Lecture WK 11: Identity

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Lecture WK 11 Identity
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What unites the following images?

• The following images were referred to in the
  lecture
• Gordon Bennett, Self-Portrait (But I always
  wanted to be One of the Good Guys), 1990
• Brett Whiteley Self-portrait in the Studio, 1976
• Anastasia Klose, cover image Broadsheet, CACSA,
  Mar 2007
• Hou Leong, An Australian (Crocodile Dundee),
  1994
• Tracey Moffatt, Movie Star (David Gulpilil), 1985
• Phillip George, Borderlands, 2007

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Identity

• Identity - one of the key themes in contemporary
  art (Robertson, McDaniel, 2005. Perry and Wood,
  2004. Heartney, 2008. Allen, 2001)
• Identity overlaps with other equally dominant
  preoccupations such as the body, place, politics.

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Brief history of Identity Art has always been
interested in identity

• Portraiture the Self-Portrait - important
  genres in art history (Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Frida
  Kahlo, Chuck Close).
• With modernism, the camera becomes the main tool
  for portraiture
• (is Annie Leibowitz the most well-known
  portraitist today?)
• The AGNSWs Archibald Prize the Doug Moran
  portrait prize demonstrate the ongoing popularity
  of portraiture in the visual arts

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How one views oneself, how the world views us, is
always of interest. . .

• But contemporary artists are self-conscious
  about identity to a degree that was rare in
  previous periods (Robertson, McDaniel, 2005, 39)
• So why this increased interest in Identity?

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1 The construction of the modern self

• World wars, mass migration, development of mass
  communication transport systems (20thC) have
  rapidly re-shaped the modern world the concept
  of the self.
• Pre-modern identity - given, fixed, tied to
  custom, place, tradition.
• Modern-Postmodern identity - no longer a fixed
  entity but a self-reflexive project, a
  subject-in-process (Anthony Giddons)
• The individual, no longer tied to family class
  traditions is free/forced to make decisions about
  how to live, work, behave to choose a
  lifestyle! (Reality Television is all about
  people making re-making themselves)

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• Post WW2
• - an escalation in the global mobilization of
  people, shifting roles, the renegotiating of
  borders - contributes to both an anxiety
  obsession about identity.

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2 Theorisation of the self (1960sgt)

• Concept of self - not fixed, solid, whole,
  contained, unified but fragmented, contradictory,
  plural (eg United States of Tara (ABC TV, Steven
  Spielberg)
• Juggle different roles /identities (eg work,
  motherhood, student).
• Virtual identities

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3 Equal Rights Movements

• Development of the liberation movements of the
  1960s emphasised an identity based on race,
  gender or sexual affiliations eg feminism, black
  gay pride movements
• This gave rise to Identity Politics (1980s,
  1990s).

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4 Post 1960s change in art teaching methods

• Skills, techniques, genres gt open-ended approach,
  often requiring students to draw on themselves
  for their subject matter.
• This coincides with students desire to find out
  who they are as unique individuals convey this
  in their art (Robertson, McDaniel, 2005)

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• . . . So what is Identity?
• gtgtgtgt

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1. A singular entity

• . . . often interchangeable with terms such as
  self, character, individuality, personal identity.

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2. Identity can be relational or communal

• . . . prioritising social, cultural
  affiliations.
• Old affiliations - eg class, religion are
  replaced by allegiances to specific
  cultural/social groups eg race, ethnicity,
  gender, sexuality Identity Politics.

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Definition Identity Politics (1980s 1990s)

• . . . is naming oneself as a member of a cultural
  group representing oneself verbally visually
  in terms of that identity (Lippard)
• . . . many artists who represent marginalized
  entities tell stories to bring these identities
  to life (Heartney, 246)
• Post Identity (00s) - draws on the discourses of
  Identity Politics (ie feminism, post-colonialism)
  but isnt contained/limited by them.
• Post Identity is represented as complex,
  multiple, fluid, hybrid.

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3. National Identity

• . . . preoccupied Aust artists of the past (eg
  Heidelberg, Antipodeans, re-emerged as the
  provincialism problem (1960s 70s).
• Even the contemporary notion of an
  UnAustralian art (Rex Butler) is haunted by
  national identity.
• There is no real Australia waiting to be
  uncovered. A national identity is an invention.
  Richard White (1981) Inventing Australia

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National Identity carries with it connotations of
old ideas stereotypes (landscapes
lifesavers!)

• Post National Identity takes a more nuanced
  exploratory approach
• an Aust accent
• trends
• a dialogue with place or indigeneity.
• National Identity is unavoidable when
  representing ourselves (as Australian) on the
  world stage (Venice Biennale, Face Up Berlin,
  2004).

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National identity v cultural identity.

• Exploring Cultural Identity can
• challenge established notions of what it is to be
  Australian
• focus on interconnectedness coexistence
• open up more poetic possibilities of seeing the
  world (N Papastergiadis).

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Lets pretend . . . Project Identity!

• You are invited to submit a proposal on the theme
  of identity. The winning entry will be awarded
  pots of money, all costs of developing staging
  the exhibition will be covered. The exhibition
  will tour widely (so youll get to travel visit
  exotic countries for free!) You will have total
  control over selection of artists (/or
  additional curators) itll be a terrific boost
  to your career!

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• Identity can be interpreted how you see fit the
  best proposal will be judged on the title,
  rationale selection of artists.
• The judging panel will be your tutors the
  winning entry announced last week of the course
  Lecture WK 13!

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Form into groups

• Themes
• individual identity
• relational / communal identity
• - race / ethnicity
• - gender / sexuality
• - hybrid / post
• national/cultural identity

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Lecture, WK 11 Identity - Main Points

• Contemporary focus on Identity is influenced
  by,
• The construction of the modern self
• Critical analysis / deconstruction of
  identity/self
• Equality movements/identity politics
• Post 1960s change in art teaching methods
• Identity can be categorised as,
• Individual
• Relational/communal (identity politics
  post/hybrid identity)
• National/cultural Identity (post national
  identity)

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• Images /references
• www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/.../whiteley_portraits
• leong.com.au/hou/Australian.htm
• http//www.artinfo.com.au/artists/about/anastasia-
  -klose
• http//www.ngv.vic.gov.au/gordonbennett/education/
  02.html
• http//www.ngv.vic.gov.au/gordonbennett/education/
  themes.html
• http//www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/26/Tracey_M
  offatt/profile/
• www.artguide.com.au/.../