alicer-identity-blog

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Sensory Knowledge is an individual experience of one’s surroundings. We gain a greater understanding of ourselves through our environment as it shapes our unique circumstances and perspective of the world. Artist Pipilotti Rist examines the human senses encouraging individuals to focus on the world around them and gain an appreciation of perception. John McDonald’s article recognises that the artist’s objective is not to take our consciousness away from the present moment. “Rist wants us to experience her installations with our entire body, creating environments that we inhabit momentarily, experiencing a derangement of the senses” (McDonald, 2017). In the end Rist’s intention is for her audiences to contemplate their environment with a greater understanding as though waking slowly from a dream. I appreciate how Pipilotti Rist combines the practice of art and performance emphasising the importance of observation and presence.

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Fractured Identity: “The de-centered or postmodern self involves the subject in shifting, fragmented and multiple identities. Persons are composed not of one but several, sometimes contradictory, identities.”(Barker, 2012,Pg 225). There are different extremities of a fractured identity. As human beings depending on the social situation we may act alternately to how we would if our circumstances were different. In Big Little Lies (2017) the fractured identity is explored through the character of Perry. When surrounded by his children and friends he comes across as the perfect, loving husband. However things shift when he is alone with his wife Celeste as the slightest action or statement triggers a violent and unforgiving side of him to surface. There is no holding back in this show as it presents the tragic but truthful outcomes of the ruptured individual. The most meaningful part of the show for me is how the women stood together to support each other.

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Creative Identity: Despite the diversity of Donald Glover’s practice his identity is not determined by whether his acting, rapping or writing. “Gambino can act, write, rap, sing and probably much more that we’re not aware of yet. In short, he is just a true creative”( Black A, 2015). Donald Glover’s ideas and urge to create are not limited to a specific area. Although his creative practice is altered, his identity and reasons for producing art remain the same. “They’re all connected for me. It’s all about trying to get to the bottom of what being a human is”(Glover D, 2015). The identity lies in why he creates and the story he is telling when he does. I believe ones Creative Identity is not defined by what you practice but rather why you practice.

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Authenticity is the act of honesty through art, a truthful representation of one’s experiences. If an artist is authentic then audiences can relate to their practice through their own truth. “I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.” Frida Kahlo’s commentary on her practice reveals the essence of authenticity as she unashamedly shares her raw emotions with her audiences. I admire the sincerity of Frida Kahlo as honesty and truth is what creates a unique experience for the actor and audience.

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Creative Influence: Rather than just performing or painting because we have social commentary to make we are inspired by those who are already making these statements. I believe it’s the failure and creative successes of others which give us the urge to develop our own practice. James Franco’s film the Disaster Artist (2017) was inspired by a man who according to many made one of the worst movies in history. “I read the book and I love Hollywood stories…It was a wild zany story about making this wild and zany movie…about this outsider artist trying to make it in this really difficult business and it really moved me” (Franco, 2017). A creative influence is someone or something which is not only inspiring but also relatable. Essentially we see a fraction ourselves or perhaps a quality we value in our creative influences.

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Over determination lies within the unconscious, an irrational part of us wanting more. Mansfield identifies that this part of us is repressed,“ In their endeavour to enter the conscious mind and gain expression and fulfilment, unconscious ideas meet the barrier of repression” (Mansfield, 2000, pg. 30). Over-determination becomes apparent in dreams and slips of the tongue as discussed in Mansfield’s book. Arthur Miller’s play ‘A View From the Bridge’ explores the notion of over-determination through the relationship between Eddy Carbone and his niece Catherine. Eddy is so unaware of how his repression is affecting his actions resulting in his stubbornness and control of Catherine’s life choices. I like the way the unconscious emotions are explored in this play, they create a powerful and eye opening piece of theatre. After watching this play, I was curious about how deep and irrational emotions emerge from our unconscious into reality.

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Unconscious: We are often under the impression that we know who we are and what we would do in a certain situation. However our unconscious decisions are much more complex, we make them without realising. Gladwell explains how we come to these unconscious choices, “This new notion of the adaptive unconscious is thought of, instead, as a kind of giant computer that quickly and quietly processes a lot of the data we need in order to keep functioning as human beings.” (Gladwell, 2005, pg11). It can be assumed that what we know and experience shapes our unconscious choices. However sometimes we are unware or uncertain as to why we acted the way we did in a certain circumstance. Thus our unconscious is constantly being explored through our observations of ourselves and others. Being aware my surroundings and observing those around me strengthens my ideas for characters I may play in the future. Blink is an insightful book providing an actor with a closer glance at the human condition. “The part of our brain that leaps to conclusions like this is called the adaptive unconscious, and the study of this kind of decision making is one of the most important new fields in psychology” (Gladwell, 2005, pg11).

