Introduction
This pictorial displays an identity that may seem hidden in ordinary objects like clothes or other belongings. However, it can reveal the complicated and multifaceted nature of identity. Through a critical lens informed by sociological theories covered in this module, I will analyze three photographs that represent critical aspects of my identity: a library card worn out with use, a map with colourful pins on it that represent different places, and a stack of books sitting on the shelf that cannot be squeezed in any longer.
Image 1: Knowledge hub – Library Card.
The first picture displays a physically abused library card that appears to be beyond repair. Closer examination reveals several deeper lines and more scuffs all over it. However, each mark tells the story of a journey into the world of words. This is identical to a theory first suggested by Erving Goffman related to the actor’s self-presentation (Goffman, 2023). The library card serves as a sign of all my educational intentions, and the collection represents a certain kind of identity one adopts, that of a person who appreciates and is fond of reading. Such a notion corresponds to our ability to adapt the symbols we use in our lives to display the prejudices of others (Goffman, 2023).
This public realm, though performative, is only a card that encapsulates the fundamental notion of a library card. Pierre Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory explains the “library card” as a social marker of social status (Bourdieu, 2018). Libraries are almost exclusively a privilege of the wealthy, and few of us ever had a loved one impart the value of reading to us. Although my tattered library card voiced what I was eager to learn about, it at the same time reminded me of the people who could not have such simple access to these tools.
Though a physical barrier, libraries transcend these barriers, and selecting the type of knowledge one can access makes the space a deposition to knowledge (Bourdieu, 2018). Now, each family has a pass to the universe, which is full of data, knowledge, and tales, regardless of social status. This section reflects a library card related to a running discussion about fair access to education and cultural resources. In conclusion, in the last analysis, the faded library card is acquainted with multiple interpretations, which are the appearance of social consciousness and the potential of equal right to knowledge.
Image 2: A Fun-Filled World – The Travel Map
The second picture illustrates a spherical map with a similar big picture. This atlas is made up of bright-coloured pins distributed across it, denoting the places I have travelled to. These pins have way deeper meanings than names on the map. It makes me like the pins are a spell of remembrance symbols that have crafted my life. In the opinion of Anthony Giddens, identity is described as a ‘reflexive project,’ which is the continuous procedure of self-discovery, and the process of this discovery is shaped and developed by our interaction with society (Giddens, 1991). Each dot labelled as a pushpin represents where I grew accustomed, removed all the barriers, and became aware of new aspects of the world (Giddens, 1991).
The map also demonstrates the growth of global interconnectedness that accelerates with time. The worldwide movement known as globalization, in which geographical limits no longer subsist, expands and enhances travelling and cultural interaction compared to the previous time (Castells, 1996). The flight option became a tool that permitted me to discover the intricate jewellery of different cultures worldwide, triggering the development of global understanding. The content of the map itself is evidence that this is happening, a visual portrayal of the global village concept and the fact that it is now possible to fly to any part of the world in the blink of an eye via various means of transportation (Castells, 1996).
Image 3: A Universe of Stories – The Bookshelf
The last photograph documents an image in which mayhem rules but shares a chance of possibilities. An assorted collection of books on fiction and non-fiction, placed on a bookshelf, symbolizes my continued search for ideas and enlightenment. That special feeling lingers with us; in each book, there is a prospect of a trip we can take. Such an image resonates with the depiction of identity as a multi-tiered type of thing, not as a place but as the collection of individuals and factors that shaped our lives through the stories we intake (Skeggs, 1997).
Access to a bookstore whose shelves seem varied reflects my interests without restrictions. Be it the mythical worlds demonstrated in fiction or the rigorously researched historical accounts in non-fiction; every book presents a self into which the readers can engage to see the world through another perspective. This gives an example to the theory of “the project of the self” (Giddens, 1991), where we are the ones who constantly engage in this process of problem-solving, which helps us to form our identity, thereby aligning it with the never-ending flows of social structures.
Pierre Bourdieu’s idea of cultural capital backs the implication of this overflowing bookcase (Bourdieu, 2018). The books I select to read and own are like a version of cultural capital for me, showing the way of the knowledge and experience that transforms my social contacts and a sensible view of the world. The very act of reading gives me the opportunity of accumulating cultural capital. In this way, I slowly detach myself from my constricted view of the world while at the same time creating bonds with people who share similar reading cultures.
Intersecting Identities
However, when looking at them separately, at first glance, they need to make more sense. Nevertheless, viewed as a whole, this trio makes an intricate pattern for my personhood. The library card denotes a hunger for knowledge, the world map shows a keen interest in adventure and a literal sense of travelling, and the bookshelf accurately represents lifelong encounters with variable stories. These matters, not only from one side or in isolation but also from others, create the whole and construct the situation. In the same way, I learn and gain through the travel experiences I have gained by widely reading books (Collins, 2004). However, the discoveries made through reading trigger the desire to expand this knowledge into the real world and physically encounter the different stories. This entanglement is in the vein of “intersecting identities” (Collins, 2004), showing how these roles, such as gender, race, and class, also undoubtedly influence how I go about with these identity components. With the library card, travel map, and bookshelf, each evening, I understand more than just items; they are the continuous interaction of the experiences that form my outstanding awareness.
Conclusion
This kind of diary has allowed me to use my mind in order to extend the process of self-reflection, which inspired me to open up to the depth of my identity. I have realized that social structures and cultural influences are more complex when I stereotype typical things through a sociological theory lens. A richer understanding of myself has brought me to this. According to Giddens, identity is like a voyage; it is something you embark upon continuously. I will use the memorabilia of photography as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of my perception of myself as life’s journey takes me both physically and mentally.
References
Back, L., 2013. New Ethnicities and Urban Cult. Routledge.
Bauman, Z., (2013). Liquid modernity. John Wiley & Sons.
Bebbington, D. and Özbilgin, M., 2013. The paradox of diversity in leadership and leadership for diversity. Management International, 17, pp.14-24.
Bourdieu, P., (2018). Distinction is a social critique of the judgment of taste. In Inequality (pp. 287-318). Routledge.
Castells, M., (1996). The information age: Economy, society and culture (3 volumes). Blackwell, Oxford, 1997, p.1998.
Collins, R., (2004). Interaction ritual chains. Princeton University Press.
Goffman, E., (2023). The presentation of self in everyday life. In Social theory re-wired (pp. 450–459). Routledge.
Kaplan, E.A., (1992). ” Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity” by Judith Butler (Book Review). Signs, 17(4), p.843.
Kuentzel, W.F., 2000. Self-identity, modernity, and the rational actor in leisure research. Journal of Leisure Research, 32(1), pp.87-92.
Skeggs, B. (1997). Formations of class & gender: Becoming respectable. Formations of Class & Gender, pp. 1–200.
Appendix
Image 1: Library Card
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Image 2: Travel Map
Image 3: Bookshelf
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