Everybody has an identity. This was the subject that stuck out to me most in our discussions. It’s because I’ve had real life problems with my identity, and I also noticed the theme in some media I consume. Whatever media you like, there’s always some talk of identity. This paper expands on the ideas I shared during Half-Life and adds real-life examples and Star Wars examples. Half-Life will allow me to explore ideas concerning identity. Then, I’ll also look at identity in Star Wars: The Force awakens.
Half-Life is about two little girls who live together with their father after a mysterious death in the ocean. As the story continues, we learn that the mothers and daughters are selkies. These mysterious creatures can transform into human beings by shedding their seal skins. This story is full of the theme of identity. It’s written and presented in a way that is mysterious and fascinating. Astrid and Clarinda lose their mother to the ocean, their father fears that the girls will follow in their footsteps. When his daughters ask him to share a “strange and sad story” with them (Oshcner 403), he smiles and begins telling them. Being able to relate to something is an important part of identifying and maintaining your identity. The story’s structure solidifies it. It is clear that the girls are drawn to this story and feel a deep connection. This is similar to real life, especially for marginalized individuals. People that fall within these categories are more likely to be drawn to stories with characters who aren’t commonly represented in media. The stories they love are like the girls’ selkie story. Sometimes these stories help people accept and deal with their identities. Glee, a TV show that helped me identify my identity, is an example. People’s identities are not only important if there is representation in the media, but it is also crucial if they feel marginalized. Star Wars: The Force Aswakens has a few examples that show how identity can be discovered while showing how it can be rejected when forced upon one. Rey, a little girl from a desert planet, is the protagonist of the film. She is taken away from her home planet Jakku by a series of events that lead to her leaving. Maz Kanata (another character) gives her a lightsaber. Maz advises Rey not to open her eyes. She tells her to feel the light. It will lead you.” Rey gets angry and says that she doesn’t want anything to do with it, indicating that she is refusing the fate that has been handed to her. After not having been associated with the Jedi identity her whole life, Rey was given it. This is a shocking experience, and it also applies to the process of creating your identity. People prefer to be able to find their own identity and not to have others tell them. Rey embraces her Force-powered identity and uses her new identity to her advantage. She uses her newfound strength to defeat Kyloren. Although it was helpful for her, she found someone to guide her toward a new identity. In real life, however, it wasn’t always that way. Star Wars was a great series. I found it fascinating.