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Essentialism: “Rosalind is unique […] in Western drama, because it is so difficult to achieve a perspective upon her that she herself does not anticipate and share."(Bloom, 2004, pg145) In Shakespeare’s play ‘As You Like It’ the notion of essentialism is revealed in Rosalind as she stays true to her ideals and beliefs throughout the course of the play. Despite being disguised as a man for more than half of the play she draws upon her essential qualities to characterise her alter ego. She purely uses this alternate identity to voice her opinions and thoughts much like she did at beginning of the play when she was identified as a woman. As a performer I value characters like Rosalind who stand their ground and are not afraid to share their core beliefs.

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Subjectivity: Olsen’s interpretation of the Australian landscape is depicted through his abstract paintings, communicating a sense of wonder, chance and change. Although his works are based upon certain places the playful style suggests its true meaning is dependent on the viewers experience and understanding of their own environment. Essentially his paintings represent the notion an individual’s idea of the world being more than what the naked eye can see. The interpretation of the work is dependent on the imagination, “Partly a representation of Sydney Harbour with decipherable pictorial elements-trees, houses, parks-it’s also an impressionistic, subjective selection of the artist’s imagination” (Frost. A, 2016). Subjectivity can be deemed as something which evolves as we experience change within ourselves and the world. When reading a script it is the individuals interpretation which makes the end result unique. This interpretation will vary as different audiences don’t share the same perspective.

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Social Identity: Regardless of the form their creative practice takes artists allow themselves to be critiqued by the public eye. As Barker states Social Identity is subject to public opinion “Here Identity is a matter not only of self-description but also of social ascription” (Barker, 2012, pg. 222). It is not only our actions, choices and beliefs that define us but also how this is perceived by those who surround us. The film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (2017) tackles the notion of social identity when the town responds to Mildred’s controversial statement aimed at chief Willoughby. The society view Mildred to be an insensitive, pitiful women due to what she wrote on the three billboards. Her identity shifts from a grieving mother to a woman seeking vengeance against a terminally ill man. Our social identity is something which evolves and has potential to change. The film promotes the importance of social identity not affecting our core beliefs. Mildred is a powerful character as throughout the entire film she is not swayed by the publics opinion. I like how this film offers a refreshing perspective on social identity.

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REFERENCES

Frost, A (2016), John Olsen: The You Beaut Country Art Life, Reviews, viewed on 16th March, https://theartlife.com.au/2016/john-olsen-you-beaut-country/

Olsen, (1963), Five Bells, image, theartlife, viewed 16th March, https://theartlife.com.au/2016/john-olsen-you-beaut-country/

Bloom, H (2004), Blooms Modern Critical Interpretations William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Broomall, Chelsea House Publishers, pg145

Gladwell, M (2005), Blink, Great Britain, Penguin Group, pg. 11

Miller, A (1955), A View From The Bridge, Harlow, Pearson Education Limited.

Mansfield, Nicholas 2000, Subjectivity: theories of the self from Freud to Haraway, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, N.S.W. pg. 30

McDonald, J (2017), Review: Pipilotti Rist, Sip My Ocean at the MCA is pure delight, The Sydney Morning Herald, viewed on 13th March, https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/review-pipilotti-rist-sip-my-ocean-at-the-mca-is-pure-delight-20171205-gzyta4.html

Entertainment Weekly, The Disaster Artist: James Franco Talks About His Obsession With Tommy Wiseau, online video, 2017, Nov 28, EW, viewed on 15th March, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-5Af-aklyo

Kahlo, F, (n.d.), I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.”

Black, A (2015), Childish Gambino Explains His Creative Process and Why Salvador Dali Inspires Him, viewed on 13th March, http://pigeonsandplanes.com/news/2015/02/childish-gambino-explains-his-creative-process-and-why-salvador-dali-inspires-him

Big Little Lies 2017, DVD, HBO, Monterey, Directed by Jean- Marc Vallee and Andrea Arnold

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri 2017, Motion Picture, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Sylva, Directed by Martin McDonagh

Barker, Chris 2012, 'Issues of subjectivity and identity', in Cultural studies: theory and practice, 4th ed., SAGE, London, pg. 222

Rist, P 2017, Sip My Ocean, image, Time out Sydney https://www.timeout.com/sydney/art/pipilotti-rist-sip-my-ocean