Identity Flashcards
What is identity
Image, Gender, Appearance, Personality, Characteristics, Beliefs, Morals, Views, Ethnicity, Faith, Quirks/Traits, Fashion/dress sense, Nationality.
Key aspects of identity
Key aspects of identity ( like gender, social class, age , sexual orientation, race and ethnicity ) play significant roles in determining how we understand and experience the world.
The media use different representations (Images, word and characters or personae) to convey specific ideas and values relate to culture and identity in society.
Gender and Identity
GENDER IS NOT THE SAME AS SEX
Sex difference is about whether you are biologically male or female (so what is physically present)
Gender difference are culturally formed. Embedded in society.
Binary Opposites of Masculinity
Brave / Tough Hairy / Scruff Calm / Lazy Authoritative Angry / Aggressive Emotionless Manual Labour Heroic Bread Winners Practical
Binary Opposites of Femininity
Scared Smooth / Elegant Bossy Weak Timid Emotional Domesticated In Distress Home Makers Academic / Clever
To what extend does the “Male Gaze” Influence the Identity of female teens today?
The Male Gaze influences the identity of female teens today as women post “Sexy” or revealing photographs of themselves having a fake persona all for the desire and acceptance of men.
Criticism of the male gaze
Some women enjoy being “Looked” at e.g beauty pageants
The gaze can also be directed towards members of the same gender for reasons: not all of which are sexual, such as in comparison of body image and clothing.
Judith Butler arguement
Argued feminism made a mistake in stating that women were a group with common characteristics and interests.
Butler argued feminists had rejected the idea that a female could not fulfil male roles because of their sex.
However Butler Questioned that as their theory was based on a patriarchal culture, therefore the same destiny was just as inevitable. The argument allows no room for choice, difference or resistance to the male dominance.
Butler concluded that Gender Is a Performance.
Identity and social media
Consumers are 71% more likely to make a purchase based on social media referrals.
74% of consumers rely on social network to guide purchase decisions.
44% of female social media users say bloggers influence their purchase decision.
15.1 Millions Consumers refer to social media channels before making purchase decisions.
Positive feedback, interaction and responses build your brand.
advantages of the individual as a producer
Instant messaging Constant communication Sharing memories Identity Online Memories Stored Raising awareness Motivate, Inspire people Creativity Express your skills.
disadvantages of the individual as a producer
Insecurities Bullying Fake Unreachable expectations Groping Child predators Catfish Over sexualisation Societies downfall Addiction Lack of privacy
what role does social media have in creating identity
Social media plays a large role in creating identity as everything we post online creates or adds to the identity you portray online you aim to be the best version of yourselves.
Why could it be argued that social media presents more than one identity?
It can be argued as one person can have multiple identities on social media because of the selection of different platforms. The individual’s different social media accounts can have completely different content for example they may be very “Innocent” on Facebook in front of their families but on snapchat are very “Wild” or “Crazy”.
How are users of social media examples of Laura Mulvey and Judith Butler’s Theories when portraying their own identities?
Girls over sexualise themselves as they want to be appreciated and accepted by men this male gaze is present in female social media to appeal to men. Butler also realises these online identities are performances that the individual puts on.
“A Persons relationship with social media today, is characterised by their roles as a ‘User’ or ‘Participant’ rather than an ‘audience member’” – Agree or Disagree?
I agree as social media is used more promptly to upload content and participate in the app rather than just being on it. People will actually use it. You either use it for upload content or participate by liking, sharing and interacting with it. There are rarely audience members on social media.
The Honeycomb Of Social Media
Presence, Relationship, Reputation, Identity, Group, Sharing, Conversation.
function of presence
the extent to which users know if others are available
function of relationship
the extend to which users relate to each other
function of reputation
the extent to which users know the social standing of others and content
function of groups
the extent to which users are ordered or form communities
function of conversation
the extent to which users communicate with each other
function of sharing
the extend to which users exchange distribute and receive content
function of identity
the extend to which users reveal themselves
implications of presence
creating and managing the reality, intimacy and immediacy of the content.
implications of relationships
managing the structural and flow properties in a network of relationship
implications of identity
data privacy controls and tools for user self-promotion.
implications of reputation
monitoring the strength, passion, sentiment and reach of users and brands
implications of groups
membership rules and protocols
implications of conersations
conversation velocity and the risks of starting and joining
implications of sharing
content management system and social graphs
David Gauntlett - Media, gender and identity
“Role model Should Not be taken to mean someone that a person wants to copy. Instead, role models serve as Navigation Points as individuals steer their Own Personal Routes Through Life”
Lil’Milquela and instagram filters
Milquela has been posting on Instagram for the last 5 months and has gained a following of over 80K. Many photos posted by models blur the lines between reality and make belief. We trust what we see online. We accept more about identity and gender in modern society. The idea that identities are multiple and that individuals may select different identities at different times had led to the concept of identity as performance.
