Defining the Ideal of Identity

Identity, not just the word itself, but its connotations and emotions it evokes within a person is difficult to define. In the American Heritage Dictionary, identity is defined as: "A set of characteristics by which a person is recognized." Those of us that can look deeper know that definition is incomplete. Identity and all it entails runs much deeper, it is the sum of our parts, our total being, and only an individual can accurately construct their identity.

It doesn't work if another person constructs our own identity, even if they are say, looking at a photograph. A photograph can certainly provide insight into a person, whether it is staged or not, but even with ten photographs one could not correctly create a person's identity. Take for example, a gloomy and depressed teenage girl. In one instant she can put on a happy smile for a photograph, hiding whatever secrets haunt her. Looking at that picture in a yearbook, you might assume she was a happy, popular girl, who had enjoyed a stellar school year. Nevertheless, in this case you would be quite mistaken. Another instance to prove my point would be a family picture. On the day chosen, with everyone dressed in their best in front of a beautiful landscape the photograph captures the perfect family moment. Though this photo exudes bliss and happiness, in reality the family could be in the midst of a crisis, and one would never know. As Robert Atwan tells us, when we look at a photograph we sometimes forget that it is not the person in front of us, but a still, unmoving, un-reacting portrait of the person. As lifelike as a photograph may be, it still is only a picture. It is a glance at a moment in time, not a full representation of the subject. Even powerful photographs that evoke strong emotions are still only a peek of the person, they cannot read between the lines.