Class Identity and Fashion

In 19th and 20th Europe and America, class was identified by style of hat. Nowadays it is seen as different.

Modernist Concept of Identity
Identity has been lost..... how? It's a side effect of industrialisation.

Why did the industrial revolution erodes people's sense of identity?
Here is a glimpse of what the industrial revolution would of looked like as shown at the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Here are the reasons why:

• No individuality any more.
• Overwhelming for people from rural areas.
• Accents were different.
• Interests.
• Lifestyles.
• Lots of people in one place would not know everyone in rural areas like before Industrialisation.
• Cities are anonymous.
• Not known for your trade any more, just by your name.
• Now is collective identity.
• Survival of the fittest.
• Men working harder this means they have less time with their families.
• Ride of capitalism - people want more money. 
• No time for hobbies. 
• Lack of space. 

Industrialisation and Identity

Urbanisation undermined traditional communities which helped form identity (i.e. where are you from, who knows you). In huge cities this 'community identity' is eroded. Changes in work patterns = change in family structure, spilt between private (home) world and public (work). Work demands efficiency not personality - identity became private, 'leisure pursuit'.

Modernist Concepts of Identity

Sigmund Freud a theorist said 'Identity isn't stable and rational, but a constant conflict between id, ego and super-ego, conscious and unconscious minds. 'You' are defined by your previous experiences and subconscious desires. Your core identity is hidden from your concious mind; 'the real' you can only be accessed through psychoanalysis.