okay oh I wasn’t planned um so uh wait let me get mine um yeah thank you for
let me get mine um yeah thank you for
let me get mine um yeah thank you for the introduction um I’m going to talk
the introduction um I’m going to talk
the introduction um I’m going to talk about I’m going to talk about identity
about I’m going to talk about identity
about I’m going to talk about identity and yeah I want to ask you a couple
and yeah I want to ask you a couple
and yeah I want to ask you a couple questions regarding this what is your
questions regarding this what is your
questions regarding this what is your first impression of me who do you think
first impression of me who do you think
first impression of me who do you think I am and what do you think is my
I am and what do you think is my
I am and what do you think is my identity this is what interests me if I
identity this is what interests me if I
identity this is what interests me if I had a more polished entrance that then
had a more polished entrance that then
had a more polished entrance that then compared to what has happened would you
compared to what has happened would you
compared to what has happened would you have a different perception of me your
have a different perception of me your
have a different perception of me your perception right now influences how you
perception right now influences how you
perception right now influences how you see my entire identity but also
see my entire identity but also
see my entire identity but also influences how I structure my narrative
influences how I structure my narrative
influences how I structure my narrative right now and how I interact with you as
right now and how I interact with you as
right now and how I interact with you as the crowd now that I’ve acted activated
the crowd now that I’ve acted activated
the crowd now that I’ve acted activated your brains to think a little more about
your brains to think a little more about
your brains to think a little more about identity and the complexity of it and
identity and the complexity of it and
identity and the complexity of it and thinking about Who I am I like to
thinking about Who I am I like to
thinking about Who I am I like to explore the definition of identity with
explore the definition of identity with
explore the definition of identity with you a little further and we have them
you a little further and we have them
you a little further and we have them beamed up above me um what I found in my
beamed up above me um what I found in my
beamed up above me um what I found in my research through looking at this
research through looking at this
research through looking at this definition I found that there’s no one
definition I found that there’s no one
definition I found that there’s no one clear definition that scientists are
clear definition that scientists are
clear definition that scientists are working with but I’ve kind of brought
working with but I’ve kind of brought
working with but I’ve kind of brought them all together in these two
them all together in these two
them all together in these two definitions so the first is that it is a
definitions so the first is that it is a
definitions so the first is that it is a socially established category that is
socially established category that is
socially established category that is established through certain attributes
established through certain attributes
established through certain attributes characteristics anticipated behaviors
characteristics anticipated behaviors
characteristics anticipated behaviors and rules of membership these categories
and rules of membership these categories
and rules of membership these categories can define kind of a public perceived
can define kind of a public perceived
can define kind of a public perceived identity and the second is more personal
identity and the second is more personal
identity and the second is more personal and these are the features that are
and these are the features that are
and these are the features that are socially distinctive which a person
socially distinctive which a person
socially distinctive which a person ascribes – these can be both static or
ascribes – these can be both static or
ascribes – these can be both static or adaptable in nature but are personal yet
adaptable in nature but are personal yet
adaptable in nature but are personal yet socially consequential
socially consequential
socially consequential now what is this all mean features that
now what is this all mean features that
now what is this all mean features that are socially distinctive and what I
are socially distinctive and what I
are socially distinctive and what I mentioned the socially established
mentioned the socially established
mentioned the socially established categories now I’d like to differentiate
categories now I’d like to differentiate
categories now I’d like to differentiate the two between how you see me and how I
the two between how you see me and how I
the two between how you see me and how I see myself for the purpose of the
see myself for the purpose of the
see myself for the purpose of the conversation I’m going to look at it as
conversation I’m going to look at it as
conversation I’m going to look at it as the perceived identity or how you see me
the perceived identity or how you see me
the perceived identity or how you see me and personal identity how I see myself
and personal identity how I see myself
and personal identity how I see myself daily subliminal inferences based on
daily subliminal inferences based on
daily subliminal inferences based on your past experiences shape how you
your past experiences shape how you
your past experiences shape how you structure this perceived identity the
