Identity, basically, is the way that how we present and understand by the rest of the members of the society. In the chapter “Debating identity”, identity was defined as a complex concept that it define a who somebody is in terms of a trait, and the traits are includes a physical feature of the body, a belief or a culture preference. During pointed out that, individuals are not only have a single identity, but identities, and those identities is defined by the rest of the community but not individuals themselves (During, 2005, 146-147). Some of the identities are given without no particular reasons but they would have both positive and negative effect on individuals. For example, the white are generally have more advantage than the black in the European Society around 60s and 70s.
There is one point that I am not agree with During which is the identity is not only produced outside individuals themself and may have negative impact on individuals. Like the Y generation are regarded as less loyalty, disrespect to the authority and high tech savy, however, those are the comments from the adulthood. Even though they are generally belief by the society, they should not be the stamp of the Y generation. In fact, the Y generation themselves are trying proof them self in the positive impacts through the competitions and contribution they made in the society, and what they did was producing their identity and to be recognised by the society.
Moreover, in my opinion, there are multiple identity exist around the world, and one should not be less advantage than another. In the recent year, the images of terrorist cause the fear toward people whom with brown skin, black hair and beard. However, these are not the identities which should be discriminated. It is ideal that people with multiple identity live harmony together, but it really depends on the discourse. In this case, media will play an important role in guiding audience to have the harmony values in the social lives.
By Ying, Xiao z3283915
Reference:
During, Simon. “Debating Identiry” In Cultural Studies: A Critical Introduction, Routledge: London, 2005, 145-152
