life writing: second lecture

Identity and Life Writing

SECOND LECTURE

sjoerd-jeroen [email protected] education | storytelling | culture

EXERCISE 1

2

sjoerd-jeroen [email protected] http://moenandar.blogspot.com

Try to remember an event that had a profound impact on you

Now write it down as life-writing – and focus on how you experienced that

event

o From Latin: idem (same)o Who are you? The story

of a lifeo Who is in charge of that

story?o This lecture:• Identity according to

psychology• Identity according to

philosophy

IDENTITY

3


o Identity is a process (identity formation)

o Identity has two ‘sources’:• Essence of the

individual• Essence of the

community

THE READER OF FICTION…

4


oWithin you (essence of the individual)

oOutside of you (essence of the community)

oThe question of autonomy

WHERE IS YOUR IDENTITY MADE?

5


o Autonomy:• From Greek: autos

(self) nomos (law)• Autonomy: answer to

your own lawo To tell someone’s

story is to take away their autonomy

o Responsibility

AUTONOMY AND LIFE WRITING

6


IDENTITY

7


o Does identity exist??• I.e. do you have an unchangeable core?

oWithin you (essence of the individual)

oOutside of you (essence of the community)

oThe question of autonomy

IDENTITY (CONT.)

8


o There is a ‘true me’o Your ‘true me’ can be

found in:• Your soul (religion)• Your nationality• Your race• Your gender• Your DNA• Etc.

ESSENTIALISM

9


o No ‘true me’ – just an endless series of masks

o No autonomy?o Or: more choice than

with essentialism? • (You chose the mask

you want, no prisoner of your, race, gender, DNA, etc.)

NON-ESSENTIALISM

0


o Looking for experience, not truth

o Follow the flow of the conversation

o Fill in the storytelling checklist (but not as a survey!)

INTERVIEWING FOR LIFE WRIGING

1


EXERCISE 2

2


Find someone who has experienced something

Use the checklist for a story to turn the experience into a story. Discuss with the person you’re

interviewing.

(This is life writing: turn someone’s life into a story)

http://sjmoenandar.blogspot.com/2014/10/ten-essential-building-stones-for-good.html



life writing: second lecture

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