1. “Identity” through
the Lens of
Cultural Studies
Paper 205A: Cultural Studies
Presented at:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi,
Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar
2. Personal Information
● Presented by:- Pooja Anilbhai Bhuva
● Enrollment Number:- 4069206420220005
● Email:- poojabhuva2002@gmail.com
● Batch:- 2022 - 2024 (M.A. Sem 3)
● Date:- 23 October, 2023
● Subject Code:- 22410
● Roll Number:- 15
3. ● Cultural studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that critically
examines culture in all its forms, encompassing various topics and
approaches. (Pramod)
● Cultural studies employs critical analysis to uncover underlying power
dynamics and ideologies within culture, with a strong focus on media,
popular culture, and the representation of diverse identities. (Hall)
● Stuart Hall is a foundational figure in cultural studies, known for his
work on "encoding" and "decoding" media messages, which explores
how meaning is constructed and interpreted in various cultural texts.
● Pramod K. Nayar sees cultural studies as a field that examines how
culture and society interact, particularly in postcolonial and global
contexts.
Cultural Studies
4. What is the meaning of Identity?
● In cultural studies, a person's identity comes from the roles they take on and the
signs that show who they are. Experiences help shape this identity, and how a person
is represented is a big part of those experiences. (Nayar)
● In cultural studies, we often look at how identities are made and the politics
surrounding them. Stuart Hall in 1990 described two ways to understand this.
1. The first way thinks that identities have a core, something essential, based on
where you come from or what you've been through. (Grossberg)
2. The second way says there are no fully formed, separate identities like this. It
believes that there are no real identities that everyone shares in terms of where
they come from or what they've experienced. (Grossberg)
● Who YOU are. (IDENTITY)
● Identity means who you are and what makes you unique, whether as a person or an
organization. It's all about the special qualities that set you apart from others.
(IDENTITY)
5. Types of Identities
● Cultural Identity
● Racial Identity
● Gender Identity
● Sexual Identity
● National Identity
● Religious Identity
● Social Class Identity
● Immigrant Identity
● Digital Identity
● Intersectional Identity
● Digital Identity
6. Intersectionality and Identity
● Intersectionality is a concept that originated in critical race theory and was later
developed in feminist studies, particularly by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the late
1980s. (Coaston)
● It's about how our different parts of who we are, like our race, gender, who we're
attracted to, or our social class, all mix together to shape our experiences.
Sometimes, these aspects overlap, leading to both advantages and disadvantages
in our lives.
● Intersectionality recognizes that individuals possess multiple and intersecting
identities. (Ex. Person is Black Women)
● It encourages us to consider how particular groups, like LGBTQ+ individuals of
color, may face unique challenges that need specific attention.
● In the legal world, people are talking about how the laws against discrimination
should consider those who face discrimination because of more than one part of
who they are.
7. Digital Identity
● In contemporary times the influence of Games, Kpop, Japanese Anime,
Trends, Social Media, etc. can be an important aspect in the context of
Digital identity.
● What is the outcome of this?
● All these parts of our identity can affect how we feel and think, and they can
even transform our personality. In Freud's view, our mind has three
components: the id, driven by our basic instincts and desires; the superego,
guided by our morals and values; and the ego, which acts like a referee
between the two and helps shape our identity. (Elliott)
● If we have to see an example of this, we can see that in the World Games
the personalities of people are different from their real identity. Sometimes
introverts become extroverts in the game and also change the Particular
Avatar in it.
8. Identity: Cultural Studies in Action
● Looking at and giving opinions on how different groups of people are shown in
the media, and asking for more types of people to be shown in TV, movies,
ads, and news in a real and accurate way.
● Getting involved and speaking up to help with issues about who you are, like
supporting LGBTQ+ rights, fairness for different races, and equality between
genders.
● Making sure that schools are welcoming to everyone, no matter where they
come from or who they are. This helps students learn about and think deeply
about Identity.
● Promoting art, literature, and cultural activities that explore and celebrate
diverse identities and create platforms for marginalized voices.
● This shows that cultural studies can be a useful way to help with tough issues
about who we are. It can make society more welcoming and fair for everyone.
9. ● Coaston, Jane. “Intersectionality, explained: meet Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined
the term.” Vox, 28 May 2019, https://www.vox.com/the-
highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender-
discrimination.
● Elliott, Anthony. Psychoanalytic Theory: An Introduction. Bloomsbury Academic,
2015.
● Grossberg, Lawrence. “Identity and Cultural Studies: Is That all There is?” Sage
Knowledge, 2011. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446221907.
● Hall, Stuart, and Paul du Gay, editors. Questions of Cultural Identity. SAGE
Publications, 1996.
● “IDENTITY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary.” Cambridge Dictionary, 18
October 2023, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/identity.
● Nayar, Pramod K. An Introduction to Cultural Studies. Viva Books, 2008.
References
