Tanya | Week 1 | Identity as a Quilt
Identity as a Quilt We tend to think of our identity as uniquely ours, but what if it’s really more of a collage than our own creations? At first, it seems pretty obvious: of course I’m unique, why in the world wouldn’t I be? There isn’t a single person in the entire world who has lived my exact life the same way I have with my memories, my quirks, my thoughts, and so on. The more I think about it, the more that the whole idea of originality starts to falter, because I’ve realized that some of the aspects of myself I thought were such a defining part of me aren’t entirely mine to begin with. So much of myself has been increasingly shaped by other people: the way that I tend to approach challenges, the way I stay stubborn and firm-rooted in my beliefs, and even the things that I chose to care about in the first place. Even the little details in our lives have such a profound impact on the way we define ourselves that it truly makes me wonder: if these central parts of myself aren’t actually “me,” then what parts of my identity can I even call my own? And that right there leads to this question: if we admit that identity is collective, then doesn’t that threaten the whole idea of individuality? Maybe. Especially in recent years with the rise of social media, identity is likely to be borrowed at least a little, and this can be seen in our everyday interactions with each other: friends and peers influence each other’s way of speaking on a regular basis, and our families are a critical factor in guiding our moral compasses. Over time, these individual changes in who we are accumulate, molding our sense of self not only in the short-term, but they have the power to shape us in ways that have an impact for years to come, if not for our entire lives. But maybe that’s too simplistic of a way to look at this, because maybe we’ve been going about this all wrong, and our mistake is assuming that our identities need to have this pristine quality. After all, identity isn't necessarily always about creating something that’s brand-new. In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite; identity is more about the way that we combine the pieces that already exist.  Patchwork Quilt Credits: https://ballenblogger.com/leftover-fabric-quilt/ I believe that identity works kind of like a patchwork quilt: it is made up of all of these mismatched squares that are very charming on their own, but together, they create something so unique and beautiful. At the end of the day, it’s up to us to figure out which scraps to hold onto, which ones to toss, and how to stitch the patches together into whatever identity we choose. |
I think the idea that our identities are shaped by many small parts from other people and factors is beautiful in a sense, as it means that memorable people and experiences live on through our everyday actions. Whether it be songs I enjoy, phrases I often say, or gestures I make, it is comforting to me to know that I am a product (a quilt!) of the people I love. Additionally, the push for individuality is not entirely invalidated by this idea, as there is truth to the fact that nobody else in this world will be made up of exactly the same parts and influenced in the exact same way as I am. Even if those influences and parts are not inherently original I believe that the way they all combine forms something—someone—who is fully unique.
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree! There are pie recipes I use from friends that moved to Chicago. My sense of humor comes from too many people online that I'll never meet to name. How I dress is influenced by my economic class, gender, etc. Who I am is undeniably influenced and shaped by others. But there's almost no case where this is untrue: scientific discoveries never come from nowhere—postulations are built on, verified, and used to advance the field. "Originality" is a term that's annoyingly deceptive. It doesn't exist and never has, and there's nothing wrong with that. What makes individuals unique, in my opinion, is our unique experiences. I will never experience what it's like to be someone else, and, likewise, they will never experience what it's like to be me. The sum is always greater than its parts, and my quilt is unique because nobody has the same combination of cloth, thread, and stitching that I do. My quilt is constituted of more than just its materials, and so is everyone else's.
DeleteAs someone who often struggles with reminding myself that I am not defined by just my grades, or just my extracurriculars, or just my mental health, the idea that we all consist of somewhat quirky mismatched quilt squares hastily put together is quite eye opening. I too often catch myself beating myself up over incorporating slang from my peers into my daily language or dressing in a certain style because I saw it on someone else I admired, but that shouldn't be something I, or anyone else for that matter, should be ashamed of. Maybe our quilts are not just separate entities, but are instead all stiched together into one big, messy, beautiful tapestry, sharing bits and pieces of cloth and thread with each other, where our mutual interactions build mutual identity.
ReplyDeleteHi Tanya! I totally agree! Have you heard of the phrase "your identity is composed of the top 5 people that you choose to hang out with"? I'm not sure if it's a common phrase, I just happen to remember this quote from my sister or from online a long time ago, and it's stuck with me since. As younger people who are trying to find ourselves, we tend to absorb more from the people around us, whether those influences be more positive or negative reflecting on YOU. But in the end, it's not up to those people around you to determine who you are. Now come to think of it, it makes us really imagine how every single person in this world is living such a unique, yet vivid life! But in the thought of it all, we are not completely different. In sharing our experiences with one another, we all shape each other in our own ways, especially in this class. It's beautiful how you explained identity in such an artistic way! (Did you make that quilt?) Thank you for sharing, Tanya, and I hope to learn more about you!
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