Art and Identity
National and personal identities do not magically happen; they are built on and influenced by immediate and past events, environments, traditions, and cultural legacies. Artists capture and document not only the physical conditions of a society but also the emotional and mental conditions. They construct a sense of who we were and are as a person and as a nation. Society’s identity is always fluid. When we see identity as static, we record people with stereotypes and do not see them for who they are. Art is one way to challenge static notions of identity by engaging the viewer in visual narratives that are unfamiliar to them, and that educate and challenge their previously held notions.
Since the 1970s, postmodern theories have challenged historical and traditional notions of ethnic and cultural identity by developing a model that views identity as being multifaceted, fluid, and socially constructed. Some scholars contend that we are in a period of post-identity and post-ethnicity, repudiating the old essentialist view of identity. Globalization of people, the internet, and travel have all brought about fluid cultures which may have contributed to people’s more fluid sense of identity, and also to their interest in researching their heritage, culture, and ethnic identity.
Many works of art are seen as part of national heritage because they help citizens appreciate their past. Art provides life to the past, something that can be visualized, touched, walked through, and identified as being part of a legacy and culture.
Vocabulary:
cultural legacies – traditions, values, or art handed down from past generations within a group of people, “We preserve old folk songs as part of our cultural legacies.”
fluid – continuously changing and not fixed in one permanent state, “Because she travels so much, her sense of home is very fluid.”
stereotypes – oversimplified and often unfair ideas that people have about what a specific group is like, “Assuming that all teenagers are lazy is one of many common stereotypes.”
static notions of identity – fixed, unchanging beliefs about who a person or a group of people is, “He challenged static notions of identity by showing that a person can love both rough sports and classical music.”
visual narratives – stories told through pictures, paintings, or movies rather than just written words, “The artist used a series of colorful drawings to create powerful visual narratives about her childhood.”
previously held notions – beliefs, ideas, or opinions that someone used to have in the past, “Visiting the island completely changed my previously held notions about its weather.”
multifaceted – having many different parts, sides, or features, “The problem of global pollution is multifaceted and requires many different solutions.”
socially constructed – created and shaped by human society and habits rather than by nature alone, “The rules of polite table manners are socially constructed and differ from country to country.”
repudiating – completely rejecting or refusing to accept an old idea, belief, or statement, “The scientist published a new paper repudiating the old theory.”
national heritage – the history, old buildings, art, and traditions that belong to a country and are saved for the future, “The ancient castle is protected by law as a vital part of the country’s national heritage.”