Last class, we talked about the possible destruction of the self because of the obstinacy of identity. What can we do to ensure that we are becoming what we should be? How do we know if we are truly free to become someone?
Maxine Greene said:
"This [immersion in the world of the taken-for-granted] means an unreflective consumerism; for others, it means a preoccupation with having more rather than being more. If freedom comes to mind, it is ordinarily associated with an individualist stance: It signifies a self-dependence rather than relationship..." (Greene, 1988, p. 7).
To use her idea just a little more, Greene says that freedom comes from being in an "interpretive relation" to the world around us. What is the purpose of this discussion of freedom and interpretation?
Identity can only be created when we have the courage to choose freedom over conformity. Conformists look like everyone else, but never ask "why" they should look like everyone else. Conformists cling to hollow phrases and empty sentiments rather than creating new ideas from the older concepts. You can really be into whatever type of clothing, music, religion, gender issue, etc. you want, but do you have the courage to question that identity group if they do something that does not jibe with your other constituent parts?
The true non-conformist, the truly secure person, will not allow the contradictions in his or her being stop him or her from doing what is right. The true conformist spews emptiness while consuming the lives of others for no reason. Ask yourself, are you Okonkwo, tragically stuck on the broken record of a dying creed, or are you "YOU?" More importantly, can you sacrifice the all-important self when the needs of others block your way?
Identity is a polemical construction; as such, you must bleed, cry, laugh, sing, and die a little to yourself in order to create it. Do you have the courage to choose the freedom to construct your identity?
Well, are we really free from others to make our OWN identity? Would it be completely our own, or would it be a spin-off of what has already been done. In this day in age, almost everything we do is inspired off of someone.Whether it's family, friends, teacher, celebrities,or just average humans, we depend off of their inspiration to "make our own identity". Maybe I'm missing it, but that's just my opinion
ReplyDeleteI don't think that anyone in today's world is completely free to become their own person. It seems to me that most people conform to some point or extreme, as far as the way we dress, act, etc., but the things that actually do make up our identity are the few special things that we each have because that is what we are remembered for. As Tyler said, we will pretty much always have someone or something influencing us, and I agree with the fact that when we stick by our beliefs no matter what, then that's how you can tell if you have an identity.
ReplyDeleteIdentity....everyone has one. Whether it's physical or mental. People may change over time due to experiences but that doesn't mean we have no identity. It just means our identity has changed. I believe that we are free to have our own identity. On the outside, it may seem like someone has the same identity as someone else, but we don't know their insides. We can't read minds and I think that's where a person's central identity is. I think that explains how people may change on the outside or conform to something, but it doens't always change who they REALLY are inside. If that makes any sense. lol :)
ReplyDeleteThe discussion we had in class was extremely confusing.
ReplyDeleteTo say that whether people make themselves up or that people's identity is based upon other's idenity is completely up to that person, or so thats what i think anyways.
This is probably my favorite blog thus far. It has definitely made me think the most. I believe having one's own identity is having personality in which others were not the influence. If an individual has his or her own identity, he or she will not compromise his or her beliefs to satisfy others. The influences of others will not affect the identity of an individual if it is true.
ReplyDeleteTo relate the question of identity to Things Fall Apart, I feel Unoka had his own identity while Okonkwo was a conformist. Okonkwo spent his life attempting to not be like his father while Unoka spent his life living. Okonkwo's personality was formed through what he thought others would want to see. His focus in life was on being successful within his clan while his father's focus in life was experiencing his surroundings.
I've always had a problem with originality because it seems like something that, in the truest sense, something that has never been thought of before, rarely happens anymore. Concepts have already been discussed, ideas have already been thought, stories already been told...I'm not talking about stuff like inventions but the deep blocks of society and individuals...so therefore, I see the possibility of someone being non-conformist somewhat of a myth. Interaction produces conformity. Just as people's opinions influence how we see ourselves, people influence how we see other things-what is ugly, beautiful, fashionable, artistic, etc. A person that lived completely shut off from the world would see some of the outfits people in the United States wear as silly because they don't meet the needs for survival, like wearing a dress in the cold of winter. But for some reason, girls still wear those (beauty is pain, remember?).
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I got off topic here but I was on a roll.
