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[rihanna123]

Although this is my second answer to the question - I guess I thought about it more! I believe we are all unique- regardless of exterior influences- I think we can be similar but no matter how much we read, write or absorb- we were ultimately born as unique beings- of course we can interpret ideas- take ideas, or model ourselves on others but is it really achievable to look or behave like somebody else? We can all be materialistic, possibly dress the same- but I definitely think we can be defined separate from each other.

[BJRushy]

I believe that in our individualistic culture our fascination and preoccupation with identity is arguably becoming unhealthy. I feel that it puts a lot of pressure upon individuals, not only to have a strong sense of personal identity, and an awareness and knowledge of this, but it reinforces difference between people, and therefore could arguably be linked with the taxonomic subject and the discontinuous mind. Surely a persons identity should not be subject to speculation when it is never complete; with mainstream media cohercing people into self speculation in regard to identity, then surely future generations will become obsessed with this from a younger age - the potential effects of this being unpredictable, though arguably negative.

[star21]

The idea of the self and identity is most definitely one that is complex. In fact, I believe it is almost impossible to have a fixed identity in that views are always changing and as the original question mentions, the effect of family, friends, culture and the media can play a huge part in this. Even identity on a physical level is able to be altered in today’s society through surgery.
Most importantly, I believe identity to be completely subjective and determined by perspective in that our view of ourselves may be different from the way others view us. There will always be influences around us but as individuals we have an opportunity to choose to incorporate it into our identity or ignore it. However quite often the choices we make and the influences around us are subconscious in that we are not always aware of them.

The idea of cultural identity is one that is particularly fascinating. We are often raised within a particular culture and before we have the chance to question it, the views and beliefs of such culture have already been rooted within us.

In addition to this, I believe the media particularly in today’s society, play a significant part in influencing our self and identity. Often the stereotypes seen within the media can have damaging effects on individuals within the social order. The example of the London bombings and 9/11 attacks insinuated negativity towards those that followed Islam. In this way, some individuals within society are almost having an unwanted identity placed upon them.

Overall, I view the idea of self to be a complex one made up of both conscious and subconscious decisions. In fact, I believe that although some elements of our self are individual, others have been chosen for us and are consequently out of our control.

[gadams]

Everyone from every culture around the world are all influenced by family, friends and culture. None can say they are totally unique. Being unique is not about what you wear or what you like - these attributes  do not make someone unique because most of the time there will be something influencing you - a type of music or a religion. I feel where people really differ is on there personality - this a unique part of you that no one can really influence you on. Your emotions are also very much unique to you. When I look at myself I see that I am influence by the media - the clothes I wear and the music I listen to but none will ever influence my personality. I feel this is one attribute of myself which is unique. Of course our surrounding and our background have an effect on who we. We are always changing just like our interests and opinions change.

[Artamis]

'Surely a persons identity should not be subject to speculation when it is never complete; with mainstream media cohercing people into self speculation in regard to identity, then surely future generations will become obsessed with this from a younger age - the potential effects of this being unpredictable, though arguably negative.'

With regards to the 3rd culture children theory raised earlier, we can see how complex the question of the self has become. The above comment therefore seems valuable to me. The question of the the self has become undoubtedly more complex with more and more people having such colourful backgrounds. Dominique i.e. stated, that she so far has a shifting answer of collective identities and cannot truly reply to the question of national identity. Drawing media (advertisement) coercion into this pot, I wonder if another shift of the self orientation, rather then forensic identities and consumer identities, will lead us back to more collective identities ? Because with Bubu stating that she grew up in a surrounding of people without prejudices, we might open a door towards exactly such a world, where background won't no longer matter, so will this revolutionize the idea of the self ?  (This also relates to McLuhan's idea of the Global Village).

[hluiz]

When discussing the notion of whether or not we are unique from others I feel one has to question what the concept really means. Everybody is unique in certain ways and have their own little intricacies, but in terms of consumerist products, everybody is really the same, as people have mentioned below no matter how unique you may think your new shoes are the idea of purchasing them was most likely given to you from somebody or something else. I guess it's a bit like the idea of an author's work not being totally original as they will always draw on influences when creating a 'new' piece of work or art.

[ellip]

The only freedom we have is what to believe. EVERYTHING influences who we are regardless if we want to believe it or not. We are always made to feel that we have to be different. If we were all so different we would have no common ground with anyone else. One thing that puzzles me is all the people who say they are different and misunderstood can all be identified by having an unusual coloured hair, piercings, tattoos, dress in black and listen to the same music. How individual! I think it's just easiest if we accept that we are what we are and we are influenced everyday whether it's in our faces or subliminal. Why not celebrate our similarities and appreciate our differences :)

[mlp1984]

I would love to be in a position to say that I am unique, free and above all that I knew exactly who I am but I would be kidding myself.  I, like a lot of other people, am trying to figure out who I am and where my place is in the world.