structure this perceived identity the
structure this perceived identity the beginning of the talk created this kind
beginning of the talk created this kind
beginning of the talk created this kind of awkward interlude you aren’t sure who
of awkward interlude you aren’t sure who
of awkward interlude you aren’t sure who is this guy what what is happening and
is this guy what what is happening and
is this guy what what is happening and you automatically made certain
you automatically made certain
you automatically made certain inferences past experiences your social
inferences past experiences your social
inferences past experiences your social context and your upbringing impacted
context and your upbringing impacted
context and your upbringing impacted this your perceived identity was perhaps
this your perceived identity was perhaps
this your perceived identity was perhaps similar or diverging according to the
similar or diverging according to the
similar or diverging according to the people around you maybe you still feel
people around you maybe you still feel
people around you maybe you still feel kind of awkward about this whole thing
kind of awkward about this whole thing
kind of awkward about this whole thing and you infer that I’m a white male
and you infer that I’m a white male
and you infer that I’m a white male perhaps I’m attracted to people that
perhaps I’m attracted to people that
perhaps I’m attracted to people that identify as woman
identify as woman
identify as woman maybe there’s none of that in my life
maybe there’s none of that in my life
maybe there’s none of that in my life what is this accent where does it fit
what is this accent where does it fit
what is this accent where does it fit into your kind of identity boxes it’s
into your kind of identity boxes it’s
into your kind of identity boxes it’s it’s kind of strange these now you’re
it’s kind of strange these now you’re
it’s kind of strange these now you’re firing up cliches you bring up thoughts
firing up cliches you bring up thoughts
firing up cliches you bring up thoughts that are triggered by memory or implicit
that are triggered by memory or implicit
that are triggered by memory or implicit biases stories start popping into your
biases stories start popping into your
biases stories start popping into your mind now
mind now
mind now globalization has made this even more
globalization has made this even more
globalization has made this even more complex as we move between nations we
complex as we move between nations we
complex as we move between nations we start to see strange combinations of
start to see strange combinations of
start to see strange combinations of identities and identities become ever
identities and identities become ever
identities and identities become ever more fluid my personal identity perhaps
more fluid my personal identity perhaps
more fluid my personal identity perhaps is a lot more elusive than you think it
is a lot more elusive than you think it
is a lot more elusive than you think it is
is
is and it’s difficult to define by my mere
and it’s difficult to define by my mere
and it’s difficult to define by my mere appearance this causes a weird fissure
appearance this causes a weird fissure
appearance this causes a weird fissure between what you see of me and what I
between what you see of me and what I
between what you see of me and what I see of myself so let me give me you a
see of myself so let me give me you a
see of myself so let me give me you a little example what do you see in this
little example what do you see in this
little example what do you see in this image
the theoretical image that will appear
the theoretical image that will appear thank you
thank you
thank you this image is an onion probably not an
this image is an onion probably not an
this image is an onion probably not an ogre some of you expected but it is a
ogre some of you expected but it is a
ogre some of you expected but it is a different onions of shapes and sizes and
different onions of shapes and sizes and
different onions of shapes and sizes and diverse taste now what if I took another
diverse taste now what if I took another
diverse taste now what if I took another layer off what would you expect you’d
layer off what would you expect you’d
layer off what would you expect you’d probably expect more onion but what if
probably expect more onion but what if
probably expect more onion but what if you went a couple a is deeper and
you went a couple a is deeper and
you went a couple a is deeper and suddenly there was an apple your idea of
suddenly there was an apple your idea of
suddenly there was an apple your idea of an onion would be strange what is this
an onion would be strange what is this
an onion would be strange what is this it would be rocked and you’d maybe have
it would be rocked and you’d maybe have
it would be rocked and you’d maybe have to reanalyze how you look at onions but
to reanalyze how you look at onions but
to reanalyze how you look at onions but I was to come to you a couple days later
I was to come to you a couple days later
I was to come to you a couple days later with a similar onion and ask you what’s
with a similar onion and ask you what’s
with a similar onion and ask you what’s beneath these layers you probably still
beneath these layers you probably still
beneath these layers you probably still answer an onion but you’d become more
answer an onion but you’d become more
answer an onion but you’d become more open to the idea that there might just
open to the idea that there might just
open to the idea that there might just be an apple within now if people have
be an apple within now if people have
