Exploring Identity

The Works of James Marcia and

Kalup Linzy

Preview

• Imagine that your life has been chosen as the subject of an upcoming television show…– Who are the main characters? What role do

they play?

Identity Development

• Key to adolescent development

James Marcia’s View of Identity Crisis

• Identity crisis occurs because individuals must make commitments on important matters such as occupation, religion, politics, etc.

Marcia’s Four Stages to Achieve Identity

#1 Identity Moratorium:

- A stage in which one is exploring identity issues

- People seriously consider various issues, but do not make a commitment on the choices presented to them

Identity MoratoriumCrisis / No Commitment

Marcia’s Four Stages to Achieve Identity

#2: Identity Foreclosure:

- A stage in which one has made a firm commitment on the choices, but at the influence of others

Identity Foreclosure

No Crisis / Commitment

Marcia’s Four Stages to Achieve Identity

#3: Identity Confused or Diffused:

A stage in which one has no clear sense of identity and have not yet explored identity issues

Identity Confusion or DiffusionNo Crisis / No Commitment

Marcia’s Four Stages to Achieve Identity

#4: Identity Achievement:

A stage in which one has considered many choices and final decision has been made freely

Identity Achievement

Crisis / Commitment

(Introducing Kaye) Romantic Loner (2013)

Kalup Linzy

Conversations with de Churen X:

One Life to Heal, 2013

As Da Art World Might Turn, 2013

Queen Rose Family Tree, 2014-2015

Process: Think-Write-Pair-Share• Consider the television show of your life

discussed at the beginning of the lesson: – After viewing the ways in which Kalup Linzy has

expressed various identities, would you express the identity of yourself and your main characters in the same way?

– Kalup Linzy expresses the identity development of his characters in soap opera-inspired performance pieces, What genre of television show would best fit with the identities of yourself and your main characters? (e.g. soap opera, sitcom, prime-time drama, comedy, etc.)