An identity is a self construct, one's interpretation of themselves across multiple spectrums, a few of which are race and gender. When someone "constructs" an identity, it is how they wish to be interpreted and actively associates with anything relative to it. Society also tries to also play a role in how one defines themselves, however it is merely a placement of where one stands in a power structure. "...identity was to a great extent assigned, rather than selected or adopted."(Howard, 367). Categories are maintained to determine whether someone naturally benefits and are privileged, or whether they are oppressed. If someone is not caucasian, male, or heterosexual, in some fashion they are considered to be oppressed in societal language. Stereotypes are a side effect, made from flawed expectations of specific groups of people either because of race or gender.
An exhibit in the Montclair museum explored identities in numerous variations. An artist named Dong Kyu Kim, sewed together a work of art of his interpretation of the American dream. His technique in doing so is commonly used by Korean women, but he learned the skill and carefully sewn receipts, tickets, and other ephemera. The string that is used is the color of the American flag, and the craftsmanship he has dedicated to this piece is shown from when afar, the ephemera blend together and only the flag is seen. Kim's work encapsulates the identity of the American capitalist system. Kim had residence in the United States with a H1B visa, after being denied four times for a work permit or a green card, it is then he created this work of art. One of Barbara Kruger's work was also included the museum's exhibition centered around identities. Her work "...questions the viewer about feminism, classicism, consumerism, desire, and individual autonomy..."(museum piece description). The woman depicted is in an unknown scenario, whether or not she's looking or if someone is looking at her, Kruger is testing the idea of power through her piece. A photograph taken by Larry Silver was meant to portray his professional identity in the photography field. In serene Connecticut, he ran across a humorous situation of a police officer attempting to shoo away a swan, but with little to no success. Another photograph taken by Frank Paulin, depicts something commonly seen on the streets of Queens. His theme of identity is centered around a sense of place, how a moment in the present is constantly fleeting as well as a still of what the American dream could possibly look like. Both photographs from Silver and Paulin are in black and white, however Paulin has captured a grittier aesthetic to his, mainly because Silver wanted to portray his professional identity more than Paulin tried to. A painting done by Fred Tomaselli, called "Cyclopticon", is portrayed with a theme of identity of personal spaces. Tomaselli creates a rendition of his own of what he believes to be the terrifying, nightmare hellscape that the human mind is. With immense detail, he carefully constructs realistic bodily parts in a grotesque mess, with rays of color jutting toward the malformed head.
Identity is something intrinsic and should not be easily defined. Society attempts to, as well as to make others lesser because of it. That men and women should act a certain way and associate themselves with what society has given a gender role to. "Because the social positions we occupy have immediate consequences for our sense of self, group schemas pay a major part in processes of identification." (Howard, 368). Identity within oneself should be explored without any restriction from societal norms, as long as it does not bring harm unto others. The works of art in the exhibition centered around identity is how one can express a specific portion of their own in multitudes of ways.
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