It is not a stretch to suggest that every able-minded person will, at some point in their life, ask the question: Who am I? Some individuals will settle on answers in the form of a preordained societal list containing various adjectives representing their respective value system for better or worse. Others may not be inclined to settle on answering the question in such straight forward terms. Instead, these individuals may wish to use similar adjectives but redefine them to fit their own value system, again for better or worse. Some may even be hesitant to apply any adjectives to themselves for fear of commitment to any value system. Some individuals may see the self as a process and not subject to a fixed description. Others may reject the question entirely and argue the self is an illusion. This is not an exhaustive list; however, it does reflect some popular ways that individuals handle the question.
When making our determinations about who we are, what evidence or reasons do we appeal to in order to provide an answer? Some may look at their consumer possessions i.e. car, diamonds, houses, furniture, fashion items etc. Others may consider their relationships with others i.e. mothers to children, wives to husbands, cousins to uncles, grandparent to grandchild. Yet others might ask whether they live according to a religious belief system i.e. Judaism, Christianity, Muslim, Hindu etc. We might consider everything together, but still weigh one area more heavily than others i.e. the billionaire may weigh his material possessions more heavily than his religious belief system. Again, the list is not exhaustive, but sufficient to make the point that answering the simple question, "Who am I" requires a complex answer.
One area that may reveal a great deal about ourselves to ourselves and help us answer the question "Who am I" is considering the genres of film we enjoy. What can be inferred by an individual regarding their personality, who prefers slasher horror genre to romantic comedies. Why would one have that preference? How does having that preference effect the view of themselves toward themselves? I cannot provide answers to these questions. Answers, if there are any, are reserved for the selves that contemplate the question "Who am I" and use the films they enjoy as evidence for who they think they are.
Movie genres are often not exclusive. Often times a movie that generally fits into a genre will also have elements of another genre. Likewise, the individual may have personality characteristics fitting a genre; however, the individual may have elements of other genres as well. However, we are often closed off from discovering what other elements of other genres we possess. Perhaps this is why film is a superior choice of evidence when considering the question "Who am I," rather than using consumer goods, relationships, or even religious belief systems. The human personality is a complex enterprise. Cornering ourselves into one genre does not allow for us to account for our complexity and diversity. For example, I may only consider myself a Christian, husband, and father according to the value system of my community. Here, I have closed myself off to considering what other elements from other genres I possess. Maybe examining the films I enjoy would help unearth my complexity and my diverse elements incorporated from those other genres?
Asking ourselves "Who am I" is a difficult and burdensome question. Nonetheless, it's a question we are destined to confront at some point in our lives. We are also destined, for better or worse, to categorize, label, and box ourselves into genres, which is not, in and of itself, a disservice to ourselves. However, the damage is done when we allow ourselves to know ourselves by only one genre and not consider the elements from other genres. This is where film can assist us in answering the question "Who am I?"
Let us know how your personality is reflected by the genres of film you enjoy in the comment section.
Movie genres are often not exclusive. Often times a movie that generally fits into a genre will also have elements of another genre. Likewise, the individual may have personality characteristics fitting a genre; however, the individual may have elements of other genres as well. However, we are often closed off from discovering what other elements of other genres we possess. Perhaps this is why film is a superior choice of evidence when considering the question "Who am I," rather than using consumer goods, relationships, or even religious belief systems. The human personality is a complex enterprise. Cornering ourselves into one genre does not allow for us to account for our complexity and diversity. For example, I may only consider myself a Christian, husband, and father according to the value system of my community. Here, I have closed myself off to considering what other elements from other genres I possess. Maybe examining the films I enjoy would help unearth my complexity and my diverse elements incorporated from those other genres?
Asking ourselves "Who am I" is a difficult and burdensome question. Nonetheless, it's a question we are destined to confront at some point in our lives. We are also destined, for better or worse, to categorize, label, and box ourselves into genres, which is not, in and of itself, a disservice to ourselves. However, the damage is done when we allow ourselves to know ourselves by only one genre and not consider the elements from other genres. This is where film can assist us in answering the question "Who am I?"
Let us know how your personality is reflected by the genres of film you enjoy in the comment section.
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