Jo Calderone's moment in the spotlight at the MTV Video Music Awards was more than just another iteration of Gaga's creativity. Likewise, Nicki Minaj's collection of alter-egos bears more significance than just sheer entertainment. And while rapper Kreayshawn's refusal to identify with just one particular race is often dismissed as attention-seeking, it actually may reflect something deeper. These artists exhibit an amplified version of something MTV is seeing emerge across the Millennial generation at large: the ongoing riffing and remixing of identity, the shape-shifting of self and the new status-quo of operating in a "version" of oneself... a phenomenon MTV has coined "Try-Dentity."
Emerging adults have always experimented with identity on a surface level via the clothes they wear, the cliques they choose, the music they listen to... it's all part of the grand artistic experiment called "Who am I?" But this generation has increasingly been experimenting with, or "trying on," deeper aspects to identity -- such as race, religion and sexuality -- and is more comfortable with operating in a fluid, impermanent state of self.
MTV sees an increasing number of youth as non-committal about their sexual preference, identifying with inherently transient labels like "questioning" or "bi-curious." Others might choose to reject census definitions of race, instead creating their own racial identity, such as "Mexipino." And many are engaging in "spiritual sampling" instead of committing to an organized religion -- according to a study by LifeWay Christian Resources, 72% of Millennials are "more spiritual than religious." To touch on a few of these themes...
Many have deemed Millennials to be the most "special" generation in history. Boomer parents, Sesame Street and Barney have instilled the belief that "Everyone's different, special and unique." Tremendous emphasis has been placed on the right of the individual to choose her own path, to not conform to what's been done in the past and to "self-actualize." So naturally, Millennials don't feel like they have to conform to labels, and that experimenting to discover their true, authentic self is not only acceptable but expected.
It's also impossible to ignore the role technology has played in the process of identity formation. Navigating identity is done in the public sphere -- MTV calls it "Coming of Age on Stage" -- with social media enabling a fluid, "presentation versioning" of the self, as youth try on identities and revise them based on the continuous feedback loop offered by 865 of their closest "friends." Daniel, a 21-year-old from Pennsylvania in MTV's online panel, explains that identity "updates" can be made in essentially one click. He says, "We are free to express whatever we want to, really. If you update your religious, sexual or relationship status, all of your acquaintances are notified on their iPhones."
These underpinnings begin to shed light on why celebrities like Minaj or Gaga, who reflect try-dentity in a hyperbolic fashion, garner the esteem or at least awe of Millennials. Whether Gaga is stepping into the shoes of Jo Calderone, or Minaj is transforming into her "Black Barbie" alter-ego, it's clear to Millennials that these celebrities understand the concept of shape-shifting -- albeit a center stage version, But to a Millennial, who has their own stage of 865 Facebook friends, is that really so different?
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It will never end.
I love Lady Gaga above most things. She is the future. So called 'identity" is just what other people tell you you should be. We are all individuals and have an identity like no others. You can only give yourself an identity. No one else can define it for you. Whether race, gender, nationality etc. These are all unreal constructs that are increasingly outdated.
People who complain about it all are just old fashioned and unable to understand or cope with being a free individual. Especially threatened are those that feel their traditional identity gave them superior status over others. They are now upset that they will be just another individual with no free hand up to give them a feeling of superiority. Many older men feel this way, but hey...the future is here. As a gay woman the future can't get here fast enough for me!
Everyone who adapts will be happier than before. Free people are happy people.
http://muse-icallyinclined.blogspot.com/
Source: http://www.fbvideos.com
Objectivity anyone?
How is it helpful to rebut preconcieved notions with preconcieved notions?