In psychology, identity is the qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and/or expressions that make a person (self-identity) or group (particular social category or social group). A psychological identity relates to self-image (one’s mental model of oneself), self-esteem, and individuality.
For this topic of interest, identity and place of a person is to be explored. They can be explored through the ideas of gender identity, cultural identity, social identity, geographical identity, political identity
lack of, loss of identity.
A psychological identity relates to self image (one's mental model of oneself), self-esteem, and individuality.
In psychology,identity is the qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and/or expressions that make a person (self identity) or group (particular social category or social group). Categorizing identity can be positive or destructive.
Gender identity is the personal sense of one’s own gender. Gender identity can correlate with assigned sex at birth, or can differ from it.
Social identity is the portion of an individual’s self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group.
Cultural identityis the identity or feeling of belonging to a group. For example religion, class, ethnicity etc.
loss of identity can sometimes be accompanied by a loss of self-worth. Not having a part of individuality.
Geographical identity is an individual or group’s sense of attachment to the country, region, city, or village in which they live.
Mood Board of Identity Portraits
Cultural identityis the identity or feeling of belonging to a group. It is part of a person’s self-conception and self-perception and is related to nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality or any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture.
Social Identity is the portion of an individual’s self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group. Social identity theory is described as a theory that predicts certain inter-group behaviors on the basis of perceived group status differences, the perceived legitimacy and stability of those status differences, and the perceived ability to move from one group to another.
These are the two identities I feel I would like to explore into a bit more depth into the mock exam and for my final prints. Photographers that I have enjoyed exploring and researching which I feel I would like to find my inspiration from have been Philip-LorcadiCorcia.
Philip-Lorca diCorica’s work has a cinematic feel to it which I enjoy and would like to bring through, it looks like they could be screenshots from films which I enjoy and is something I would like to try and create and would need the work of Tableaux.
My initial ideas are to have a series of photographs in a collective group around the theme of Identity and then work back into the photographs with writing or initially writing on the persons hands or a visible feature in the photograph relating to their identity.
The style I want to follow is one that shows “When Time was Prime”. This is in the style of the american photographer Richard Koenig and his work with pictures hanging in a scene, they depict the scene but when it was older and full of life.
The main area of his work that I will be looking at is the ones where he has a photo he has frames the picture in the scene and suspended it in front of the real area to show a different time.
My main inspiration for it is this image where he has shown the man sitting in his chair in the two images that are hanging up and in between you can see a gap where the man is missing.
This image to me represents loss and the lack of the identity of the area and the subject, because the chair that he once sat in now lies empty and unfilled, also Koenig has used a shallow depth of field to make the chair and the background have less detail and to make it so that the viewer focuses on the photos and ‘what it was’ rather than what it is.
Born in 1960, Richard Koenig received his BFA from Pratt Institute. In 1998 he received his MFA from Indiana University and began teaching art and photography courses at Kalamazoo College, Michigan. Koenig has done lots of work but the portfolio of his that I am focusing on is called “Inserts/Koans”. In this he takes old prints and of images showing a frame with something or someone in then in the same framing he removes the main subject and then takes another picture with the first photo with the main subject in suspended in front of the new framing with the area lined up and the main markings lined up.
The effect of these images is that the viewer sees the image before it has undergone change or before something has been removed. And i have chosen this for identity and place because I can depict something that has lost its identity and is missing the identity that it had before when the main subject was there.
When exploring different ideas for for this shoot (or multiple potential shoots) I came across the use of mirrors obscuring different parts of the body, and though this would be a great way to not only show the loss of identity in a person, but also have a further metaphorical meaning of how so many people ‘reflect’ onto other people when talking, not relieving how they really feel. Similar to the picture below (left), i wanted the mirror to cover the face of the subject, to show how people take ideas from around them, similar to how a mirror reflects. However, the pictures to the right show that using Photoshop to erase the inside of the mirror to show what is behind the subject (by taking one picture with a subject in frame and one without) makes the image look, in my opinion, a lot cleaner and even more professional.
Multiple Exposures and Slow Shutter
While using mirrors is at the top of my priority list, I also wanted to focus on using double or multiple exposures, as well as long exposure times to create blurred and distorted images of peoples faces and features, further showing the nature of uncertainty of the subject’s identity. Using similar techniques as the pictures below, i want to create my own interpretation of them. As i have experimented with long exposures in the past for landscape photography in my own time, i understand the basics, however I have never really used a slow shutter speed when taking portraits unless it was absolutely necessary to bring up the exposure, but still using a tripod.
