic meaning to objects, behaviors, themselves, and other people, and they develop and transmit these meanings through interaction. People behave toward objects on the basis not of their concrete properties, but of the meanings these objects have for them.Identities locate a person in social space by virtue of the relationships that these identities imply, and are, themselves, symbols whose meanings vary across actors and situations.” In order to for an individual to fully comprehend, the individual may easily reference what they already understand to get to know one another even if metaphorically.
I believe that schemas are successful in simplifying our identities especially within the context of categorizing and even introducing yourself in a social interaction, such as when someone asks “Who are you, and what do you do?” This correlates with what Howards stated about symbolic interactions because i believe people tend to evaluate an individual off a first impression description. For example i find that when i told people i went to community college, not only would i devalue myself a bit and state where i was a student at almost embarrassingly but i would usually get a response like “oh… okay well at least you're doing it!” But now whenever i tell people I’m a student at Rutgers University they will often respond with excitement like “Oh Wow! That's a great school!” Not only would they show more enthusiasm but i would also state it with more pride and confidence knowing that people will evaluate me higher simply off the symbolism of a State University vs a Community college.
Nick Cave- Sound suit, 2015
This Piece coincides with the theory of symbolism in interaction. The artist here is depicting the many things that make his identity whole. While abstract the piece is clearly a human figure adorned with shiny fabrics while the head of the figure is what i would describe as an explosion of symbols that describe the artists mentality or message. Although the body resembles a full grown adult, their head is filled with symbols recognizable as childlike and adolescent symbolizing the stage of our lives we are in when we are taught most of the symbolism we recognize and reference into adulthood.
Fred Tomaselli-Cyclopticon, 2003
This Piece describes the internal identity which is free from any social constructs. It shows an individual’s head bust represented anatomically. This symbolizes that we are all the same underneath our identity constructs. The figure also appears to be screaming, representing the suffering and frustration one must go through trying to fit into an identity evaluating society. There is also an eyeball placed in the center of the brain, referencing cosmic and spiritual roots beneath our identity or possibly that our brain works like our eyes and can only visualize what it already has seen.
Bernabe Mendez-Spiderman, 2007
This photograph portrays masking one’s identity for the sense of freedom as well as affinity with iconic characters due to what they’re “STORY” represents or “SYMBOLIZES”
Masking one’s face for the sake of maneuvering through society unidentified can grant a state of emancipation from constructs that may have made an individual feel inferior in society. Characters such as spiderman are relatable because the story of Peter Parker being a social outcast to society but secretly a hero with unimaginable potential still has to be home on a school night or have trouble talking to girls make readers live vicariously through a character’s story they feel may loosely resemble their own.
Helen R Kaar- MADISON Eternity is in Love with the Productions of Time, 2016
This piece was hand woven of fabrics of blankets used by the artist and her family throughout her life. She used the nostalgic elements of her home life to construct a nude women figure with a snake running down her leg. This represents her identity as a women and the layers that make up the women that she is while still being rooted to the “STORY” of Eve and the Serpent. Although negatives and positives are the constructs of her identity, above her heart is written LOVE, with her arm extended out leaving her exposed.
Faharru Rockwell Pecou-Pop Champ, 2010
This piece portrays who we are, how we see ourselves, and how we portray ourselves to others. The artist in the painting is painting a self portrait while looking at his own reflection. Above his portrait are portraits of what i assume to be his heros. However he is looking down on himself, or rather his own reflection. However his portrait has him looking into the distance opposite to where he is looking. Possibly eluding to his own depiction of what he identifies a champion version of himself as one who would see himself as better than than who the artist identifies as now.
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