IDENTITY
Posted by anthonynorth on July 1, 2009
Find current affairs & prompts below.
PAPPA RAZZI
Identity
Who are you? Well, we can answer the question in many ways
– what you do for work, for hobby, your class, your status – so
many definitions of you. Most people think that the defining thing
about you is that you are an individual. In this way your identity
is made. But I don’t think this is true. Always, ‘you’ are defined
in terms of your society. It seems to me that your culture says
as much about you as you do.
BRIT NEWS: Govt sent out 1000s of
fake job applications to see if they could
catch racist employers. With such tactics, no
wonder we don’t trust govt.
CRIME NEWS: Madoff gets 150 yrs for his huge con, but a thought:
he only got away with it because too many people in positions to
realise were too greedy.
BRIT NEWS: Queen needs pay rise – first since
1990 – ‘cos she can’t afford upkeep of
palaces. We should’ve increased it
before. £42m a yr for a head
of state is cheap.
READ WITH MUMMY
The Magazine Post with a gentle hint of horror
Totally Optional Prompts
Three Word Wednesday
Thursday Thirteen
ReadWritePoem
THRILLER
The zombies dance, they want your soul,
Heroes no good, nothing to console,
Riotous as they walk the night,
Intrigue – what a nasty sight,
Lurking behind every shade,
Lurid thoughts do pervade,
Everything – you cannot resist,
Run! Get away! If you want to exist
SEDUCTION
Fiction: To yearn for one so sweet. He took in the prettiness of
her; the innocence, the decency – the delicateness – wrapped in
a perfect figure of womanhood. Her long blonde hair, the flowing
white dress – all accentuates the feeling deep inside him. The
seduction is subtle and when they meet in an embrace, passion
grows to fever pitch. Soon they collapse to the floor and the
conquest is complete … Afterwards, they open their eyes – look
out into the street. Watch the people. He knows what he must
do, even though the blood lust is new to him. But she holds
his hand … sweetly …
THIRTEEN LINES FOR THURSDAY THIRTEEN
WEATHERING SOUL
Climate cool, feeling fine
Life goes on, you walk the line,
Storms approaching, run indoors,
Stop! Take stock – mental pause
Winds are going, life goes on
Survived the maelstrom,
Going strong
DONKEY DREAM
Donkey sitting in a field,
Rather silly, so surreal,
Umbrella shading its form,
Definitely not the norm,
Holding it must be a pain,
Especially as it doesn’t rain
© Anthony North, July 2009
gigidiaz said
I agree that we are what our society says we are. We are women according to the definitions of women of our society, same for men, same for the idea of successful…. Totally agree.
paisley said
why is it we define by societal standards when each of us tries so hard to be an individual?
anthonynorth said
Hi Gigidiaz,
Thanks for that. Yes, it certainly seems to be the case to me, too.
Hi Paisley,
I think the simple fact is the individual is subserviant to the communal. Our modern philosophies have tried to hide it, of course.
Linda G said
Hi Anthony,
I think those who choose not to fit into the ’societal norms’ are viewed by their community as odd/weird/etc. But perhaps they sit at home and smile, because they are then , in a way, given a pass & do not have to live a life they consider to be filled with pretensions. Do you think that person is an individual?
The Madoff scandal is not over- more heads will fall. Certainly family & business associates who had to have known. I am curious if our SEC will be reorganized because of it.
james said
we are defined by:
by our genies
by our parents and family
by society
by country we live in.
evreything you do has been program into by all the above factors. So question should were is real me how much control do i have over what i decide in my life.
the majority associate themselves with thier bodies.
How much time over last week have you thought about God/or others and not yourself?
anthonynorth said
Hi Linda,
Yes, I think of myself as an individual
But what is that individual? Nearly all my influences have come from people, events beyond my control and literature – I am individual because of outside influences.
Hi James,
I realise the first definition is a spelling mistake, but I loved it
How much did I think of others in the last week? Lots – I’m a parent. Take away the word ‘program’, and I’m over half way towards this view. My only real point is, regardless of whether it is right or wrong, we DO live in this world, so must theorise taking this into account – even if it IS a fiction.
ThomG said
Wow, Tony, we both write about tantalizing women in white dress. Great stuff, as always.
Ritual
anthonynorth said
Hi Thom,
Many thanks. Great minds, and all that
AD said
ah and what am i to say here
my brain cells are ticklish!
My 3WW
Twilight said
I think “identity” refers to labels used by others to place us neatly into a pattern they have in their own minds. That pattern, in turn, is structured by the culture of which the observer is a part.
Personality/character/nature of a person is the inner identity, I think. Of course some clever dicks try to categorise this inner personality into neat labels – psychological testing where one comes out as INTP, ENJP – or whatever. Astrology does something similar – but there are so many billions of combinations that a person really is individual in astrology.
anthonynorth said
Hi AD,
Thanks for that. When mine are ticklish, I’m usually writing
Hi Twilight,
Yes, very true, but as you say, individual IN astrology
Those outer influences again …
Comedy Plus said
Yep, society tells us who and what we are. Period. Very well said.
Have a terrific day Anthony.
anthonynorth said
Hi Sandee,
Certainly seems so to me. Thanks for that.
SandyCarlson said
Interesting….I used to belong to a suburban, white, well-heeled church in which everyone was identified by name and rank–whatever the minister thought was important about him or her. It was so limiting.
I moved on to an urban church where names are all people start with. Liberating and inviting.
anthonynorth said
Hi Sandy,
You’ve certainly diluted the effect there.
Linda G said
Hi Anthony,
BTW I think of God/the Creator every day.
I liked James’ genies too- I could use a few free wishes lately -no offense meant James.