Other Ideas:
While the two techniques above are what interest me most, I will also try to explore different such as: burning printed images, using objects to obscure parts of the image, damaging the image(scratching, ripping, taring, etc.), digitally erasing parts of the image, and selecting specific coloured areas.
Peter Kennard is an artist who was born and is based in London, who create photo montages. He is especially known for being involved in the Anti-Vietnam war movement and for being in favor of Nuclear Disarmament. Most of his photo montages are based on his political views and also on problems in society.
Mood board
Not my images.
Analysing
Image by Peter Kennard
Context
This photo montage was first seen in the Guardian on the 13th November, 1989.
Visual
In this image, we can see two hands shaking through a wall. Where but the hands are joined. The wall appears to be breaking.
Technical
This montages was created by placing prints and ink on card.
Conceptual
This is one of my favorite montages by Kennard as it conveys a very happy feeling. This image was published 4 days after the Berlin Wall began falling. Both the hands shaking from each side is symbolic in showing how West and East Germany were finally going to be united again. I believe that this shows that Kennard feels that’s it was a good thing that they were no longer going to be separated as he portrays their connection with a handshake, which is a peaceful and positive connection between two people.
Analysing
Soviet gag by Peter Kennard
Context
This montage was published in the socialist challenge on the 31st December 1977.
Visual
In this photo, we can see a close up image of a man who’s mouth is being covered with piece of fabric what has the soviet Russian flag on it. The fabric gag is being held by 2 hands, but the body or face of the person isn’t seen.
Technical
This montages was printed onto card
Conceptual
During the time this montage was made, Russia and the entire USSR was under the rule of a communist government. During this time a lot of people’s thoughts and feelings were suppressed due to heavy government restrictions on freedom of speech. This is shown through the montage very literally, and the gag with the soviet flag on it is seen as stopping the man from talking.
Identity is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. identity is a very personal subject as every person has a different identity, and can be influenced by a person’s situation, living environment, lifestyle, etc. For example, people brought up in a religious household, will be more likely to have religious views and beliefs, and these beliefs therefor become a part of their identity. However, identities are always changing, and that means that their views on different subjects and feelings towards different things will change as well. There are several different types of identity, including:
Gender identity – The self-perception of their own and other people’s roles based on their gender Cultural identity – Belonging to a group of people and a culture, such as a religion or community, which influence a person’s life. Social identity – how people identify and view others around them in society.
Geographical identity /political identity – a sense of attachment to a place or political agenda that a person can relate and identify with.
Lack/Loss of identity – The psychological view that a person has no role in society and lacks a sense of community, often brought on by the confusion of not knowing the kind of person you are and what role you play in society.
Mood Board:
I wanted to explore the ideas of the lack/loss of identity, as i feel there is a lot of room for exploring different techniques. Below are some ideas for the type of ideas that could influence my final piece of work for this unit.
Identity is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is, and can be influenced through place, upbringing, environment and belonging. The way someone is brought up, where they want to fit into and where they are can all effect the way someone identifies themselves. Identity can be explored through multiple forms, especially through photography, and many photographers have taken it upon themselves to express their identity through their work.
Micheal Dickinson isn’t for the faint hearted. This artist creates photo montages that deal insensitively to world politics and disasters. His work depicts dark scenes which offend and uncivilly reflect work crisis or extreme politics.
I became interested in his work due to his style of having no limits or boundaries- has no line to cross. He unveils taboo topics and makes them worthy of talking about. For example: in one of his compositions he has placed 3 malnourished children in a market place, the idea of this sounds cruel but it does have a message and in this instance its about how readily available resources are yet they never reach the ones in need most.
Analysis
VISUAL
This composition is of 3 malnourished children, surrounded by a ‘market place’ – this actually all made up of food magazine photographs. In the background there are cafe signs with ‘Hungry Man’ branding, this contradicts and juxtaposes the idea of these starving children.
TECHNICAL
In order to create this image, Dickinson has digitally manipulated individual images then layered them to create a readable image. These images started off as magazine adverts and articles then were removed from their origin, placed into another and manipulated to still make sense.
CONTEXT
‘Historically, photo montage has been used for powerful political expression and outrage. But that was then. Back in history. When Hitler walked the streets, and the world was a terrible, terrible place. Now it’s far more complicated. We need some courtesy. Some restraint. We need affirmative images. Positive things. Not offensive depictions that no one cares about in the slightest.’
