Identity History of Culture – Winter 2015 Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture

What is the most important part of your identity ? Ethnicity? Sexual orientation? Class status? Nationality? Religious affiliation? Age? Political beliefs?

Social Identity Personal Identity Cultural Identity

Identity is a socially and historically constructed concept The way in which people imagine the world to be and imagine the way that others exist in the world is central to the construction of identity

The relationship between culture and identity Example of Diaspora: A strong sense of belonging and identification to a particular group that transcends national and international borders

Identity and Power Social and cultural identity is inextricably linked to issues of power, value systems, and ideology Some groups have more social, political and economic power than others. Key parts of identity—like gender, social class, age, ethnicity—play significant roles in determining how we understand and experience the world, as well as shaping the types of opportunities and challenges we face.

Difference As Defining Identity We have a very strong notion of the idea of a cultural identity and its incompatibility with other cultures. Rather than celebrate difference, our cultural identity is used to pathologize other cultures whilst reinforcing who we are. Part of understanding our identity, therefore, means understanding how we fit in with other groups of people. Or how we don’t fit.

Pakistani Passport Application 16. DECLARATION IN CASE OF MUSLIM I, s/d/w/of aged adult Muslim, resident of _________ hereby solemnly declare that: a. I am a Muslim and believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) the last of the prophets. b. I do not recognize any person who claims to be prophet in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever after Muhammad (peace be upon him) or recognize such a claimant as prophet or a religious reformer as a Muslim. c. I consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Quadiani to be an impostor nabi and also consider his followers whether belonging to the Lahori or Quadiani group, to be NON-MUSLIM.