The issue of Okonkwo being a conformist is confusing; in one view, basing his self-worth on the ideals of the tribe at the time does fit into him being a conformist. However, while his society was leaning away from the old traditions that he cherished, he still stuck to them and that is why he felt ostracized and trapped when he committed suicide.
I think that it is hard to define exactly what identity is. "Original" thoughts are hardly ever original considering almost 100% of the time someone, somewhere, at some time had the same thought. We as humans create our own personality. We find things that we like from people around us, from the places we live or visit, and from the things that we read. From these influences our personality, our identity, is sculpted. I think that a person creates their own identity by not fitting into one stereotype but finding things that they like in people from all kinds of backgrounds and social groups. People may feel that they can be identified as one thing but others around them may identify them as something else completely. It is for this reason that i believe identity is something hard to define. I identify myself as many things: a believer, a dreamer, and a dancer to list a few things. While i can think of many ways to identify myself, others around may only identify me as "the Mormon girl." But that's okay. Because to me it is more important that we know for ourselves that we are important and we know who we are than that other people know all that we are. The things that i do and the things that i love create my identity and my identity is completely different from any other person's identity.
ReplyDeleteI probably got way off topic but....there are my thoughts.
In order to finds ones Identity I guess one need to be comfortable with one’s self and able to make decisions that are not based upon others opinion but with ones truth, spiritual belief and or moral. The ability to voice ones opinion without the fear of rejection of others is showing real identity. For example it is noticeable when going over questions in classes for a quiz, homework assignment, review etc. Many students (especially with multiple choice questions) wait for either the smartest person in class to give the answer or the majority of the class to give the answer before answering it. Sometimes the majority or even the smartest person in the class did not have the correct answer and the student(s) that mimicked the answer of the others had the right answer themselves but they didn’t voice it because the either had the fear of being wrong of the fear of being different . It shows a lack of identity to doubt one’s self without a sufficient reason. In order to become an individual it is important to have faith in yourself and or morality and not let any other person measure what you know, and how much you or your opinions and thoughts are worth. This is very hard because going through life there are many times that your opinion is not important to others but even in those situation it is not necessary to change your own personal concept by mentally conforming.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tyler in the fact that we do tend to look at ourselves in the way that others see us. We hear comments others make about us and that seems to often be what we think of ourselves. When a negative thing is said about us, human nature is to become sensitive to what was said and to believe that it must be true. Whereas if a positive comment is said about us we "want" it to be true, therefore we than think that about ourselves. I don't know if that makes sense. I loved what Gabriel said about how experiences can change our identity. I agree with that, but i also think they don't necessarily have to change our identity, but can add onto it giving us more thing to "live by." I also think that in order to have our own identity we NEED to hear the thoughts and ideas of others in order to decide whether or not we agree with them or if we need to come up with another alternative, because we don't agree.
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo took the thoughts of others and went by what they said only. He did not take a moment to decide whether or not he agreed with them and that's why he cared so much about what others thought of him. He didn't realize that most of the expectations other people had of him we either not really there or unrealistic.
People find comfort in conformity; they find unquestioned acceptance and a feeling of security. Each person doesn't have to create their own ideals, thoughts or interests, because they're created for them. Why would anyone want to set aside the time, especially today, to analyze themselves and find deeper understanding of the person they are and/or want to be?
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo believed in his community, in its values and the way his tribe ran according to the previous generations; he enjoyed the pleasures of hard work and the results of endurance. He never questioned the society he lived in, never took the time to evaluate his identity or his self propriety unless it was in regards to his father or the amount of power he could acquire. Rather he, like the rest of us today, found his worth in what he had and what he could have. When he finally identified himself, truly looked into his being and found the meaning in his life, he realized he could not survive in a changing world, because he was dependant on his community, and he refused to become conformed to a new way of life. To some, Okonkwo identified himself with his culture, but to me, he only identified himself with failure, and his attempts to avoid it; power and how to acquire it. But when the tides changed, Okonkwo didn’t have enough self identity to change, or rather to survive. He needed his culture, and without it, he could no longer thrive. This isn’t to say the depletion of a society and it’s beliefs was right or even close to justified, but perhaps the point of identity is not to identify ones self with something else, but the ability to create a freedom in ones spirit, so full and consuming, that no force, no matter how influential, could break it. The freedom must begin in ones being, despite outside imprisonment; it must dwell in one’s person. Then it can harness one’s identity, fuel ones beliefs and nurture ones hope.
