Accepting that there are some elements of our identities which are pre-detetermined such as our appearances, the prevailing culture where we are born and the things we experience from our surroundings - What makes an individual’s identity unique? We are social animals, meaning that if we are ‘normal’, we live in contact with others – friends, family, significant others and acquaintances. As a result we are constantly comparing ourselves to each other and tend define ourselves in reaction to other people and their perspective stereotypes. More specifically, we are influenced by others.  There is no such thing as  identity without a socio-cultural/politcal context to relate it to in the first place. We either act to be identified with or apart from certain stereotypes and pre-conceived notions which we think other people have awareness of and can relate to.

It seems that in making choices about how one wants to be perceived in our information-age societies of pre-packaged social norms, there is only the choice between conforming or being the outcast. An example of such behaviour  is putting on one’s best outfit for a job interview with the understanding that people who wear well tailored suits appear more capable and successful. The flip-side to that would be someone who constantly wears casual attire  to make a statement that they are carefree as opposed to being ‘preppy’ for fear of being perceived as a ‘stiff-nosed tosser’. However I’m sure that most of us a familiar with the phrases ‘mutton dressed up as lamb‘ and ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing‘…

Take Michael Jackson as an example of a paradox in identity politics (see hyperlinked article). He was inspired by [read more..]

Meet Barry Cox, he’s a Liverpudlian who learnt Chinese from the proprietors of his local fish-n-chip shop.  Since then he has relocated to Macao (the Chinese Las Vegas) and is now a burgeoning Canto-pop star.  Of course he tells the story best himself:

Many of the points that he makes are quite notable from the aspecks global cultural exchange point of view:
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Dear Sir/Madam,

I hope you do not mind that I have sent this letter to other powerful bureaucrats and politicians. I am not sure who will be best equipped to deal with my request. I am writing because a I want a new passport. At the moment my passport says I am a citizen of ___________ but I want it changed.

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