be an apple within now if people have never been exposed to the fact that
never been exposed to the fact that
never been exposed to the fact that there might be apples that are disguised
there might be apples that are disguised
there might be apples that are disguised as onions they might never believe you
as onions they might never believe you
as onions they might never believe you and they might turn you down and think
and they might turn you down and think
and they might turn you down and think you’re going a little nuts but my
you’re going a little nuts but my
you’re going a little nuts but my identity feels a lot similar to this
identity feels a lot similar to this
identity feels a lot similar to this analogy I’ve always been that outsider I
analogy I’ve always been that outsider I
analogy I’ve always been that outsider I grew up in a German family but grew up
grew up in a German family but grew up
grew up in a German family but grew up mostly in South Africa I was called
mostly in South Africa I was called
mostly in South Africa I was called Hitler in school and when I moved back
Hitler in school and when I moved back
Hitler in school and when I moved back to Germany I was often seen this African
to Germany I was often seen this African
to Germany I was often seen this African that came from afar my friends would
that came from afar my friends would
that came from afar my friends would introduce me as not hey this is how come
introduce me as not hey this is how come
introduce me as not hey this is how come my friend where it’d be this is how come
my friend where it’d be this is how come
my friend where it’d be this is how come my African friend now this was very
my African friend now this was very
my African friend now this was very strange but I began to relish it I
strange but I began to relish it I
strange but I began to relish it I looked at my advantages in this and I
looked at my advantages in this and I
looked at my advantages in this and I quickly in South Africa became the class
quickly in South Africa became the class
quickly in South Africa became the class clown earning myself the title of the
clown earning myself the title of the
clown earning myself the title of the crazy German but I did not feel German I
crazy German but I did not feel German I
crazy German but I did not feel German I did not feel like South Africa was my
did not feel like South Africa was my
did not feel like South Africa was my home and even to this day I feel like my
home and even to this day I feel like my
home and even to this day I feel like my I’m of an observer of my body going
I’m of an observer of my body going
I’m of an observer of my body going through these daily motions and
through these daily motions and
through these daily motions and structured especially on their pure
structured especially on their pure
structured especially on their pure appearances and opinions of others I
appearances and opinions of others I
appearances and opinions of others I adapt my identity according to what
adapt my identity according to what
adapt my identity according to what people perceive of my outer onion layers
people perceive of my outer onion layers
people perceive of my outer onion layers I do not feel connected to that though
I do not feel connected to that though
I do not feel connected to that though unlike what you think I feel a lot more
unlike what you think I feel a lot more
unlike what you think I feel a lot more like one of these apples stuck in an
like one of these apples stuck in an
like one of these apples stuck in an onion but through this experience I’ve
onion but through this experience I’ve
onion but through this experience I’ve become more aware of the apples and I
become more aware of the apples and I
become more aware of the apples and I have adapted and morphed into the
have adapted and morphed into the
have adapted and morphed into the context and into the local identity
context and into the local identity
context and into the local identity politics of the situation where I was I
politics of the situation where I was I
politics of the situation where I was I floated in between identities now I
floated in between identities now I
floated in between identities now I became ever more way of how I was
became ever more way of how I was
became ever more way of how I was complicit in my privilege as a white
complicit in my privilege as a white
complicit in my privilege as a white male I was historically benefiting from
male I was historically benefiting from
male I was historically benefiting from the context of this of this position and
the context of this of this position and
the context of this of this position and my mere mere presence in certain
my mere mere presence in certain
my mere mere presence in certain international contexts automatically had
international contexts automatically had
international contexts automatically had an impact ident my identity was fluid
an impact ident my identity was fluid
an impact ident my identity was fluid yet I was static I was deeply rooted in
yet I was static I was deeply rooted in
yet I was static I was deeply rooted in my individualism and my identity but
my individualism and my identity but
my individualism and my identity but because I noticed my role in the broader
because I noticed my role in the broader
because I noticed my role in the broader community I had to have a reflexive
community I had to have a reflexive
community I had to have a reflexive communal identity and nature that in the
communal identity and nature that in the
communal identity and nature that in the social space I was adaptive and
social space I was adaptive and
social space I was adaptive and understanding now social psychology as
