An aspect of the theme Identity that I would like to explore and express is that the way you see yourself, whether that’s physically or mentally, and how it differs from all the different ways that others may view you. Each and every person around you view you in a different way than you do yourself, they see other angles, have different memories of how you looked and acted. There are a variety of ways that this message can be conveyed through one or a few images. This can be linked to ‘body dysmorphia’ which is a mental disorder characterized by the obsessive idea that some aspect of one’s own body part or appearance is severely flawed and therefore warrants exceptional measures to hide or fix it (most of the time, only the person sees this flaw and others do not notice it to the extent that the person themselves does)

Approach idea 1: The use of mirrors, glass, plastic to create reflections and or distortions representing viewpoints and angles of how a person is seen or sees themselves.

Approach idea 2: Multi-exposure images to display multiple viewpoints similarly to my first idea.

The definition of identity is who you are, the way you think about yourself, the way you are viewed by the world and the characteristics that define you. An example of identity is a person’s name . An example of identity are the traditional characteristics of an American. Identity has two important features: continuity and contrast. Continuity means that people can count on you to be the same person tomorrow as you are today. Obviously, people change but many important aspects of social identity remain relatively stable such as gender, surname, language and ethnicity. Your identity can be influenced by “place”, such as where you grew up. It is much easier to understand an individuals identity when you realize everyone is a product of their environment, that is why I think that “place” is the biggest influence that shapes your identity and who you are as a person.

Mood Board

Mind Map

Exploring Identity

Photographers that explore identity: Sam Contis, speaks to the idea of community and the social self. Andrzej Steinbach, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Sofia Borges and Shilpa Gupta. Photographers that explore identity solely through portraiture: Kandara Enyeasi, Cedric Nzaka, Zarita Zevallos, Ussi’n Yala and Thompson S. Ekong.

Phillip Toledano’s series ‘Days With My Father’ follows his fathers life after his mother died and how he is coping living without her and dealing with the grief.

Sam Contis’ series “Deep Springs” speaks to the idea of community and the social self. Contis spent lengthy visits at a traditionally all-male liberal arts college in the high desert of California, a remote backdrop that contrasts starkly with the group mode of collegiate life. “Contis’ subjects are pictured at a moment in their lives – the early college years – that has been typically understood as a time of coming into one’s adult self,” said Gallun.  “In this case, such identity-formation is impacted by group social dynamics as well as connection to the characteristic western landscape.”

Zerita Zevallos focuses on the racial aspect of identity with her work. Her work is described as having ‘those unique characteristics of blending the ruthless reality and trauma Black folks go through on a daily basis, while capturing the attention of all gazes towards a narrative far too long ignored’.  Her visual composition is simplistic but powerful and elegant, all while using a model presenting a physique long rejected by Western social standards of beauty. I believe that her work, subject and concepts are elegant and so timelessly impactful.

What is identity?

From Latin Identities, identity is the set of traits typical of an individual or a community. These traits characterize the subject or the collective in front of others Identity is also a person’s self-awareness that makes them someone other than others. Although many of the traits that make up the identity are hereditary or innate, the environment exerts a great influence on the shaping of the specificity of each subject; for this reason expressions such as “I am looking for my own identity” are valid. In this sense, the idea of identity is associated with something of its own, an inner reality that can be hidden behind attitudes or behaviours that, in reality, have no relation to the person: “I felt that I had lost my identity; I started accepting jobs that I didn’t like and with which I had nothing in common. “The concept of sexual identity refers to each person’s vision of their own sexuality, which is decisive in relating to the rest of society. Notion links the biological dimension of the human being with the cultural aspect and freedom of choice.

What is Identity?

Identity is who you are and how you became this way. Its how you portray yourself to others, and to yourself. This can be based on anything in your life: culture, upbringing, social identity in person and on the media, gender and sexuality, etc.

Social Identity on the media is commonly very different to your social identity in person. Many people use social media to portray how they would like to be viewed by others, rather than they actually are in person. Just like on social media, our identity can be portrayed through art- it can be difficult to describe yourself in words, so describing yourself through your own creations of colours and shapes can show more than some words can. This also links to any other form of identity.