Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Malleable Image and Identity in Postmoderism

In this postmodern society, we have adopted the idea that “the body is imagined to be easily transformed” (Sturken & Cartwright 326). This correlates also with the idea that the modern “notions of identity as innate” is no longer reliable (325). I think these two ideas are represented in Hollywood movies where agents go through reconstructive surgeries to adopt. An example is Get Smart where Anne Hathaway’s character, Agent 99, completely changes her face because her previous identity was compromised. However, her character changes as she adopts her new “identity.” I feel that this bolsters the idea that in postmodernism, “the surface is understood to be a crucially meaningful element of social life and not simply the illusion put over the real” (325). Identity is not definitely innate; it is structured by social elements and the changing of appearances.

Couldn't find the image or clip of Agent 99 before her transformation, so here's a trailer from the movie for fun:

1 comment:

  1. I love this movie- this is deff a great example of changing identity because Anne Hathaway has no choice but to completely change her appearance/character since she has become compromised. She looks great in an action film too!

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