Collective Identity Question Exam

To what extent is human identity increasingly mediated?

An identity is defined as "identity is the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person (self-identity) or group (such as national identity and cultural identity) different from others" on Wikipedia, we can argue what identity means and how is it created for the individuals. 

According to David Gauntlett, for modern society “Having an identity is a known requirement”. One of the ways we can create identity is through the media. People has always created their identity through media as being fans of a band or a YouTuber. Gauntlett agrees that media has a role to play in this process of creating an identity. 

Identity can be created by our selves or imposed by outsiders.  For example, identity can be created by ourselves on the internet by posting various things such as images or videos that help towards creating a certain identity. For example, if you define your self as being healthy and fit, you may post images or fitness videos created by yourself so others who will witness these posts will see you as a healthy, well-being person. How healthy and fit you want to portrait yourself is up to how much of posts you create. This can be shown via YouTube videos and regular updated blogs.

Also identity can be imposed by the outsiders through media, such as newspapers, if they print off an article about teenagers being anti-social, this creates an identity for all teenagers, as being anti-social and a negative stereotype. This has occurred millions of times, for example, during the 60's, when the Mods and the Rockers had fought on the coast of Brighton Beach, the Daily Mirror titled the event as "Wild Ones 'Beat Up' Margate". This heading creates an identity for the men involved as "Wild Ones".

Another example can be an article which was titled "Teenagers caught with large hunting knives and drugs" by Manchester Evening News. Which creates an identity for teen being violent and most do drugs.

Another way how you can create an identity through media text is when you are making an account for a social app. For example, when you are creating an account with Instagram, you have to have your own username, pass word and also a profile picture. Now, you have the choice of what kind of username to create. Given as an example, if you are vegan and have an interest in animal equality, you may create your username as being "AnnaTheVeganGirl" which will create an identity as you being "vegan", because it is in your user name. Also, what you post through this account will have similarites, linked with your username, so may posts vegan food and spending time with animal. 

You can also argue that media creates identity now with the internet, we can create our own identity after being influenced by social media applications such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Tumblr. We create our own identity with the power of media, as being controlled by what’s around you. You may watch a YouTube video of Zoella doing a "Haul" which is filming yourself showing what you have bought from shopping and  giving it a review. You may be inspired how she goes about shopping and film her self talking about what she has bought that day, from where and giving a review, and as by being inspired from Zoella, you might start to create your own YouTube channel, uploading and doing similar tasks as Zoella. This will create an identity for you as being a "Youtuber". Usually, these Youtubers who gained fame will have large amount of followers/subscribers and also an account with almost every single social app there are. Their instagram posts can be updated on a regular and typically posts about what their wearing using the #OOTD tag (Outfit Of The Day) and their make up look, and tag the brand they have used.

Thomas De Zengotita says that almost everything we experience or learn in via the media in some way. An example is with "Make Up Guru's". "NikkiTutorials" gained charisma as she created hundreds of make up looks and uploading how she created the "look". She mentions which cosmetic brand was used and how she applied them. Also tips and tricks on how to achieve the best outcome. Girls love her channel because she also talks about cheap dupes as she uses expensive cosmetic brands which not everyone can afford.

Later, the girls who has watched her make up tutorial, most of them will try it out and experience the application. You may enjoy this experience of application and be inspired to create your own make up tutorials. As for this experience, there are many up coming make up gurus who were inspired to start. This gives them an identity as loving make up and "dressing up". However, this can give a negative stereotype as some commentators say that make up is only used to impress boys. 

Jacques Lacan has a similar theory to De Zengotita. Jacques Lacan says that identity can be created via mirror staging. This means We like to and are drawn to looking at others who we think are like us, with whom we identify. For example, if you love ......