understanding now social psychology as
understanding now social psychology as we saw in the in the previous
we saw in the in the previous
we saw in the in the previous definitions identifies so identity to be
definitions identifies so identity to be
definitions identifies so identity to be rather adaptable but I found that public
rather adaptable but I found that public
rather adaptable but I found that public perception of this is far more static my
perception of this is far more static my
perception of this is far more static my mere framing of my narrative impacts how
mere framing of my narrative impacts how
mere framing of my narrative impacts how you perceive me I’ve recently discovered
you perceive me I’ve recently discovered
you perceive me I’ve recently discovered that when I mentioned that I’m a German
that when I mentioned that I’m a German
that when I mentioned that I’m a German that grew up in South Africa people
that grew up in South Africa people
that grew up in South Africa people would go oh yeah I can hear the German
would go oh yeah I can hear the German
would go oh yeah I can hear the German accent where if I said I’m South African
accent where if I said I’m South African
accent where if I said I’m South African and I grew up in a German I’m original
and I grew up in a German I’m original
and I grew up in a German I’m original German people would say oh yeah I can
German people would say oh yeah I can
German people would say oh yeah I can hear the South African accent so just my
hear the South African accent so just my
hear the South African accent so just my me a choice of words impacted how people
me a choice of words impacted how people
me a choice of words impacted how people already identified with me this is
already identified with me this is
already identified with me this is rather anecdotal but my narrative it
rather anecdotal but my narrative it
rather anecdotal but my narrative it shows on my narrative defined this
shows on my narrative defined this
shows on my narrative defined this perceived identity why I say perceived
perceived identity why I say perceived
perceived identity why I say perceived identity is very static it shows how
identity is very static it shows how
identity is very static it shows how it’s also rather malleable and how we
it’s also rather malleable and how we
it’s also rather malleable and how we need a reflexive nature to react to that
need a reflexive nature to react to that
need a reflexive nature to react to that and also be accommodating to that we
and also be accommodating to that we
and also be accommodating to that we need to understand our position in the
need to understand our position in the
need to understand our position in the world so how do we move away from this
world so how do we move away from this
world so how do we move away from this rather static definition of what we see
rather static definition of what we see
rather static definition of what we see is identity
is identity
is identity perhaps perhaps be more open to this new
perhaps perhaps be more open to this new
perhaps perhaps be more open to this new fluidity you’ll need to become aware and
fluidity you’ll need to become aware and
fluidity you’ll need to become aware and all of us need to become more aware of
all of us need to become more aware of
all of us need to become more aware of how we shape identity and how we impact
how we shape identity and how we impact
how we shape identity and how we impact how people act around us we are not
how people act around us we are not
how people act around us we are not autonomous we influence the communities
autonomous we influence the communities
autonomous we influence the communities and our very nature of speaking
and our very nature of speaking
and our very nature of speaking influences how communities define
influences how communities define
influences how communities define themselves now I’m wearing a suit I’m
themselves now I’m wearing a suit I’m
themselves now I’m wearing a suit I’m not wearing my very cherished
not wearing my very cherished
not wearing my very cherished multicolored onesie and this is for one
multicolored onesie and this is for one
multicolored onesie and this is for one reason that you automatically take me
reason that you automatically take me
reason that you automatically take me more seriously science has shown that
more seriously science has shown that
more seriously science has shown that people that wear suits are rated as more
people that wear suits are rated as more
people that wear suits are rated as more trustworthy as more intelligent as and
trustworthy as more intelligent as and
trustworthy as more intelligent as and more far more serious so the mere fact
more far more serious so the mere fact
more far more serious so the mere fact that you believe that I am more serious
that you believe that I am more serious
that you believe that I am more serious right now wearing a suit perpetuates
right now wearing a suit perpetuates
right now wearing a suit perpetuates that I need to wear suit to seem serious
that I need to wear suit to seem serious
that I need to wear suit to seem serious and perpetuates this almost vicious
and perpetuates this almost vicious
and perpetuates this almost vicious cycle so I want to challenge that and
cycle so I want to challenge that and
cycle so I want to challenge that and say we need to start being more
say we need to start being more
say we need to start being more ourselves being more unique and also
ourselves being more unique and also
ourselves being more unique and also being aware of our own identities but
being aware of our own identities but
being aware of our own identities but within that being accommodating and
