Identity Discussion (chapter 2)

In class we’ve been talking about many facets of the modern art world.  All of this combines to give us a more holistic understanding of the trends and current focal points of modern art.  Of the many themes we’ve discussed, one that appeals to me is identity. Whether that involves racial, cultural, gender or even personal identity, I think it is one of the more important movements in art.  Everyone is constantly looking for themselves, and if art can represent at least a part of that in their work, it’s intriguing.  Identity is complex.  We are many things all at once. 

I find it interesting that artists are currently working towards communal identity, versus personal identity.  People can relate to the work on a much larger scale, and appreciate it in a different way. While one representation of identity may not relate to our personal experience, it relates to many others.  That is the nature of the work.  This trend into the exploration of identity on a large scale and the search for what it means to be human is a compelling idea.

I particularly enjoy the pieces dealing with what it means to be a woman, and those that address the issues of gender discrimination.  Laura Mulvey’s article is very important on this subject because she draws attention to the role of the female in film is often representational of the role of women in other forms of expression.  By examining the “gazes” present, one can determine whether the female figure is being objectified, or treated with respect.  This is true in film and in art.  Many examples of art, which deal with identity, are centered on this theme of gender.  This is something I find compelling in my work: what does it mean to be a woman, and how does the world see the role of the female.  By creating contrast between the role of women in film and the reality of being a woman in modern society, important and distinct points can be made. 

This plays into the idea of the personal versus communal identity.  Is what one artist says about gender a statement about the communal identity of women, or a personal statement about themselves? We can find out more about ourselves, through looking at modern art.  This is one of the ideas that has influenced my thinking and my art the most this semester.