I think that in order to truely define anything, even one's self and identity, you need contrast. What is freedom without oppression, life without death, wealth without poverty, light without dark, good without evil? Nothing, they are mere hollow wraiths that we barely acknowledge or recognize. So too is one's identity. To be a non-conformist or a conformist does not necessarily contend to mean that a non-conformist is a hermit without any connections to any group. Being part of a larger entity does not destroy your freedom to an identity, in fact it merely adds yet another facet to it. The identity is much like a diamond. In its raw form it looks no different than any other rock, but when you facet it, it gains the beauty that gives it its full worth. These facets, these associations, are nessesary to the full beauty of a identity. Where is the worth in developing an identity if you never associate with others enough to fully gain a use for it. Alone, an identity needs not to do any "work", but set it, and it shines on your finger, bending the light, and showing its beauty. So to does an identity work. It is in your associations that an identity is even needed, alone there is nothing for you to conform or not conform to, but in society you "bend" the norms of society, balance them against your personal morals, and "shed out brilliance", or in other words, do what is right. It is not that you have to go AGAINST society to be a true non-conformist, or even to shun its examples as viable piece of your identity, but that you must put first your morals, not societies morals, but your own. That is a true non-conformist identity.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I have to say I love this blog! It's one of my favorites for sure. When it comes to identity I have a strong opinon. American was founded on the need for a place where people can be who they want and believe what they want; that they can have their own identity. But can one truely have their OWN identity? I think that in order to do so, one can not allow other people influences to affect what they want or who they want to become. Obviously, there will be some important influencial people that will bring ideas and believes into our lives, namely, our parents. However, even their influence doesn't have to take away your identity.
ReplyDeleteI think comformity happens a lot in teenagers because they want to fit in and they think that who they are isn't good enough for others. In Things Fall Apart, Unoka is one who knows of his true identity. He doesn't allow his father's, Okonkow's, comformist ways to get in his way. Unoka believes in what he believes to be true and doesn't allow anyone to change that, even it means that his father completely disowns him because he knows what he wants.
I think social pressures make conformity at least somewhat necessary. Very few people seem to attempt to become social outcasts, so they allow themselves to fit a certain status quo. However, I also think our identies grow to be an accumulation from life and its experiences. We are products of our environment, and it by reacting to our environment we form an identity.
ReplyDeleteOkonkwo forced himself to be a conformist to the old ways of the tribe. He was obsessed with his image and distancing himself from the reputation of his father. To me, though, that makes up his identity. He is a conformist, who is terrified of being seen as weak like his father.
Oh, the irony. "I AM UNIQUE!" screamed the blogger to the internet full of people agreeing about non-conformism. Every thought there is to think has already been thought. Why does that sound familiar? Oh because Kelly said it a few posts up. I mean King Solomon said way back in the day that "everything under the sun has been done" and things aren't any different now. People have somehow got the notion that "conforming" is bad, but there isn't any way not to conform. Originality, to put it scientifically, is a load of crap. It's even harder to be original with the internet, because now we have documentation that says we're not original. At least before you could pretend that your ideas were your own and no one else's.
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, being original is not key to happiness and a successful life. Relationships are. Love between family and friends is. Okonko did not live his life in a way that put others first, and this caused him to perish. Because, if you think about it, if you don't put others first, who will you? Your "self"? Your "real you" the "person you are on the inside that makes you special no matter what?" Any attempt to do this will only force you to the sad truth that "YOU" do not exist. "YOU" are only distinguished as a "YOU" because SOMEONE ELSE was there to say so. Okonkwo tried to be a "YOU", and inevitably failed. Because he could not accept this fact, he killed himself. At least, this is what I'v come to believe after hearing several conclusions of this sort from several scattered sources throughout my life, and was probably stated much more eloquently somewhere else.