Instagram.com/lilmiquela
She’s a real person but she digitally edits her face. 100% CGI. But people cant seem to tell if she is real or not. A Study of 7 Millions photos online found filters increase the chance of views by 21% and comments by 45%.
Social medias use of Avatars and anonymity and games with the role-playing of gangsters, wizards, soldiers, and suburban family members, moving between ethnicity, age and gender which exists in a virtual world which maybe based on actual historical or social events.
role of filters used by social media producers in creating multiple identities.
- Increased audience exposure to a range of identities encouraging wider acceptance in society
- Changes in technology allow audience to “have more control” over their own identity
- Filters give an illusion of empowerment
- Difficult to identify ‘true’ identity
- Multiple and mutable identities
- Balance of power producer/Audience
- Concept of mass audiences VS individualised responses
- Online identity can be different to real life identity
- The ability to edit profiles on a different platform.
Judith Butler Summary
A contemporary approach to gender representation was introduced by Judith Butler who suggests that gender is not the result of nature but is socially constructed. That is to say, male and female behaviour and roles are not the result of biology but are constructed and reinforced through media and culture. Butler argues that there are a number of exaggerated disruptive ‘tongue-in-cheek’ representations of masculinity and femininity, which draw attention to the idea that gender is socially constructed and cause what she refers to as ‘Gender Trouble’
Judith Butler Points
- Nothing within your identity is fixed.
- Your identity is little more than a pile of things which you have previously expressed or which have been said about you.
- There is not really an ‘inner self’. We come to believe we have one through the repetition of discourses about it
- Gender, like other aspects of identity, is a performance. Reinforced through repetition. Not always a consciously chosen one.
- People can therefore change.
- The binary divide between masculinity and femininity is a social construct built on the binary divide between men and women – which is also a social construction
- We should challenge the traditional views of masculinity, femininity and sexuality by causing gender trouble.
Structuralism Define
Stucturalists say that the meaning of a text is not held within it, but in the cultural relationships surrounding and connecting it.
structuralists consider
- Genre
- Over Arching Narrative
- Style Influences
- Adaptions
- Stock Characters
- Binary Opposites
- Recurring Themes
female characteristics
Girly Beauty Elegance Intelligence Rebellion Cheeky Curvy
males characteristics
Strong Aggressive Loud Rule breaker Intimidating Jokers Rowdy Immature Reckless Followers British Bulldog Chancers Boisterous
The Alpha Male
- Male Characters are often represented as isolated and their own lone hero.
- “Culturally Idealised form of masculinity” has a certain level of ‘Buffness’ (IE Muscles, six pack, abs,).
- Males in society have to be ( and are represented as being ) dominant as we have a patriarchal society
- The Male Physique is an important part of representing masculinity.
Fundamental elements of hegemonic masculinity is:
- Women Exist as sexual objects.
- Women provide sexual validation.
- Men compete with other main for sexual validity of women.
Men With Scars
The Big Shot – Professional statues, He is the epitome of success. He has the characteristics nad possessions that society deem desirable.
The Action Hero - Strong but not always silent, often angry, he is violent and aggressive.
These stereotypes suggest that a ‘real man’ must be powerful and successful.
Men In Crisis
The strong Silent type:
Focuses on being in charge and containing emotion, reinforcing the idea that men should always be ‘in control’ and to show emotion is weak
The Jock:
Must avoid being ‘soft’. He is aggressive, fighting other men where necessary and shows his power and strength through physical exertion by doing so, he wins the approval of men and the admiration of women.
Not being like this you failed masculinity.
Men compare themselves to men on advertisements, which cause crisis.
Laddism
The belief men should not be emotional and should make fun of those who are.
Typical behaviour is; Drinking, partying, talking about football, women and sex.
Often their jokes are at the expense of females and weaker and more vunerable males.
Joker
Joker is the binary opposite of the ‘Alpha’ male, exaggerating characteristics of the Alpha male to make fun of themselves. Women be little or dominate these kinds of people.
Fool / Buffoon
Will always get it wrong, unintentionally. But always comes out on top as people like them for their inadequacies.
