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Fractured Identity: ‘The subject’s identity is composed, not of a single, but of several sometimes contradictory or unsolved identities’1. Fractured identity is apparent in human world and the natural world. The ocean is a natural force with a fractured identity, this is expressed by the oceans ability to be the giver of life and its ability to destroy anything in its path, which in some ways the ocean contradicts itself. The ocean is constantly changing through the currents, the tides, the season, time of day, pH levels in the ocean and the weather conditions. 

1 Dr. Johnson, Luke. CACS Lecture 2 (10/03/2017): Subjectivity. University of Wollongong. Slide 24.

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2Cooper, Francesca, Taken throughout 2015-16, Ocean Photographs, NSW Coast.

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Essentialism: Refers to the ‘personality characteristics are described as deeply rooted and intrinsic, substantially fixed, inductively potent, and at least partly rooted in biological nature’. 1In a group it ‘refers to members of a given group, over and above their similarity of surface, share with one another deep underlying features that characterise them and differentiate themselves from other members of the group’.2 Anne Zahalka, addresses the changing identity of Australia’s cultural/social identity by appropriating popular iconic photographs of Australian culture to relate to the changing patterns. For example, incorporating different cultures into the photographs such as Middle Eastern, European (Italian, Greek, Spanish) and Asian cultures into them.

1 Demoulin, Stephanie, Jacques-Philippe Leyens, and Vincent Yzerbyt. 2006 Lay Theories of Essentialism. Belgium: Catholic University of Louvain, pp 25. 13/03/2017

2 Haslam, Nick, Brock Bastian, and Melanie Bissett. 2004. Essentialist Beliefs About Personality and Their Implications. Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne, pp 1662. 13/03/2017

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3 Zahalka, Anne. 1989, Bondi: Playground Of The Pacific - The Bathers. http://zahalkaworld.com.au/gallery/bondi-playground-of-the-pacific/,19/03/2017.

4 Zahalka, Anne. 1989, Bondi: Playground Of The Pacific - The Surfers. http://zahalkaworld.com.au/gallery/bondi-playground-of-the-pacific/, 19/03/2017

5 Zehalka, Anne. 2007’ The Girls #2, Cronulla Beach. Sydney: Art Gallery of NSW, 19/03/2017

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Social Identity: ‘This is the commonly understood as a socialisation or acculturation, without acculturation we could not be a person as we understand the notions in our everyday’.1 It does matter whether we are black or white, male or female, African or American, rich or poor. Because of the resources which he will have access to. Here identity is a matter not only of self-description but also of a social description.  As a British/Italian living in the Western Suburbs of Sydney my social identity would be different to someone living in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney. The photographs that I have selected give a glimpse into who I am at this moment, the photos have been taken from my Instagram.

1 Bhatia, Sunil. Rethinking Culture And Identity In Psychology: Towards A Transnational Cultural Psychology. 2007,London: Connecticut College, 19/03/2017

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2 Francesca Cooper 2017 (@Cescathehobbit) • Instagram Photos and Videos". Instagram.com. Web. 20/03/2017

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Over determination: “All psychological material is overdetermined. This means that most trivial behaviours are the focus and the expression of the most plural and deep psychological complexity” For example bitting nails and brushing hair back as a sign of stress.  Freud wrote in ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’ that dreams are overdetermined, as they are caused by multiple factors of life of the dreamer, from the memories from the past or that day, this is to deeply repress traumas and unconscious wishes. The photograph the bed represents where unconscious and the over determination of thoughts occur for the individual.

1 Mansfiels, N 2000, ‘Freud and the split sujbect’, in Subjectivity: theories of the self from Freud to Haraway, New York University Press, New York, pp 29-30. 13/03/2017

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2 Cooper, Francesca, 21/03/2017, Bed photographs, University of Wollongong, Bangalay.

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Creative Identity: “Creativity is mainly beginning to the see the fabric of the structure, the structural fabric of overall theme of what I’m talking about. Its looking a little more into the thematic centre of it. It’s a predominate feature. Almost like an obsession or something that is lighting like neon. The creative part is finding a structure and fabric that has resonance.” 1(Spalding Gary, Writer).  My creative identity is one that is mainly focuses on the areas of the natural world and protecting these environments. I am able focus on this idea using photography and sculpture.

