I wrote out my essay plan again because after my feedback from the last session, it was suggested to me that my argument continued to move between the arguments for and against instead of having all the arguments for one side together, followed by the opposing points. I have colour coded it so the points are easily identifiable as for or against.
CULTURAL BLENDING DOES NOT AFFECT IDENTITY
CULTURAL BLENDING AFFECTS IDENTITY
Introduction
Define key terms: cultural blending, explain cultural exchange and appropriation.
What are the different ways in which we define ourselves?
Brief overview of internal and external definitions of identity.
Main Body
Brief overview of internal and external definitions of identity.
Main Body
Pre-modern identity: personal identity is stable – defined by long standing roles
Modern identity: modern societies begin to offer a wider range of social roles. Possibility to start ‘choosing’ your identity, rather than simply being born into it. People start to ‘worry’ about who they are
Society has power over us, as cultures blend and societies evolve, we do too.
Essentialism - biological makeup / the soul
Modern identity: modern societies begin to offer a wider range of social roles. Possibility to start ‘choosing’ your identity, rather than simply being born into it. People start to ‘worry’ about who they are
Society has power over us, as cultures blend and societies evolve, we do too.
Essentialism - biological makeup / the soul
Post-modern identity: anti-essentialism, a ‘fragmented self, identity is constructed
Race is an invented idea. Our race doesn’t define us as people, the categories are undefinable and this label means nothing.
If people agree that race is an invented idea, then they are more susceptible to accept the culture that exists around them as part of their identity.
People value their heritage so this will stay with them no matter what is happening around them.
People take influence from many places and factors
Cultural appropriation - there is the argument of whether appropriation says anything about your identity when the meaning of the symbol is not fully understood. (consumer culture)
How do these concepts affect creative practitioners?
Blending of cultures makes something new, art movements have influenced each other across the world.
Does it actually matter? Their work isn't a direct reflection on their identity.
Is this relevant beyond the art world? It is a personal thing so someones real identity may never be known by anyone other than themselves.
Conclusion
It depends whether we identify internally or externally.
External factors have the most impact on the average human, even though this may not be a conscious thing.
Identity is a personal thing, it can’t be measured and analysed to the point where a definite answer is reached.
I feel better about this now and I feel that I can make some progress with my essay over the christmas break. I am sure the structure of my essay will continue to move around but at least I have a basic plan so that I can start writing. I have a fair amount of quotes but have another six books from the library to read through and I haven't used the internet extensively yet so I have a lot of information to still discover. I need to be careful that my essay doesn't drift off at tangents too much, I want to keep it concise so that I am not struggling to cut it down to 3000 words at the end.
