The dark power of belonging: The T-Shirt (original) (raw)
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INTRODUCTION: Signs of identity. The anatomy of belonging.
Signs of Identity presents an transdisciplinary introduction to collective identity, using insights from social psychology, anthropology, sociology and the humanities. It takes the basic concept of semiotics – the sign – as its central notion, and specifies in detail in what ways identity can be seen as a sign, how it functions as a sign, and how signs of identity are related to those who have that identity. Recognizing that the sense of belonging is both the source of solidarity and discrimination, the book argues for the importance of emotional attachment to collective identity. The argument is supported by a large number of real life examples of how collective emotions affect group formation, collective action and intergroup relations. By addressing the current issues of nationalism, multiculturalism and social justice, and the controversies of authenticity and the Self, the book helps to stimulate discussion of the contested topics of identity in contemporary society.
The Dark Mirror: Unveiling Id Ego Superego in All Humans
American Research Journal of English and Literature, 2024
Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalysis as a Framework for analyzing the profound psychological Dichotomies in "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (Louis, 1886). In essence, by Peeling the veil off the complex nature of the book's characters and their behaviour that alludes to the id, ego, and superego, this study highlights the perennial consequence and topicality of the novel in contemporary times. The research offers a gripping account of Dr. Jekyll's drawings Towards Mr. Hyde, who embodies his suppressed desires and unfettered self. This is what excavates the clash between Jekyll's desires, and the embedded, tight, moral requirements, characterizing Victorian society. The paper also explores how Dr. Jekyll epitomizes the ego, constantly battling the call for restraint. This is an interesting investigation into the hidden psychological issues underlining humanity's long-standing conflict between decadence and Submission. Jekyll's dead suppressed superego comes to life with the death of Dr.Lanyon. It is a crucial turning point that brings out the revival of ethics in him, dismantling his unleashed id's facade and instigating an intensive introspection on the effects of his deeds. Finally, the investigation uncovers the eerie aftermath of Dr. Jekyll's last handwritten will. This text is a sign of warning showing what Can happen if you repress your urges or true feelings deep in yourself-it reflects how deadly this Suppression could be. This paper brings out the deep psychology of Stevenson's masterpiece Through Freudian theory. Repression is imposed by sentiment and reticence. Now there is a conflict between the need for expression and the compression of repression. To overcome this conflict, the author revisits his emotions through literary art and other arts in a valiant or disgusted form. Like a pressure cooker, if Vishal is not out, then the pressure cooker is blasting. This mode of self-expression is a safety-values tool for humans. This detailed analysis exposes deep truths about human behaviour, societal contradictions, and the search for identity. In short, it illustrates how relevant it is to strike a balance between personal wishes and societal demands nowadays.
Studies in Philosophy and Education
It is generally accepted that all humans have a profound need to belong and that a sense of ‘belonging together’ is a prerequisite for creating political communities. Many of our existing models for this ‘first person plural’ fail to fully account for the increased global mobility of persons which can all too often result in serial attachments at a superficial level or the problems that can arise with a growing fragility of all belonging. This article looks at the other side of belonging: failure to belong—either through the loss of a sense of belonging (not-belonging) or the removal of membership belonging (unbelonging)—and the resulting damage that might occur. This can have profound implications for what happens in schools where one of the accepted major functions has always been to develop and nurture belonging in children: to each other, to the school and within the wider society. However, the general assumption that most children enter schools at a neutral stage on the belongi...
Signs of identity. The anatomy of belonging
Routledge, 2017
Identity issues have become increasingly controversial in the modern world, yet research on identity is fractured into several disciplinary approaches. “Signs of identity” synthesizes insights from sociology, anthropology, social and political psychology, semiotics and humanities into an original theory of collective identity. By addressing the current issues of authenticity and the self, multiculturalism, intersectionality and social justice, the book helps to stimulate discussion of the contested topics of identity in contemporary society.
Signs of identity. The anatomy of belonging. Epilogue
Draft of the epilogue to my forthcoming book "Signs of identity. The anatomy of belonging". About the book: Identity issues have become increasingly controversial in the modern world, and our understanding of identity is a mess. The term is used by politicians, minority activists, scholars from many disciplines, writers and the general public. It is like the tale of the five blind men describing an elephant, only worse: the five men don't even talk to each other about their findings. This book synthesizes the results of a wide range of disciplines into an original comprehensive theory of identity, and presents it in an essayistic style that helps everybody, from the educated layperson to the expert in a narrow sub-field, see identity from a wide perspective, how its parts interact and its role in human society. As the argument flows, a large number of real life examples, both current and historical, are provided to illustrate the workings of its different aspects. The main focus of the book is the critical dialogue with multiculturalism, drawing attention to the aspects of identity that the mainstream wisdom has tended to ignore. The book is likely to stimulate discussion about how identity matters should be addressed in society and in international relations.
NERDS: THE PHENOMENON OF INTERTEXTUAL GARMENT BETWEEN WORSHIP AND DISTINCTION
Printed T-shirts are the characteristic garment, risen to the role of distinctive “uniform”, used by one of the most representative socio-cultural phenomenon of the latest years: nerds. Rather than the style of the garment, more than its aesthetic dimension, I focus on T-shirt explicit semiotic content. This paper aims to show how nerds could be considered as a universal cultural field based on consumption practices. How a label once considered a stigma became something to be proud of. How the choice of clothing becomes a complex tool for identity construction and community making.
Printed T-shirts are the characteristic garment, risen to the role of distinctive “uniform”, used by one of the most representative socio-cultural phenomenon of the latest years: nerds. Rather than the style of the garment, more than its aesthetic dimension, I focus on T-shirt explicit semiotic content. This paper aims to show how nerds could be considered as an universal cultural field based on consumption practices. How a label once considered a stigma became something to be proud of. How the choice of clothing becomes a complex tool for identity construction and community making.