Identities

The course looks at identity as a performance. Since childhood we are expected to perform in certain ways. In the course we examine where these expectations stem from. In particular, we re-visit ongoing debates and ideas about national identity, class and caste, masculinity and femininity, the transition from adolescence to adulthood to coming of age, to name a few. Most people imagine and identify with a national community. How imagined is this community really? We also look at how identity affects economic outcomes and ask questions about these outcomes. What if you are unable to afford a home, or own any form of property for that matter? We shall discuss the institution of marriage to try and understand how one's pre-marital identity is affected by marriage. As we move along it will be interesting to look at how people have formed new identities in the absence of a 'caring' state. We shall look at how identity relates to space, notably the occupation of spaces. In a second part, the course looks at the Middle East, Egypt and Cairo in particular to reflect on how identities are expected and performed in this part of the world. The course approaches the idea of identity through selected foundational reading and audio-visuals which provide insight and tools to think critically about identities.

Objectives:

To familiarize students with the concept of performativity To be able to identify a sense of allegiance to a wider community whether it is the nation, the neighbourhood or the street To acquaint students with prominent thinkers who shaped the debate on identity To debate the nature, roots and different layers of identity To evaluate fixed identity roles and behaviours in modern day society