Uncertainty, Change and Identity

From where does the question of identity arise? Why the term in itself is so important?

Who are we? There can be innumerable ways to answer this question. In the present scenario of societal framework, there are multiple roles that we play. Comparing ourselves with traditional societies, earlier identity was a function of pre defined social roles. It was uncomplicated, fixed and not open to so much discussion. As the societal contact was limited, question of defining oneself didn’t come so much to the forefront.

It becomes clear from the statement of Douglas Kellner – “In pre-modern society one was born and died a member of one’s clan, a member of fixed kinship system, and a member of one’s tribe or group with one’s life trajectory fixed in advance. Individuals did not undergo identity crises, or radically modify their identity. One was a hunter and a member of tribe and that was that.”

As the social contact began to expand or in other words as the world started on it’s journey of becoming a global village is when questioning of identity began to be so important. With change and uncertainty brought in by modern life, people began to self question about themselves and their position with respect to world and others. There is a definite connection between the characteristics of modern life and questioning of identity. Also how characteristic of uncertainty is related to being modern. I would like to share about this in my next post.