Private Lives Public Spaces

Emily Quast
February 21, 2020

Private Lives Public Spaces

In Judith A. Howards Social Psychology of Identities she writes, “Self-schemas include organized knowledge about one’s self, the cognitive response to the question of identity: Who am I? These include the characteristics, preferences, goals, and behavior patterns we associate with ourselves” (138). She poses the question of identity and breaks down what makes an individual an individual. This questioning of “Who am I?” arose a few times whilst watching the myriad of videos compiled together in the MoMAs exhibition Private Lives Public Spaces as one is transported into the private lives of these home videos which, originally, were meant for the eyes of a select few now posed in public spaces for all to contemplate and view.

Howards describes different types of identities, sexual, gender, ethnicity, class and more that combine to make up an individual's identity. Yet, the individual's identity is comprised of two parts, “social, defined by membership in various social groups; and personal the idiosyncratic attributes that distinguish an individual from others” (Howard 139). While the individual attributes play a factor in how an individual creates their own personal identity another leading factor are those interactions formed through various social groups and interactions of those around them albeit close relations or those in passing. It is this moment where we ask ourselves “Who am I?” and as mentioned in Howards writings, we can shape and mold ourselves for specific situations and frame our identities for whom we are interacting with at any given point. So, we delve into the films and take a look at the private lives put on public display, questioning our role and our identity whilst at the same time, understanding and placing that of those involved.

One of the first few videos which I spent a decent amount of time watching was that of the cluster of dancing, what looks like wedding or a party in each. This cluster of home videos transported us back in time and place, to a carefree atmosphere of libations and fun. Seen are how the individuals put their all into looking their best, conforming to societal norms to fit the identity of the masses of the time whilst grouped together at their function yet, the same question that began this paper nagged at me whilst watching all of them dance merrily, “Who am I?” Each person has their own identity of which we do not fully get to grasp or obtain through the video, we can guess, what looks to be middle to upper class, ethnically white, males and females together. Yet, even for the time period, the criteria for identity is different and has changed dramatically since the filming of this video. So I wondered who these individuals grew to be, changed to be, did their identities remain or like the fluidity of time, morph.

Another film I spent some time with was New York c. 1981 by Victor Ginsburg. I was attracted to this film due to the fact it was a location of which I, myself, can identify with, and can place myself within yet, just filmed within a different time period. Unlike most of the other films which were hard to place myself within, this one was rather easy due to the fact, I had seen the same sights, visited the same locations and knew of the same streets. The film felt as though it could have been a memory of my own. Through Howards writings this is described as Interactionism, Howard stating, “People behave toward objects on the basis not of their concrete properties, but of the meanings these objects have for them. Because meanings develop through interaction, language plays a central part”(171). Part of identity is finding familiarity and comfort in what you seek out around you, so, this is a facet of this exhibition, to make connections of seemingly mundane private life put on public display for others to find meaning with, to realize that identity runs deep and across many generations even though it may evolve and change, at the core are the same principals which have been leading it all along.

The last film which I had spent the remainder of my time watching was Tompkins Square Park c. 1966-67 by Howard Guttenplan. I was drawn to this film due to the social movements and intermingling of different people which drove the video. People gathered together for causes the believe in, with one another, putting aside their differences to just be and work towards a better means of life. It reminds me of so many movements and marches today that unify and unite, to bring about justice and rectify inequality. This is also one of the first films where I had seen this happening, all the other films were more so about leisure, happy moments, very private matters yet, with this film, the essence itself is very public in nature, as if meant to reach a broader audience then whom it was just filmed for in the first place. This was the first film while watching that I did not feel all intrusive on and the question of “Who Am I?” seemed rather clear.

Various factors play in the make up of identity of an individual that the exhibition Private Lives Public Spaces and Howards writings paired together. They made one question the very essence of what it means to be you, where one draws inspiration, who they change for, how the times change and more. Identity is such a complex and ever evolving idea that it is nearly impossible to put a label on or categorize any one individual just because they, in themselves, intersect with so many different variables. So always question “Who am I?” and find those elements that make you an individual and connects you to the billions of others out there, past, present and future.