Alexi Orial

Mrs. Di Ianni

ENG3U

July 22, 2019

The Theme of Identity — Anthology:

Annotated Bibliography

Appiah, Kwame Anthony. “Can We Choose Our Own Identity?” The Guardian, Guardian News
and Media, 31 Aug. 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/aug/31/who-owns-your-
identity-kwame-anthony-appiah, 22 Jul. 2019

This article explores the idea of identity regarding sexual orientation and gender
identity by discussing how society affects our identities and our views on ourselves. It
also uses unique examples of different identities to explore morals related top them and
which identities one might classify as “valid” or not, such as transgender identities
versus transracial identities. This article also explores how society’s views on identity
have changed over the years.

Chopin, Kate. Désirée’s Baby. Vogue, 1893.

This is a short story written by American author Kate Chopin about how race and
prejudice affect external opinions on identity. It explores the idea of how our identities
are more importantly shaped and influenced by who we are inherently than factors
regarding others’ opinions and even our race by introducing a character who never
knew her heritage, but was raised as a French Creole. It is interesting in its portrayal of
her husband’s opinion on her once her race is revealed and how easily it had changed.
Exploring the theme of love as well based on identity, it brings into question what it
means to truly love someone for their true identity.

“A Short Analysis of John Clare's 'I Am'.” Interesting Literature, WPZoom, 5 Mar. 2018,
interestingliterature.com/2018/03/05/a-short-analysis-of-john-clares-i-am/, 22 Jul. 2019
 This is a poem by John Clare, an English poet from the nineteenth century. It was
written during his time in a mental institution for his depression, and it showcases his
troubles regarding his identity. He describes how his friends and family simply saw him
as insane and far gone in his mind, no longer himself, while he continues to view himself
as the man he had always been. His struggles related to identity are also used to display
its importance in our lives as they cause him to long for something more: both
childhood comfort and death. It shows how our true identities are determined by
ourselves and who we really are rather than everyone else’s perspectives on us.

Morton, David “Stripped Identity.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, Nov. 1944,
www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=23994. 22 Jul. 2019

A short poem about a rose, Stripped Identity explores how the flower’s identity
changes and, ultimately, is lost when the petals are removed. This refers back to Hank
Green’s idea of the essential properties of one’s identity versus the accidental, and how
to identify the two. It shows how the rose’s true value of identity lies in its petals to the
poet, but this may differ for readers as perspective is always important.

“‘Kara’ by Quantic Dream.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Mar. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-pF56-ZYkY.

22 Jul. 2019

This is a short story about an android who becomes sentient, failing to conform with the
norm for the androids of her type. It introduces a unique perspective on this theme and on what
truly qualifies as something’s identity. It explores the possibility of non-living objects having
human identities, and what shapes them into one that truly qualifies as a human. Towards the
end, it also challenges the idea of physical properties of identity versus non-physical when it
shows the sentient android in a line with all the other identical models. We know that her
identity is different because of what we have seen of her, but her physical identity is still the
exact same as the other models.

Baggini, Julian. “Is There a Real You?” TED, TED Conferences, 15 July 2015,
www.ted.com/talks/julian_baggini_is_there_a_real_you/transcript?referrer=playlist-who_are_you#t-
63137. 22 Jul. 2019

Baggini bases his TED Talk about what true identity is and what really makes all of us
who we are. One interesting idea he explored is whether we have an identity that is influenced
by our experiences and memories and thoughts, or whether all of these parts are our identity.
He uses many comparisons to things such as water being H2O and not a substance called water
with hydrogen and oxygen alongside it. Another interesting idea he explores is the recurring
idea of what makes you “you,” and one way he does this is by saying, “If you have a heart
transplant, you're still the same person. If you have a memory transplant, are you the same
person? If you have a belief transplant, would you be the same person?” The answer to the last
two are far more subjective than that of the first idea, and it relates back to the first video by
Hank Green about changes in identity and true values, the idea of essential properties versus
accidental leading me to believe that the answer to the last two would be no.