I have in the past tried to define myself in accordance with the historical perspective of what constituted a sane identity, which according to Kenneth Gergen was based on two main assumptions:

1.   It is normal for a person to develop a firm an coherent sense of identity
2.   It is good and healthy to do so, and pathological not to

I did however find myself facing what Erik Erikson refers to as ‘identity diffusion: a state of bewilderment, typical of the young, at the lack of a firm sense of self’ (Gergen, 1972, p.133).  What I have however learned from this module is that the problem is not necessarily a ‘crisis of identity’ but rather the mentality with which I am approaching the concept of what an identity is (Ibid).  If viewed as a ongoing narrative, that I will for the span of my lifetime have the power to ‘narrate’, the challenge seems far more inspiring, even motivating.

It may be true that my identity is to some extent influenced by group membership, who my friends, family and enemies are, and so on, but viewed more in terms of an incomplete project (fluidity) and less in terms of something finite (fixivity), I am encouraged that these variables will serve as additions to my field of experience and hopefully I will learn from same.  I don’t need to decide whether I am ‘a career woman’ or a ‘stay at home mum’; I can be both at different stages in my narrative.

[AndreaLo]

To what extent do you think that we are each influenced by family, friends, institutions, culture, the media, etc?  Are you free?  Unique?  Unified and distinct?

I think that while each and every one of us have unique and distinct qualities that will not be found anywhere else, we are also highly influenced by family/friends/institutions/culture and the media as well as many other factors around us. Firstly, we are, to a certain extent, influenced by the companions we keep; this echoes the ideas perpetrated by Gergen who suggested that most individuals wear so-called 'masks' depending on who they are with and what situations they find themselves in.

On the other hand, Gabriel and Lang's theory of identity and the ego-ideal can be used to illustrate my earlier point that we are influenced by culture and in particular, the media. Gabriel and Lang assert that whilst each one of us have our individual identities, 'matters such as taste, style, refinement, adventure and image are things that may be bought' which they then follow up by saying that in turn, 'identity should then not be a serious problem for the rich'. The idea of consumerism dominating our identity is not a new phenomenon, but something that has been  existing in society for years and years. One strives to be seen to own certain materialistic possessions and this in turn affects either our entire identity, or even just our perception of our own identity.

[missrager]

To what extent do you think that we are each influenced by family, friends, institutions, culture, the media, etc?  Are you free?  Unique?  Unified and distinct?


To say that we are uninfluenced by external factors would be ridiculous. Human interaction is all based upon learning from a young age and it boils down to the life long question of nature, or nurture? Personally, I think the most logical and appropriate way to address this issue is to take a 50/50 stance. I definitely am a product of both my own personality and my external environment. For instance, I doubt I would be the same person I am right now if I were to be raised in a less developed country with not as much media influence.

[Sian]

I think each individual is a unique occurrence as result of uncountable influences and pressures. Out forensic identity and Gabriel and Lang define, is the part of our identity that we have truly no control and that it fixed.. arguably this is perhaps the most unique aspect of our 'selves' created through pure unpredictable natural selection, fragments of genes may be replicated but the result is totally unpredictable, we all have different finger prints, DNA, apperence and so on.

I think we are all unique creations of the culture in which we life, and the gene pool from which we descend. While through consumer products and technology we appear making similar or predictable choices in order to 'forged out' our identities the concept of memes and the death of the author predict that when something (an idea, skill, song or book) it is made new whilst with that person. These things 'mutated, blended and passed on' and while the similarity between many leaves little room for the identification of uniqueness, the sheer volume of possibilities in the replication of memes and genes could, and quite possibly does, lead everyone being a marginally and undefinably unique 'self'

[Georgina.]

I think that when considering the concept of the self, it would be extremely difficult to deny your natural, biological makeup as part of your self and identity. I appreciate that a persons environment has a great role to play in the construction of your self, and I myself went through many a 'phase' following different fads and fashions depending on what my friends were into or what seemed to be cool on TV ect when I was younger. Each 'phase', I feel also added to a part of my current adult identity in a small way, and I still feel that my external environment and new things I find enjoyment in, new challenges and new people still have some form of influence upon my self, even if at a smaller, slower rate than they would have when I was in my teens. However, I feel as though all of these changing elements and influences build onto one stable form of the self, your natural biology. This maybe does not have such an influence on your self as the more changeable elements, however I do believe that this acts as a kind of starting brick to build the rest of your self and identity upon.