"Identity" by Nick Bentley
I find it wonderfully ironic that the majority of my life has been spent fighting just to be me.
I believe I've come up with decent percentages that divide the contents of a person's identity:
33% - Mother, Father
33% - Pursuit of Interests
33% - Failures, Mistakes, Turn of Events
The remaining 1% is always Subject to Change.
I also love the concept of taking time off to "find oneself."
To my knowledge, the Self-Exploration Excavation usually involves vacating to a destination to experience something "new and exciting."
I can see how new experiences can change a person, but I'm not sure how that change would help a person "find themselves."
Maybe it would fit inthe percentage of "Failures, Mistakes, and Turn of Events." Maybe experiencing something new and exciting unlocks an attribute in a person's psyche that feeds their personality. Maybe the new experience conjurs up the realization that you were not who you thought you were.
I would love to witness the success rate of the experiment. For curiousity's sake, I'm interested to know which of my percentages it would fall under. Once that has been solved, I would love to see how the effects would help/hinder my attempts to make me, me.
I think it's safe to say that the quest to be you is commonplace. Half the time is spent in discovery and knowledge of circumstances and events that enhance your persona (and if that's the case, I think I've already answered my previous question). The other half of the time is spent repelling the circumstances that would hinder your growth.
The funny part is, it seems that depending on who you are depicts on which half is more prominent. Then again the concept is relative, which in turn would identify who you are.
Aha, a vicious cycle.
You would think it would be easy to be yourself. Granted, to have comparison you would need contrast. Without it, you couldn't help but be you. But there would also be no point. By contrast there is individuality, which spawns identity.
Assumption: Identity is inescapable.
Then why struggle?
Two theories: Society and Stereotypes.
Both seem to coincide on the same plain of circumstance. I'm sure both have their upsides as well as disadvantages, but do either of them help with the search for identity?
Possibly.
It seems that the underlined objective for both Society and Stereotypes is to classify.
To me, the upside to classification is the sense of belonging. One of many natural fears of the human animal is that of rejection. Everyone wants to be accepted. Communication, Companionship, and Safety in Numbers are the 3 basics of acceptence.
The downside of classification, for the sake of individuality, is being lumped into a collection you personally do not feel you belong.
Hence, the first blow towards the "Fight to be You."
I recently caught wind of a concept from a movie involving identity. It was an interesting concept for it's ability of illustrating identity through perception. It was also interesting because it involved superheroes.
Superheroes are an excellent example of identity for 2 good reasons:
1) The contrast between hero and alter-ego,
2) How that contrast is molded by Society.
The majority of all classic comicbook heroes come with an alter-ego. One is designed to live out a normal everyday life, the other is designed to assist in performing a super-human task when all hope is lost.
Both reside on secrecy. If the alter-egoes are ever discovered then the contrast ceases to exist. As stated earlier, the absense of contrast spawns the absense of identity.
There are two superheroes in particular that I would like to use. One of which is very important:
Spider-Man
vs.
Superman
Superman is the foundation of this concept.
Because of the recent rise in superhero movies, the majority of this planet knows that Spider-Man's alter-ego is Peter Parker. They also know that Superman's alter-ego is Clark Kent.
When Peter Parker wakes up inthe morning, he is Peter Parker. When he goes to bed at night, he is Peter Parker. He dons on the guise of Spider-Man whenever trouble is amist. The same goes for most superheroes. Their costumes are what they wear to complete the transition from bystander to hero.
But leave it to the Man of Steel to throw a monkey wrench in the works.
When Clark Kent wakes up inthe morning, he is Superman. When he goes to bed at night, he is Superman. All of his super powers remain constant from sun up to sun down.
Now, it can be argued that other superheroes share the same quality.
But here's the twist:
Superman's suit was the tailored by science and earthly materials. The fabric arrived with him when he crash-landed on this planet as a baby.
The costume that Superman wear is not the infamous red and blue with the flowing cape and the sassy 'S.'
Superman's costume is a simple business suit, fancy hat on occassion, dress shoes, tie, and glasses.
Because of who he is, Superman's guise is that of a normal, natural human being. His super-human individuality throws him into a super-sized role reversal. But that is only half of the beauty with this concept.
The other half is Clark Kent's personality.
Superman has one true weakness: Kryptonite.
Otherwise, he has nothing to fear. Because of the massive powers he possesses, he is nothing short of a god. In fact, if memory serves me, the Man of Steel has butted heads with the Almighties from time to time. He is very intelligent, straight forward, and always ready for action no matter how the odds seem to be stacked against him.
On the other hand, Clark Kent is very scatterbrained, cowardly, bumbling, and gives the illusion of vacation the premisis whenever trouble is brewing.
The guise of Clark Kent that Superman has chosen is the image he portrays to fit in. He is both accepted by the human population and overlooked because of his characteristics.
Now the kicker is the identity he has chosen to adapt in our community is how he perceives our humanity. It is sad to think that a man of expenential power like Superman has taken a look at our Society and has come to the conclusion that the best way for him to blend is to feign someone frail.
Stereotypes: Society's Identical Twin.
There is a reason for stereotypes. All of them seem to spawn from some kind of common persona. And unfortunately for most, the majority rules.
All New Yorkers have bad attitudes, all jewish people are penny-pinchers, the french smell bad, the scottish are all drunks, and all black people adore friend chicken, watermellon, and any drink that begins with the word, "orange."
These stereotypes, just to name a few, all started somewhere. Rest assured, you will find those that truly fit the profile. But where the injustice lies are those that are placed in a stereotype because of what they are, not who they are.
Stereotypes do have an origin, but in this day and age they are more clichish than separated. It is expected for a certain kind of person to hang out with a certain kind of group.
You've got your Ghetto, your Rednecks, your Jocks, your Teeny-Boppers, your Skaters, your Rich Kids, your Goth, your Stoners, your Brainiacs, and your John Doe's.
Many of those people are going to fit the profile. They are the core of the stereotype. That is their identity. Many of them have chosen their stereotype because for the time being, they are considered cool. They will have many identities. Many have adopted their stereotype because they are interested in that particular genre. They are building their identity. Many are going to be placed in a stereotype because of their outward appearance. their identities have been branded. These are generally the fighters.
Mistaken identity is extremely upsetting, and stereotypes do not help escape from it. Many people will go through life missing out and going without because Society has taken a look at them and have placed them within a certain group. Many will fight in order to show society that they do want want to be lumped into a certain stereotype.
A handful of those who fight will choose a different stereotype to be in just to get out of the one theyre currently in. That only solves half the problem. You still have to deal with a false identity. Granted, better a false ifentity than a mistaken one.
Now, you will find those who have been placed in a certain stereotype that do not have to try hard at all to show society they do not fit in. Yes, they will run into walls, hurdle over barriers, and wade knee-deep in mud as they struggle through life... but no one is immune to that.
Those who do not have to struggle with ordained stereotypes have found their identity. They know exactly who they are. Because of society and stereotypes, they now fight to keep their identity.
Previous Assumption: Identity is inescapable.
Present Assumption: One will always fight to identify.
Once again, a vicious cycle.
Conclusion: If A = B, and B = C, then A = C.
If identity is inescapable, and you will always fight to identify, then the fight is inescapable.
If that is the case, try your best to get Superman and Spider-Man on your side!