within that being accommodating and
within that being accommodating and being open to exploring other people’s
being open to exploring other people’s
being open to exploring other people’s spaces and realities become open to this
spaces and realities become open to this
spaces and realities become open to this fluidity of the layers of the onions my
fluidity of the layers of the onions my
fluidity of the layers of the onions my experience in my experience I’ve been
experience in my experience I’ve been
experience in my experience I’ve been very privileged privileged to travel
very privileged privileged to travel
very privileged privileged to travel across very contrasting cultures and
across very contrasting cultures and
across very contrasting cultures and multicultural spaces one cross-cultural
multicultural spaces one cross-cultural
multicultural spaces one cross-cultural communication experience was in Bhutan
communication experience was in Bhutan
communication experience was in Bhutan there I worked with various
there I worked with various
there I worked with various international artists and I notice how I
international artists and I notice how I
international artists and I notice how I had to stay reflexive in this situation
had to stay reflexive in this situation
had to stay reflexive in this situation now what was a especially impactful is
now what was a especially impactful is
now what was a especially impactful is that they were true to their traditions
that they were true to their traditions
that they were true to their traditions and I had a huge respect for their motto
and I had a huge respect for their motto
and I had a huge respect for their motto was a modernization but not
was a modernization but not
was a modernization but not westernization I entered and I stayed
westernization I entered and I stayed
westernization I entered and I stayed how could yet I also had to adapt to the
how could yet I also had to adapt to the
how could yet I also had to adapt to the rhetoric to be more accommodating
rhetoric to be more accommodating
rhetoric to be more accommodating Western artists that we invited would
Western artists that we invited would
Western artists that we invited would come in and go this is how we’re going
come in and go this is how we’re going
come in and go this is how we’re going to do it and we have this amazing plan
to do it and we have this amazing plan
to do it and we have this amazing plan and who’s with me but no one was really
and who’s with me but no one was really
and who’s with me but no one was really with me and the doors quick
with me and the doors quick
with me and the doors quick he closed so when I entered I realized I
he closed so when I entered I realized I
he closed so when I entered I realized I had to adapt to that I did not no longer
had to adapt to that I did not no longer
had to adapt to that I did not no longer speak as was normal for a westerner but
speak as was normal for a westerner but
speak as was normal for a westerner but I would walk in and I would try to let
I would walk in and I would try to let
I would walk in and I would try to let the situation guide the conversation
the situation guide the conversation
the situation guide the conversation ways of ideation quickly adapted and
ways of ideation quickly adapted and
ways of ideation quickly adapted and became places of joint collaboration
became places of joint collaboration
became places of joint collaboration where we learned from each other this
where we learned from each other this
where we learned from each other this learning came deep was deeply rooted in
learning came deep was deeply rooted in
learning came deep was deeply rooted in the mistakes that we made in
the mistakes that we made in
the mistakes that we made in miscommunication but also in our
miscommunication but also in our
miscommunication but also in our differences superiority was never the
differences superiority was never the
differences superiority was never the goal in fact mutual understanding was
goal in fact mutual understanding was
goal in fact mutual understanding was and this was quite beautiful to see as
and this was quite beautiful to see as
and this was quite beautiful to see as it developed the most successful
it developed the most successful
it developed the most successful projects of international artists that I
projects of international artists that I
projects of international artists that I was working with were the ones I came in
was working with were the ones I came in
was working with were the ones I came in with humility they do not say this is
with humility they do not say this is
with humility they do not say this is how we’re going to do it but rather said
how we’re going to do it but rather said
how we’re going to do it but rather said how are we going to do this what are
how are we going to do this what are
how are we going to do this what are what are the options suddenly friendly
what are the options suddenly friendly
what are the options suddenly friendly conversing developed and equal sharing
conversing developed and equal sharing
conversing developed and equal sharing became the norm social differences were
became the norm social differences were
became the norm social differences were no longer the divider but they became
no longer the divider but they became
no longer the divider but they became the glue of the situation so why does
the glue of the situation so why does
the glue of the situation so why does all this matter where do we stand with
all this matter where do we stand with
all this matter where do we stand with all this knowing who you are as an onion
all this knowing who you are as an onion