RE-’I am individual because of outside influences’. From the philosophical view I cannot disagree- we are a product of what our senses bring to us. But I do believe that we can choose what outside influences we are attracted to & which ones we are not attracted to. The old ‘free will’ scenario. In that fashion, one can be an individual. But some people have a very strong need to belong & that I think dampens/overrides their true individuality.
Linda G said
Hi Again
Here’s a link to an interesting piece on the EU vs Iran’s detention of British Embassy staff. Bravo- if the have the courage to do so.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/world/middleeast/02iran.html?hp
anthonynorth said
Hi Linda,
Yes, we can certainly fight the outside impulses, but then we face the inner impulses of genes (from parents), archetypes (Jungian) and emotions (species). Add all these, and what we’re left with of the individual is an amalgam of outer communal influences and inner communal influences. At least, that’s how I see it.
I can’t see the EU/Iran thing coming to much. The EU have never, yet, made a decision during a crisis.
Linda G said
Hi Anthony,
Once again I agree. But as we are the sum of our experiences & how we have chosen to filter them, deep inside there is a component of the individual. Some people choose not to reveal that “inner self” to others- or may only choose to reveal it to a select few in their lives. Yet I am convinced it does exist & and the quest to understand the inner you is an interesting journey indeed.
anthonynorth said
Hi Linda,
Yes, I agree, there is an individual in there – it is just how it became ‘I’ that fascinates me.
Dr. John said
In the end, however, who I am is how I define myself. The other definitions may be important but my image of me is what controls my actions .
Daily Panic said
lately these three word wednesdays draw us to relationships.
I have to wonder if he is a vampire?
anthonynorth said
Hi Dr John,
Very true. It’s how we get to that position that fascinates me, though.
Hi Daily Panic,
They do indeed, and I suspect they both are now.
angie said
haha–you went in a completely different direction than me with the ‘three words!’ love it!
(I like your “donkey dream” too!)
anthonynorth said
Hi Angie,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Fledgling Poet said
I loved the visual of Donkey Dream…and James’ ‘genies’ made me smile. Great type-o! :~)
Tumblewords said
Cool 3words…it does come to that – the bloodthirst and all!
sarah said
Always so interesting.
anthonynorth said
Hi Fledgling Poet,
Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.
Hi Tumblewords,
It does indeed. Romance is not dead
Hi Sarah,
Many thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.
Hazel said
I lose umbrellas whether it’s rain or shine. It rains less and less in Bangkok nowadays. I see more chances to lose the only umbrella left – a heavy, massive silver intended for the green. Happy Thursday.
Mark said
‘Donkey Dream’ made me laugh out loud.
Humor is hard, so you did a wonderful thing.
anthonynorth said
Hi Hazel,
Oh yes, those umbrellas are just made to be lost, aren’t they?
Hi Mark,
Thank you for those very kind words. It makes it all worthwhile.
Alice Audrey said
I can so totally relate to Weathering Soul.
gautami tripathy said
Love it all!
Great ending with Donkey Dream!
equus asinus asinus
sweetness of my yearning collapses
anthonynorth said
Hi Alice,
That’s good to hear. Many thanks.
Hi Gautami,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
bundleocontradictions said
That’s weird. I had a dream about zombies last night. Or were they vampires..? Vampire zombies? Anyway, great post!
anthonynorth said
Hi Bundleocontradictions,
The Thriller poem WAS about zombies, inspired by Jackson’s song. That song has been played and played of late, so I’d be surprised if a lot of people weren’t having such dreams.
Tumblewords said
weathering soul – going strong is a good way to weather – for sure!
anthonynorth said
Hi Tumblewords,
Thanks for that. It certainly is.
Quilly said
I often consider my identity. I am so different from my sisters and brother — they of roots and families and staying in one place, and childless me often packing to move on to my next adventure. I was the one who never knew our mother and wasn’t raised with any illusions about “forever”. My life was measured in months in this house and weeks in that one and two weeks at camp …. always I was moving and changing and adapting. That is what I know of life and how I still live it today. S
So, not just my culture as in “American” (I have the privilege of the ever changing lifestyle) but also the way I was nurtured, has had a huge effect on my identity.
anthonynorth said
Hi Quilly,
Our stories, here, are so similar. Like you, I lost my mother early, I’m the youngest, I’ve moved many times and did all sorts of things, while the rest of my family stayed put.
It has all had a definite effect on my identity, and how I am seen by those who know me.
sister AE said
I like Weathering Soul a lot, with its allegory for life itself.
Julia Smith said
LOL! – love your Donkey Dream!
Jeeves said
I like the donkey….
anthonynorth said
Hi Sister AE,
Thanks for that. I’m pleased you liked it.
Hi Julia,
Many thanks. It was fun to do.
Hi Jeeves,
This seems to be going down quite well.
lissa said
SEDUCTION – seems so ordinary until the end…nice thriller
anthonynorth said
Hi Lissa,
Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.
Travis said
I agree that we may be defined by our culture, since our actions generally derive from the way we have been taught to behave, which would be based on cultural philosophies and attitudes.
anthonynorth said
Hi Travis,
Very true. A good point there.
Linda G said
Hi Anthony,
Been thinking of the type of person Michael Jackson developed into in light if your ‘Identity’ piece. I’m wondering about the path of his development.
He never had a normal childhood- I would think that would make him grow up sooner (& be more responsible) because he was treated as an adult while still a child. Yet, it seems just the opposite happened & he rejected adult behavior & regressed back to a childlike state as an adult.
Any thoughts?
anthonynorth said
Hi Linda,
Personally, I think Michael Jackson built an image of a fantasy-like character in a fantasy world, and eventually believed it, helped, possibly, by running away from his childhood. My earlier words of unconsciously attempting to create alchemical perfection would also fit this model.
Of course, i could be totally wrong.