1 Goleman, D, and P Kaufman. 1992, The Art of Creativity. Psychology Today, Web. 19/03/2017

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2 Cooper, Francesca, Camera photograph, University of Wollongong, Bangalay. 21/03/2017.

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Sensory Knowledge: ‘Such body intelligence, it is clear, is not a matter of physiological data gathering, but uniting perceptions with moral and cosmological values.’ ‘As individuals and members of societies with value these impressions and how to use them to make sense of ourselves and the world.’1  Individuals acquire this knowledge using the five senses, which include ‘hand knowledge, eye knowledge, ear knowledge and several other bodily intelligences.’  and past on knowledge from family or from the community. An example of sensory knowledge from my past, is going back to Denmark. Going back to my old town and house and remembering how to get around the town and evening picking up on the language in a few days.

1 Howes, D, 2005, ’Skinscapes: embodiment, culture, and environment’, in C Classen (ed.), The book of touch, Berg, New York, pp. 27-28

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2 Cooper, Timothy, Denmark House Photograph, Stenlose, Denmark. 2002

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Authenticity: ‘A dominate form of self-expression, one that bares special witness to a personal truth… truth of the self and to the self-have become the markers of authenticity’. 1 Ansel Adams is an artist which expresses authenticity in his artworks. His photograph ‘The Tetons and The Snake River, Grand Teton Nation Park’ (1942)2, shows his authenticity as his photography was something ‘new’ and ‘never been done before’ in that period. Adams adopted a style that was unique to him and only him, this in turn made him authentic.

1 Dr. Johnson, Luke. CACS Lecture 2 (10/03/2017): Subjectivity. University of Wollongong. Slide10.

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2 Adams, Ansel.  1942, The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park. New York: Accessed on: http://anseladams.com/ansel-adams-national-parks/,13/03/2017

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Subjectivity: Is the ‘condition of being a person and the processes by which you become a person: that is how we are constituted as subjects (biologically and culturally) and how we experience ourselves (including that which is in desirable)’1. Minimalist art is a form of art that a person can put themselves into the work. As the work, can be interpreted any way the audience pleases. Robert Morris work Untitled (mirrored cubes) 1965/712, the mirrored cubes allowed the audience to determine what the work is and how the work is a part of themselves.

1 Barker, C 2007, ‘Issues of subjectivity and identity’, in Cultural studies: theory and practice, 3rd edn, Sage publications, London, pp.218. 12/03/2017

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2 Morris, Robert. 1965’ Untitled (Mirrored Cubes). London, England: Tate Museum, London, 16/03/2017

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Unconscious: The term unconscious is described as ‘One’s unintentional actions and not one’s ability to process subliminal strength information’1.  The unconscious has also been described as the ‘shadow of a “real” conscious mind2. Our unconscious impulses have derived from our motives and preferences, cultural norms and values, past experiences in similar situations and what people are doing in the same situation. Mark Rothko’s works can transport the audience into a state of unconscious or a trance. Rothko’s colour field Untitled 1955 (Blue, Yellow, Orange3) is one example of this works. If the work is viewed for a long time period, the colours jump out at the viewer and consumes them which puts the audience into a trance (Unconsciousness).

1Mansfiels, N 2000, ‘Freud and the split subject’, in Subjectivity: theories of the self from Freud to Haraway, new York University Press, New York, pp 26-29. 14/03/2017

2 Bargh, John.A and Ezequiel Morsella. 2001, The Unconscious Mind. Yale University, 13/03/2017. The Unconscious Mind, pp 73-74, 76. 13/03/2017

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3 Rothko, Mark. 1955, Untitled. San Francisco: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,14/03/2017

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Cooper, Francesca, 2013, Self Portrait, Sydney NSW

Cover Photo:

Cooper, Francesca, 2014, Light Trailing Photographs; Sydney Ferry, Sydney NSW