Genre--Identity artist statement

Our social identity consists of who we are as human beings in relation to others. It is shaped by our practices and experiences, friends and family, and other life factors such as education, religion and media. Culture has a great influence on our identity since people that live in different societies have differing experiences. Some cultural practices in Asia may be viewed inappropriate here in United States, and many of the immigrants may continue to practice them because that’s how they have been taught and what they believe. Social identity can provide people with a sense of self-esteem and influence their behavior and how they socialize with others.  Those who are on the higher-end of the socio-economic hierarchy may chose to socialize with the same class rather than those who are on the poverty level. Our social identity also influences how other people treat us. A cardiologist is more likely to receive much more respect than somebody working in a fast food restaurant. In addition, those that have a medical illness may be stigmatized due to their condition. Social identity continues to develop throughout one’s life and is influenced by many factors. For instance, adolescents go through a period of time when they experiment new things and try to fit in the group which they tend to associate themselves most with.  

It was difficult coming up with an idea of how to draw an image of identity since it portrays many aspects. I chose to draw a human in a shape of a cocoon with a nail on the bottom representing that he is nailed to a set of beliefs due to the influence of the society. The layering of the cocoon represented the layers of life and those things that influence a person, such as media, education, friends, and religion. One of the hands reveals how the person is pushing off the ground with all his might and with another hand he is unraveling the life layers that he is trapped in. On top of the image I chose to draw a box escaping through the window which represents that the person wants to maintain his individuality and be open minded and not just trapped within the society’s influences.