The whole concept of being able to find your tribal identity online seems completely orientated to deprive people of personal identity by grouping them with stereotypical masses. Popular culture seems to find the idea of individuality amusing. The “Find your Tribe” website is not an influential website, it is more a pragmatic method of cultural stereotyping. Identities in modern culture seems to be extremely rigid when viewed on a website such as this; the website itself shows a lot about today’s shifting cultural norms in that rebellion (how many youth tribes/ tribes have been formed) has evolved from a means of seeking personnel identity and separation from authority figures, to simply grouping yourself into a tribe. Leaving near all of the values and original point of true rebellion behind. This era seems to be the one of fake rebellions and a search for individualism in an increasingly un-individual word, people are grouped together in tribes all linked through social networks and online videos reinforcing the boundaries which are apparently ever harder to escape from.
For the first time in history personal identity does not have to be personal, as mentioned before social networking has created a sub-identity or even completely different identity’s for many people. The online world takes away many peoples Inhibitions, they pick and mix their identity and appear to be something they are not or someone they wish to be. If anything our culture seems to create an atmosphere in which lying is socially acceptable.
The concept of identity in today’s world, as implied by the “Find Your Tribe” website is no longer a concept, it now exists as a physical representation of ones self as a person in appearance, mannerisms and interests. But also as numbers within a computer system. Personal is no longer personal and tribes have evolved to such a state where by they are no longer feasibly divisible into set categories but are rather mix of social cultures that are in a state of continual fluid motion, contrary to the website mentioned. This evolution has come around due to two factors, people are social and want to be together by instinct, forming to make tribes is natural. However individualism is now a key concept within many aspects of today’s culture ultimately leading to a cycle of continual self alteration to appear to be someone who is unique whilst conforming to everything that makes a person not so by trying to fit into a tribe.
An intelligent evaluation of the flaws in the find-your-tribe website. Perhaps young people are as fallible as previous generations and that searching for identity was ever thus. Once upon a time when recording people's movements was hardly feasible individuals could go from place to place and give themselves a new identity and fictional past.
ReplyDeleteThe conflict between individualism and conforming to acceptable social behaviour remains as muscular as it ever was. Well done Danny, I enjoyed your essay.