The concept of identity is complex. How can we define ourselves as being ourselves but not another when we depend on others to define ourselves? I am not sure that we can ensure that we are becoming what we should be because what we should be is shaped by the ideals of others, and those ideals vary in opinion such in socialization, taboos, religion, etc. The purpose of this discussion of freedom and interpretation is that like identity how can you be considered free if you have nothing to compare freedom too in the world. Freedom is based on others such as identity is. With conformity I think anyone could have the courage to question identified groups but it would be tiring because that would mean you would have to question everything you like or dislike. Okonkwo had identity issues. He was so concerned about not being like his father but by doing so was he really himself? I believe if he were truly himself, he would be able to speak how he truly felt and not be afraid of “feminine” things such as emotion. Perhaps he was trying so hard to fight who he truly was that ended in his peril of suicide. I personally just accept whatever my identity may be, maybe I do not know what it is but at the same time I find it unimportant because our identity like I said earlier varies by how others influence and view us and it would be difficult to make everyone and myself happy. No matter what you are who you are, and do not need that label of identity stuck on your forehead.
ReplyDeleteI was totally going to use Anna's "soloman's under the sun" quote. Then again, she was the one who told me in the first place. I can't say anything original, because it's all been said above. But as I look through each of the posts I can see that they have been influenced by the discussion in class itself. Whether they have been influenced by there parents, friends, teachers, even enemies, there is some influence that causes us to be the same. We are all technically the same though. We are all humans, but then again that's "mere semantics". It's how we label ourselves, I suppose, but only because that's as far as other's have judged us. I completely agree with Anna's blog. I feel that if I say anything further it would be seen as playgerism or copying of some sort.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really deep post, Mr. Bruno. Good stuff. As far as creating identity, I believe one of the purest ways to express oneself is through poetry and music. Such being the case, the best musicians and the ones who express themselves the most are the ones who sat at home reading poetry and listening to the greats of their time. Then they take what they have listened to/read and create their own special something that is subconsciously influenced by what they have studied. Basically, if you want to find yourself, you have to study other people. You have to pick and choose what you believe in based on what has been done before to create something fresh and new. And most importantly, you have to be able to change and adapt if what you are looking into isn't what you thought it was. You have to be able to question why things are the way things are and find out for yourself why you don't agree with things.
ReplyDeleteI think identity can be a difficult topic to discuss. While ideally everyone has there own identity and personality, identity is usually shaped as a reaction to the identity of others. For example, the need to conform can shape your identity to have similar aspects to others' identities.
ReplyDeleteIn todays world, we move at such a fast pase that prople do not have the chance to create there own identity, it is simply the product of the choises that we make and how we handle different situations. Sure every one wants there "identity" to be recognized as attractive, punctual, intellagent and plesent to be around, but if ur always late,sloppy, and annoying then your "identity" will be a reflection of that
ReplyDeleteNo one has complete control over their identity. If they did, then it wouldn't be such a big to-do. I think the choices we make and the times in which we live mold us into our ever-changing identities.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe I’ve ever met a true non-conformist and I definitely don’t think I am one. At least not in high school. Scratch that, ESPECIALLY not in high school. Teenagers, due to hormones, stupidity, or whatever it is, are self conscious of themselves darn near most of the time. Now it doesn’t always lead to things like drinking, sex, or grand theft auto contrary to what the media says. It’s the small stuff. The small seemingly inconsequential stuff that invariably changes who you are to the world.
ReplyDeleteGreene’s statement about “unreflective consumerism” and “a preoccupation with having more rather than being more” seems pretty accurate. It’s interesting to sit and watch people live their hurried lives, whether it’s Target or driving down 610. The depressing part is that when you stop watching society you become a part of it. (non-conformity=schism=TFA, C&Pconnection?)
To be a true non-conformist is difficult and is something you neither strive to achieve nor fail to recognize. Know it’s there and let it ruminate in the back of your mind and maybe one day you will achieve nirvana/non-conformity.
We are in large part a product of our surroundings. A summary of our memories and experiences. So I don't think we create our own identity as much as it is created by our experiences.
ReplyDeleteI believe that identity is shaped by the everyday experiences that one recieves or is influenced by, solely mentally. There's really no such thing as physical uniqueness (aren't we all supposed to have a twin on some godforsaken point on the world?).
ReplyDeleteIn short, it's all on experience.