all this knowing who you are as an onion makes you more aware of the flexibility
makes you more aware of the flexibility
makes you more aware of the flexibility that you experience in elements of your
that you experience in elements of your
that you experience in elements of your personal identity you become more open
personal identity you become more open
personal identity you become more open to the identities of others and you
to the identities of others and you
to the identities of others and you approach diversity in a more reflective
approach diversity in a more reflective
approach diversity in a more reflective and reflexive manner you become more
and reflexive manner you become more
and reflexive manner you become more open to the idea that maybe there are
open to the idea that maybe there are
open to the idea that maybe there are apples inside these onions as a white
apples inside these onions as a white
apples inside these onions as a white male that’s extremely important you have
male that’s extremely important you have
male that’s extremely important you have to be aware of the role as you’re
to be aware of the role as you’re
to be aware of the role as you’re conversing across cultures and you have
conversing across cultures and you have
conversing across cultures and you have to be aware of your position you have to
to be aware of your position you have to
to be aware of your position you have to be reflexive and you have to address
be reflexive and you have to address
be reflexive and you have to address your own complicity but that does not
your own complicity but that does not
your own complicity but that does not mean you need to be paralysed to act
mean you need to be paralysed to act
mean you need to be paralysed to act rather than every step you should it be
rather than every step you should it be
rather than every step you should it be asking how do I act in this context you
asking how do I act in this context you
asking how do I act in this context you should become aware of your perceived
should become aware of your perceived
should become aware of your perceived identity your own identity
identity your own identity
identity your own identity and you should learn to work with your
and you should learn to work with your
and you should learn to work with your implicit and explicit biases you need to
implicit and explicit biases you need to
implicit and explicit biases you need to question the in Faust in justices and
question the in Faust in justices and
question the in Faust in justices and whether you are enforcing these and
whether you are enforcing these and
whether you are enforcing these and justices but you can also work with the
justices but you can also work with the
justices but you can also work with the beauty in our differences and in the
beauty in our differences and in the
beauty in our differences and in the varying identities that we have in a
varying identities that we have in a
varying identities that we have in a constructive manner so while I was
constructive manner so while I was
constructive manner so while I was working in many different contrasting
working in many different contrasting
working in many different contrasting contexts from South Africa Germany India
contexts from South Africa Germany India
contexts from South Africa Germany India as mentioned Bhutan and now in the u.s.
as mentioned Bhutan and now in the u.s.
as mentioned Bhutan and now in the u.s. there are couple pointers that I found
there are couple pointers that I found
there are couple pointers that I found were Universal in how I was interacting
were Universal in how I was interacting
were Universal in how I was interacting with others these were open up secondly
with others these were open up secondly
with others these were open up secondly provides space to speak be open to
provides space to speak be open to
provides space to speak be open to providing the space be open to your
providing the space be open to your
providing the space be open to your failure in a respectful manner
failure in a respectful manner
failure in a respectful manner be honest and challenge those around you
be honest and challenge those around you
be honest and challenge those around you but also ask and explore yourself to
but also ask and explore yourself to
but also ask and explore yourself to understand your identity your perceived
understand your identity your perceived
understand your identity your perceived identity and as mentioned the implicit
identity and as mentioned the implicit
identity and as mentioned the implicit and explicit biases you’re not the only
and explicit biases you’re not the only
and explicit biases you’re not the only onion with an intricate beautiful story
onion with an intricate beautiful story
onion with an intricate beautiful story there are onions walking around all over
there are onions walking around all over
there are onions walking around all over this world with fascinating stories that
this world with fascinating stories that
this world with fascinating stories that you can learn from so relish that soak
you can learn from so relish that soak
you can learn from so relish that soak it up see the beauty in that and enjoy
it up see the beauty in that and enjoy
it up see the beauty in that and enjoy the storytellers around you because as
the storytellers around you because as
the storytellers around you because as much as they can teach you you can also
much as they can teach you you can also
much as they can teach you you can also teach those around you in a constructive
teach those around you in a constructive
teach those around you in a constructive and respectful way thank you
”
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